Oct. 31, 2009
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Miami Football Game Notes
October 31, 2009
Oxford, Ohio - Yager Stadium
Miami vs. Toledo
Redshirt freshman punter Jim Broadway booted his first punt as a RedHawk in the first quarter Saturday, sending it 22 yards and pinning the Rockets inside the 20. He finished with four punts, three of which were downed inside the 20-yard line.
Freshman linebacker Wes Williams nabbed his first career interception in the first quarter and returned it 20 yards for his first touchdown as a RedHawk. It was Miami's first defensive touchdown this season and first interception return for a touchdown since Robbie Wilson returned a pick 37 yards for a score against Buffalo on Nov. 5, 2005.
Redshirt freshman wide receiver Andrew Cruse's second-quarter touchdown catch gave Miami a 14-7 lead over Toledo, handing the RedHawks their first lead in the second quarter this year and first since a Nathan Parseghian field goal put Miami ahead of Ball State on Nov. 11, 2008. It was Cruse's second-career touchdown catch. Cruse also had a career-long 29-yard reception in the third quarter, as he made a one-handed diving catch. He finished with a career-high 61 receiving yards on four catches.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Zac Dysert tossed for 344 yards (on 31-of-51 passing), just four yards shy of his career high that he set last week against Northern Illinois. The 344 yards rank 10th on Miami's single-game passing yards list, not including Ben Roethlisberger, who had nine games of more than 344 passing yards. It was Dysert's third career 300-yard passing game becoming just the fourth Miami quarterback to throw for at least 300 yards at least three times (Roethlisberger - 14, Josh Betts - 8 and Mike Bath - 4). He also added a career-best two rushing touchdowns.
Redshirt junior kicker Trevor Cook nailed a 55-yard field goal late in the second quarter, which broke Miami's all-time record for longest field goal. The record was held by Chad Seitz (54 yards at Michigan in 1995). Cook's field goal ties for the fourth-longest in the nation this year and is the longest in the MAC in 2009. The field goal tied for the 11th longest in MAC history.
Miami's 24 first-half points were its most points in the opening half since scoring 30 in a 47-14 win over Bowling Green on Oct. 13, 2007. The RedHawks led Toledo 24-7 at the half, marking Miami's first halftime lead since Oct. 18, 2008 against Bowling Green, which was Miami's last win prior to today.
Redshirt sophomore tight end Kendrick Bruton hauled in his first-career reception in the third quarter, a seven-yard gain from redshirt freshman quarterback Zac Dysert.
Freshman tight end Steve Marck had a career-best three catches for a career-high 38 yards.
Redshirt sophomore linebacker Jerrell Wedge finished with a career-best three sacks, after totaling just 1.5 sacks in his first year and a half as a RedHawk. He also added a game-high-tying 12 tackles (along with sophomore safety Anthony Kokal's 12), had two quarterback hurries, a pair of forced fumbles and four tackles for loss for 27 yards.
Junior wide receiver Jamal Rogers set a career high with seven catches totaling 67 yards.
The RedHawks' 31 points against Toledo were their most this year and most since scoring 38 Sept. 13, 2008 in a win over Charleston Southern.
Miami totaled 29 first downs against Toledo, its most in 2009, and the second-most among MAC teams this season. CMU had 30 first downs earlier this season (against Akron on Sept. 26).
The win over Toledo snapped Miami's school-record 13-game losing streak and nine-game MAC losing streak and marked its first win overall and in the MAC since Oct. 18, 2008, a 27-20 over Bowling Green. It was Miami's first home win since Sept. 13, 2008 over Charleston Southern.
The victory over Toledo gave head coach Michael Haywood his first victory as a head coach.
The win was Miami's first over Toledo since 2004 and improved Miami's lead in the all-time series 28-21-1.
--MURedHawks.com--
