Oct. 23, 2010
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OXFORD, Ohio--Miami University's football team suffered its first home loss and its first Mid-American Conference loss of the season, falling to Ohio University 34-13 on Saturday afternoon. The RedHawks drop to 4-4 on the season and 3-1 in league action, while the Bobcats improve to 5-3 overall and 4-1 in conference play.
Despite 332 passing yards by sophomore quarterback Zac Dysert, 219 of which were to freshman wide receiver Nick Harwell on 11 catches, six turnovers--four interceptions and two fumbles--stymied the RedHawks.
Harwell's 219 receiving yards are a school single-game record.
Defensively, sophomore linebacker C.J. Marck had nine tackles to lead all players, including one for a loss of two yards. Junior linebacker Jerrell Wedge had an interception, returning it for 28 yards.
Miami jumped out of the gates on Homecoming Weekend, scoring on the opening possession of the game. The RedHawks drove 70 yards in nine plays over the first four minutes of the game, capping the drive with a 15-yard touchdown strike from Dysert to senior wide receiver Armand Robinson. Seth Philip converted the extra point to hand the Red and White a 7-0 advantage with 11:59 remaining in the opening quarter.
On the kick-off to Ohio after the RedHawk touchdown, Roman Lawson forced a Bobcat fumble, which was recovered by Miami on the Ohio 32 yard line. Miami got down to the nine yard line, but an offensive pass interference penalty, a tackle in the backfield and a sack forced Miami to punt from the Ohio 48 yard line. The Bobcats capitalized on the possession, driving 83 yards in six plays to even the game, 7-7. Vince Davidson rambled 56 yards for the Bobcat touchdown.
Ohio threatened to score early in the second quarter. The Bobcats got down to the Miami seven yard line. After a sack for a loss of five yards by senior defensive end Will Diaz, the Bobcats had a touchdown run called back on a holding penalty. After another sack--for a loss of nine yards by sophomore linebacker Evan Harris--the Bobcats attempted a 48-yard field goal, but Miami blocked the kick and recovered the ball on the 30 yard line.
Hilton Dawson intercepted Dysert's pass on Miami's very first play of the series, giving Ohio the ball on the Miami 47. The Bobcats took a 13-7 lead off a Donte Harden 3-yard rushing touchdown at the 9:30 mark. The extra point was off the mark, giving Ohio a six-point edge.
The Bobcats tacked on two more touchdowns in the third quarter, scoring on a 48-yard rush by Harden at the 11:18 mark on its first play of the series. Ohio drove 85 yards on 14 plays, capped by a Boo Jackson one-yard quarterback keeper with 8:09 remaining in the third quarter. Matt Weller converted both extra points to hand the Bobcats a 27-7 lead.
Miami tried to close the gap with 51 seconds remaining in the third stanza when Dysert converted an 82-yard pass to Harwell, but a fumble at the goal line caused a touchback, leaving Miami without points and giving the Bobcats the ball at the 20 yard line.
The RedHawks put their first points on the board since the opening series when Dysert connected with senior running back Thomas Merriweather for a 14-yard touchdown with 11:47 remaining in the game. The extra point drilled the upright to leave Miami trailing, 27-13.
After the RedHawk score, Dysert was intercepted on Miami's next two series--by Steven Jackson and Omar Leftwich, respectively--his third and fourth interceptions of the day. The later interception set up a two-yard touchdown run by Jackson on the quarterback keeper with 3:18 to play, giving Ohio a 34-13 lead after the Weller PAT.
The Bobcats gained 222 of their 371 yards of total offense on the ground, led by Davidson's 103 yards rushing.
Miami hits the road for three straight games before ending the season at home on Nov. 23 against Temple. Next week, the RedHawks travel to Buffalo for a 3:30 p.m. game on Saturday, Oct. 30.
