Temple at Miami Football

Nov. 23, 2010 - Yager Stadium - Oxford, Ohio

MIAMI GAME NOTES

With the 23-3 win, Miami finished the regular season 8-4, marking a seven-win improvement from last year's 1-11 mark, making them the most improved team in the nation in 2010. The seven-win turnaround ties for fifth-best all-time in NCAA Division I history, something Miami has done once previously, going from 3-8 in 1976 to 10-1 in 1977. The six-win turnaround in MAC play is a league record as Miami went from 1-7 last year to 7-1 this year. The previous best turnaround in league play was when Toledo went from 2-7 in 1978 to 7-1-1 in 1979, a difference of 5.5 games.
Senior running back Thomas Merriweather broke a 96-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter, which was his career-long run and tied for the second-longest run in school history, two yards shy of the record. He ties with Ty King's 96-yard run vs. Kent State in 1996. Merriweather's run also tied with King for the longest run in Yager Stadium history. He finished with a career-high 183 yards on 22 carries, topping last week's best performance of 141 at Akron. It was his fourth career 100-yard game, including three this season, while two of his four have now come against Temple. The 183 rushing yards were also the most by a RedHawk since Brandon Murphy ran for 184 yards against Akron on Oct. 15, 2005.
Paced by Merriweather's 183 yards, Miami ran for a season-high 253 rushing yards, topping the previous best of 185 vs. Akron last Wednesday, Nov. 17. The `Hawks also finished with 408 total yards, their second-highest output this year behind a 470-yard effort at Central Michigan Oct. 16.
Miami allowed a season-low three points to the Owls Tuesday. The three points were the fewest given up by Miami since shutting out Akron Nov. 14, 2007, 7-0.
The victory was just Miami's second win over Temple in program history and the RedHawks' first in Oxford, as Miami is 2-3 all-time vs. the Owls. The win snapped Temple's three-game win streak vs. Miami.
Miami (7-1 MAC) clinched at least a share of its fifth MAC East title in program history with the win over Temple. To win the title outright and clinch a berth in the MAC Championship, Miami needs Ohio to lose at Kent State on Friday.
Miami's eight wins are its most since going 8-5 in 2004 while the seven league wins are the most for the `Hawks since 2004 when they also went 7-1. The victory was Miami's fourth straight win, its first four-game win streak since Oct. 15-Nov. 5, 2005.
Miami recorded a season-high seven sacks Tuesday for a loss of 37 yards. The previous high was five at Buffalo on Oct. 30. Defensive lineman Jason Semmes and Will Diaz led the charge with two sacks each. Miami now has 18 sacks in its last four games.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Austin Boucher threw his second career touchdown pass and first as a starter late in the first quarter to freshman wide receiver Nick Harwell. The 34-yard strike was the longest touchdown toss by Boucher and the second-longest completion of his career. He also threw another touchdown in the second quarter, giving him a career-high two TD tosses for the game. Boucher ran for a career-high 37 yards on nine carries, including a career-long 15-yard scamper in the third quarter, as well.
Boucher threw his first career interception early in the third quarter. He had thrown 65 career passes prior to the turnover. He was 15-for-28 for 155 yards in the game.
Freshman wideout Nick Harwell hauled in his fifth touchdown of the year in the first quarter, giving him four scores in his last four games. He is now tied for the lead in touchdowns among Miami wideouts with senior Armand Robinson. Over his last seven games, Harwell has now caught 50 of his 52 receptions this year for 704 yards after a five-catch, 72-yard performance Tuesday. He had just two catches for 15 yards in his first five games as a RedHawk.
Senior wide receiver Armand Robinson also caught a touchdown pass of the 8-yard variety late in the second quarter, giving him five scores on the year as well, tying him with Harwell for the team lead among receivers. He finished with a game-high six catches for 43 yards.
Sophomore defensive back D.J. Brown made the first fumble recovery of his career in the second quarter after a muffed punt return by the Owls. It was his second career takeaway as he also had an interception this year at Bowling Green.
Senior kicker Trevor Cook missed his first extra point of the season on Miami's touchdown in the first quarter. He did make two in the game however and is now 18-for-19 on PATs this year. He also knocked in a 21-yard field goal, making him 16-for-21 this year on field goals.
Sophomore linebacker Evan Harris snagged a pair of interceptions Tuesday night, giving him five on the year, which ties him for the team lead with freshman defensive back Dayonne Nunley. He has 114 return yards on those five picks, including 45 today, with one going for a touchdown this year. The RedHawks now have an interception in each of their last three games and have picked off a pass in nine of 12 games this year. In the last six games, Miami now has nine interceptions and is tied for seventh nationally with 17 picks on the year, which is tied for first in the MAC.
Sophomore defensive lineman Austin Brown forced his second fumble of the season late in the third quarter, tying him with junior linebacker Jerrell Wedge for the team lead. Wedge recovered the fumble, his second recovery of the year and of his career.
Miami controlled time of possession Tuesday, 35:16 to 24:44, marking the 11th time in 12 games this year the 'Hawks have won time of possession. Only Ohio on Oct. 23 had the ball more than the RedHawks this season.
--MURedHawks.com--

Miami vs. Temple Post-Game Notes

Temple at Miami Football

Nov. 23, 2010 - Yager Stadium - Oxford, Ohio

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