Miami vs. Northern Illinois Game Notes
12/3/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 3, 2010
Recap | Final Stats | Quotes
2010 Marathon MAC Championship Game
Miami vs. Northern Illinois
Dec. 3, 2010 - Ford Field - Detroit, Mich.
MIAMI GAME NOTES
- Miami made its fourth MAC Championship Game appearance, and now has a 2-2 record. The RedHawks defeated Bowling Green 49-27 in 2003, but lost to Toledo 35-27 in 2004 and Central Michigan 35-10 in 2007.
- The teams entered the game with the series tied 7-7 with all 14 meetings taking place on campuses. Northern Illinois has won five straight contests, including a 27-22 decision last year in Oxford.
- Armand Robinson caught a career-high 14 passes for 176 yards, both career highs. The 14 catches tied the school record set by Brayden Coombs against Buffalo in 2009. The yardage total ranked ninth on Miami's all-time list.
- The first play from scrimmage was a 47-yard run by Thomas Merriweather, the second-longest of his career and fifth-longest in MAC Championship Game history. Last week, the senior had a 96-yard touchdown run against Temple. Merriweather finished the game with 85 yards.
- With a pair of touchdown rushes, Thomas Merriweather now has at least one score in six straight games, the last five rushing and a reception vs. Ohio.
- With the 47-yard run by Merriweather, Miami has now had a play of at least 40 yards in six straight games and nine overall this season.
- Miami scored on its first two possessions of the game, the first time that has happened all year. The RedHawks's 13 first-quarter points were a season high.
- Senior linebacker Ryan Kennedy returned to the field after an eight-game absence. Kennedy suffered a knee injury against Missouri on Sept. 25. He was Miami's tackles leader with 27 when he went out against the Tigers.
- Trevor Cook missed a 43-yard field goal as time expired. The senior is 16 of 22 on three-pointers this season, but has made just six of 11 since returning from a knee injury against Central Michigan.
- With the win, Miami improves to 9-4 overall, an eight-win improvement over last season. The RedHawks lead the country in the category, two ahead of Maryland. The nine wins are the most for the RedHawks since a 13-1 finish in 2003, the other time Miami won the MAC Championship Game.
- The win was Miami's fifth straight away from home after an 0-2 start. The winning streak marks the longest away from home since the RedHawks won seven straight during the 2003 season.
- Miami held the ball for 33:30 of possession time, the 12th time in 13 games this year that the RedHawks have controlled the clock. Only Ohio was able to top the 30-minute mark for possession (35:21-24:39).
- Miami improved to 7-0 in games decided by seven points or less.
Players Mentioned
Kicker
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Defensive Back
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Linebacker
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Running Back
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Wide Receiver
/ FootballROLL THE TAPE: Northern Illinois
Wednesday, October 08
Miami Football Head Coach Chuck Martin 10-6 Press Conference
Monday, October 06
Miami Football TE Brian Shane 10-6 Press Conference
Monday, October 06
Highlights: Miami Football at Northern Illinois 10-4
Sunday, October 05