Sept. 11, 2010

Recap | Final Stats | Quotes

Miami vs. Eastern Michigan
September 11, 2010
Yager Stadium - Oxford, Ohio
Game Notes

Redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Jason Semmes made his first career start against the Eagles Saturday. He finished with two tackles and a quarterback hurry.

Redshirt freshman punter Zac Murphy booted a career-long 44-yard punt in the first quarter. He finished with five punts for 199 yards, an average of 39.8, including one inside the 20.

Senior safety Jordan Gafford snagged his third career interception late in the first quarter, but his first since early in the 2007 season against Vanderbilt.

Senior wide receiver Armand Robinson totaled 89 receiving yards Saturday on seven catches, giving him 1,688 receiving yards for his career, which moves him into seventh on Miami's all-time receiving yards list. He needs 42 more to pass Dustin Woods for sixth with 1,730 yards.

Redshirt junior linebacker Ryan Kennedy made a career-high 14 tackles Saturday, including three solo tackles. His previous best effort was six total tackles in 2008 against Charleston Southern.

Senior running back Thomas Merriweather finished with 105 rushing yards, just his second career 100-yard rushing game, on 15 attempts. His other was a career-best 133-yard effort against Temple in 2008. He also scored three touchdowns, tying his career high for scores in a game which he also did against Charleston Southern in 2008. Merriweather is Miami's first 100-yard rusher since quarterback Zac Dysert ran for 107 yards vs. Kent State Sept. 26, 2009 and the first running back to top 100 yards since Andre Bratton did so against Ohio on Nov. 24, 2008. Merriweather also had a 23-yard rush in the game, one yard shy of his career-long rush of 24 yards against Temple.

Sophomore safety Pat Hinkel nabbed his first career interception late in the third quarter and returned it for 11 yards. Freshman defensive back Dayonne Nunley then grabbed his first career pick midway through the fourth quarter at Miami's five-yard line.

The RedHawks finished with three interceptions in the game, the most picks Miami has recorded in a game since forcing four interceptions on Oct. 11, 2006 against Buffalo.

Redshirt sophomore cornerback D.J. Brown made a career-high nine tackles Saturday, including a career-best six solo stops. He also had a pass break-up.

With the 28-21 win, Miami snapped a four-game losing streak dating back to 2009 while Eastern Michigan has now lost 14 consecutive games. The RedHawks have also now won the last six meetings with the Eagles and improved to 17-4 all-time against EMU. The win also puts Miami at 1-0 in the Mid-American Conference, the first time the `Hawks have started league play with a win since a 14-13 victory at Ball State in 2007. Miami is now 42-19-1 all-time in MAC openers.

Saturday's game served as Miami's home opener and with the win, the RedHawks are now 87-28-4 all-time in home openers but won their home opener for the first time since 2004 over Indiana State.

Miami has not given up 100 yards rushing in either game in 2010, as the RedHawks held Eastern Michigan to just 66 rushing yards Saturday after limiting Florida to 99 last Saturday.

--MURedHawks.com--