Sept. 11, 2010
PHOTO GALLERY
Final Stats | Quotes | Notes
OXFORD, Ohio--Senior running back Thomas Merriweather scored three touchdowns--the first of the game and the last two scores of the contest--to propel Miami University's football team to a 28-21 win over Eastern Michigan in its home opener.
It was the Mid-American Conference opener for both teams as the RedHawks moved to 1-1 on the season, while the Eagles dropped to 0-2. The RedHawks also collected their 42nd MAC-opening win.
Merriweather spearheaded the RedHawks' ground attack, rambling for 105 yards, the second time in his career he surpassed the 100-yard rushing mark. His three touchdowns tied a career high. As a team, Miami rushed for 181 yards and compiled 345 yards of total offense. Sophomore quarterback Zac Dysert was 16-of-25 for 164 yards, throwing one touchdown and being intercepted once. Senior wide receiver Armand Robinson hauled in seven catches for 84 yards, including a touchdown reception for the RedHawks.
The Miami defense amassed three interceptions off picks by sophomore safety Pat Hinkel, senior safety Jordan Gafford and freshman cornerback Dayonne Nunley. Junior linebacker Ryan Kennedy doled out a career-high 14 tackles, including three solo stops and three tackles for loss, while junior linebacker Jerrell Wedge tallied 11 tackles, including one for a loss.
The RedHawks stampeded down the field on the opening drive to take an early lead against the Eagles. Merriweather capped a six-play drive with a 23-yard rushing touchdown, and senior placekicker Trevor Cook's extra point put the RedHawks up 7-0 at 12:06 of the first quarter.
Eastern Michigan capitalized on an intercepted pass at 3:25 of the first quarter, countering with at touchdown of its own two plays later with a 71-yard lateral pass from Josh Leduc to Kinsman Thomas, tying the score at the 2:34 mark of the first quarter, 7-7.
Miami answered back in the second quarter with a 24-yard touchdown pass from Dysert to Robinson, putting the RedHawks back on top with 11:05 remaining in the first half, 14-7. Continuing the back-and-forth rally, an Eastern Michigan 11-yard touchdown pass with 24 seconds remaining from quarterback Alex Gillett to Leduc again evened the score at 14 at the close of the half.
Eastern Michigan took its first lead of the game at 6:43 of the third quarter on a 40-yard touchdown pass from Gillett to Thomas. A Sean Graham extra point put the Eagles on top, 21-14.
Less than three minutes later, Miami evened the score off Merriweather's second rushing touchdown of the game, a 20-yard run. Cook's PAT with four minutes left in the third quarter put the teams in a 21-21 tie.
Propelling Miami back to the lead, Merriweather leaped over defenders after a nine-yard rush to notch his third touchdown of the game with 9:03 remaining. After Cook's fourth successful extra point, Miami claimed a 28-21 advantage, a lead it would not reliquish.
Eastern Michigan regained the ball with 4:09 to play at Miami's 43 and began to drive. With 41 seconds remaining in the game and the Eagles trying to score on fourth-and-11 from the Miami 22 yard line, Gafford knocked down a pass on the goalline intended for the end zone, sealing Miami's 28-21 victory.
Miami scored four touchdowns on the day, one in each quarter. Eastern Michigan scored a touchdown in each of the first three quarters, but the Miami defense was able to hold the Eagles without a touchdown in the final stanza.
Miami rounds out a two-game home stretch next weekend, hosting Colorado State at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 18.
