Miami Ohio University Athletics
Miami University
Missouri
Miami Hangs Tough but Falls to No. 21 Mizzou
9/3/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 3, 2011
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COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Sweltering temperatures and a highly-ranked Missouri team halted Miami's six-game winning streak as the Tigers spoiled Don Treadwell's debut as the RedHawks coach, 17-6.
Erik Finklea rushed for 71 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries, while Zac Dysert completed 26 of 39 passes for 194 yards.
Unlike last year when Missouri dominated 51-13, Miami was in the 2011 season opener until late in the fourth quarter.
Miami had a chance to score the first points of the game, but Mason Krysinski missed a 41-yard field goal on the first possession, spoiling a 12-play, 56-yard drive.
Missouri countered to take a 7-0 lead, scoring on a five-yard run by James Franklin with 4:23 left in the first. The 21st-ranked Tigers added a 38-yard field goal by Grant Ressel at the 5:59 mark of the second to open a 10-0 lead, but Miami answered back. Starting at their own 20, the RedHawks moved to the Mizzou 11, but the threat ended when Dysert's third-down pass was intercepted in the endzone by E.J. Gaines.
Miami got on the board midway through the third on Finklea's 10-yard run with 7:55 left. The burst around the right end capped a three-play, 14-yard drive that was set up by sophomore Dayonne Nunley's seventh career interception. However, the extra point was missed, keeping the score 10-6.
Missouri capitalized on a short field after an exchange of punts. The Tigers' T.J. Moe gathered in a 28-yard pass, advancing the ball to the 13. Two plays later, Mizzou scored its second touchdown on a 10-yard pass from Franklin to Marcus Lucas. That made the score 17-6.
On the next possession, Miami tried to rally, driving to the Missouri 30. But the drive stalled on fourth and seventh to keep the difference at 11. Miami got to midfield once again late in the quarter, but Zac Dysert was sacked and fumbled, helping the Tigers run out the clock.
Miami finished the contest with 270 yards of offense, compared to 291 for the Tigers. However, the RedHawks out-passed Missouri 194 yards to 129. Senior Chris Givens had seven catches for 71 yards, while true freshman David Frazier added six catches for 55 yards in his collegiate debut.
Miami is off next week before taking on another BCS-AQ foe, Minnesota at Target Field on Sept. 17.
