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OXFORD, Ohio -- Bolstered by the return of redshirt sophomore quarterback Gus Ragland, the Miami University football team earned its first win of the season, 18-14, over Kent State Saturday afternoon. The RedHawks improved to 1-6 overall and 1-2 in the Mid-American Conference. The Golden Flashes fall to 2-5 overall and 1-2 in the MAC.

Ragland returned only six months after suffering a severe knee injury in spring ball. He finished the game 10-for-21 with two touchdowns. He also helped Miami on the ground game, leading the team in rushing with 36 yards.

The RedHawks defense held Kent State to only 262 total yards on the day, making several key plays to preserve the victory. Sophomore linebacker Junior McMullen led Miami with 10 tackles, while redshirt junior defensive lineman Zach Smierciak finished with seven tackles, a sack and two tackles for loss. Kent State was able to move the ball down the field in its initial drive, but senior linebacker TJ Williams ended the threat when he picked off Golden Flashes' quarterback Nick Holley at the Miami eight-yard line.

The Golden Flashes got on the board late in the second quarter. After a RedHawk punt from its own end zone, Kent State was able to begin its drive on the Miami 31. Six players later, Holley rushed it in from the two-yard line to give the Flashes the touchdown. The extra point by Shane Hynes made it 7-0 with 4:22 left in the period.

With 1:49 left in the second, Kent State punted the ball back to the RedHawks. An unsportsmanlike penalty allowed Miami to start the drive on its own 45. On fourth-and-four Raglund took off and rushed five yards for the first down. On the next play, he threw towards junior tight end Ryan Smith, but the ball was tipped into the air. Off the deflection, redshirt-junior Jared Murphy came up with the reception at the Kent State 23-yard line. That allowed sophomore kicker Nick Dowd to drill a 38-yard field goal at the buzzer to send Miami into the break trailing 7-3.

The Golden Flashes made it 14-3 midway through the third quarter after a 5-play, 92-yard drive. The scoring play came when Nick Holley ran it in with 8:45 to go.

On the ensuing drive, Ragland drove the Red and White down the field, finding sophomore wide receiver James Gardner for a pair of catches. He then threw it to redshirt sophomore running back Alonzo Smith at the goal line for the touchdown to complete and eight-play, 80 yard drive. Dowd's extra point made it 14-10 with 5:49 remaining in the third quarter.

At the 1:48 mark of the period, redshirt freshman Kyle Kramer punted 38 yards to pin Kent State at its own two-yard line. On the next play, the Golden Flashes' center snapped the ball wide of the KSU quarterback. The ball went out of the back of the end zone for a safety that pulled Miami to within two at 14-12.

It stayed that way until late in the fourth quarter as each team punted on their next two drives. With 2:30 left in the game, Miami started at its own 23. Sophomore running back Maurice Thomas took off for a 17-yard scamper that moved the ball to the RedHawk 40. He followed that up with a five-yard run. Ragland then found redshirt sophomore running back Kenny Young over the middle. He then ran down the sideline untouched for the go ahead touchdown. The two-point conversion failed, but Miami took an 18-14 advantage with 1:34 to go.

Kent State began its next drive on its own 39. The RedHawk defense held strong, and on fourth-and-15, sophomore defensive back Deondre Daniels got the interception. Miami was able to run out the clock to finish off the 18-14 victory.

The RedHawks hit the road next Saturday when they take on Bowling Green at noon.