Box Score Oct. 21, 2017
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Oxford, Ohio-- Kenny Young enjoyed a career day while the Miami defense allowed just 271 yards as the RedHawks topped Buffalo 24-14 at Yager Stadium on Saturday.
Saturday's win snaps Miami's (3-5, 2-2 Mid-American) three-game skid while evening its MAC record.
The RedHawks aired it out on the first play with Billy Bahl hitting James Gardner over the top for a 57 yard gain into Bull territory. That big gain led to a 37-yard field goal attempt that Samuel Sloman drilled to give Miami a 3-0 lead before the game was two minutes old.
A Brad Koenig sack stuffed out Buffalo's (3-5, 1-3 MAC) opening drive in three-and-out fashion and gave Miami's offense a short field to work with on its second possession. MU took advantage, driving 61 yards in just five plays with big plays including a 17-yard Young rush and a 28-yard completion from Bahl to Sam Martin. Young concluded the drive with a seven-yard touchdown scamper to put the Red and White on top 10-0 with 8:48 left in the quarter.
After forcing another punt, Miami drove into Buffalo territory again, but stalled at the 27-yard line. Sloman attempted another field goal, this one from 46 yards, but the kick was no good early in the second quarter.
The teams traded punts on their next couple possessions, but Miami's kick had a personal foul that set Buffalo up at MU's 49-yard line. The Bulls struck on a 37-yard pass on 3rd-and-10 to get to the 12 and got on the board three plays later on Kyle Vantrease's eight-yard toss to Anthony Johnson that cut Miami's lead to 10-7, a score that held at the half.
On the opening drive of the second half, Ikeem Allen forced a fumble by tracking down Vantrease on a scramble and put the RedHawks in business at the Bulls' 35. Young made Buffalo pay immediately, taking a handoff to the house with a sensational individual effort to up the lead to 17-7 with his career-high second rushing touchdown.
Miami's defense continued continued to shine and the offense padded the lead some more late in the third, traveling 66 yards in eight plays and wrapping up the drive with an Alonzo Smith one-yard touchdown run to make it 24-7 with 1:43 left in the quarter.
At the start of the fourth quarter, Buffalo got into Miami territory looking to inch closer on the scoreboard. Those hopes were dashed when Tony Reid ripped away a jump ball with his left hand to notch an interception.
Buffalo threatened again on its next possession, reaching Miami's seven-yard line before four-straight incomplete passes left MU still up 17 points with 5:28 to go. The Bulls forced another punt and eventually found the end zone on an 11-yard touchdown pass from Vantrease to Tyler Mabry, cutting the lead to 24-14 with 2:52 showing on the clock.
The Bulls recovered the ensuing onside kick, but a penalty and a Doug Costin sack kept them from threatening as the RedHawks wrapped up the victory.
Miami outgained Buffalo 349-271 on the day and forced a pair of turnovers as well. Young led all players with a career-high 125 yards on the ground along with two scores while Bahl hit 13-of-20 passes for 177 yards
The RedHawks are back in action on Oct. 31 when they take on Ohio in a Halloween Battle of the Bricks in Athens.
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