Box Score Nov. 1, 2017
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ATHENS, Ohio - Deadlocked at 28-28 late in the third quarter, rival Ohio scored 17 unanswered points to come away victorious in the Battle of the Bricks. The first of four-straight weekday games for the `Hawks resulted in 73 points between the two teams - the most of any game this season.
In the loss, Miami's offense experienced several career bests. Quarterback Billy Bahl threw for three touchdowns and 350 yards - both new highs for the junior. His favorite target was fellow junior James Gardner, whose ten receptions, 166 receiving yards and three touchdowns were not only career highs but the most in a single game by a RedHawk since 2012. His nine touchdowns this season make him the Mid-American Conference leader.
Ohio began the game by getting on the board right away. Sophomore quarterback Nathan Rourke led the offense 75 yards on nine plays in just under five minutes. The drive was capped off with a three-yard touchdown run by Rourke. He finished the night with 59 rushing yards on 20 carries for three touchdowns. In the air, he totaled 294 yards and three more touchdowns.
When he put the ball in the air, he had redshirt senior Brendan Cope and redshirt junior Papi White. Cope helped put Ohio up 14-0 on the offense's second drive when he hauled in a 40-yard throw from Rourke for the score. Papi's turn in the end zone was with 2:13 left in the half when Rourke tossed him a 14-yarder that made it 28-14 at the time.
After throwing an interception on Miami's first drive of the game, Billy Bahl drove the team 77 yards down the field and into the end zone to get the RedHawks on the board. Wide receiver James Gardner accounted for over half of those yards, making catches of 30 and 14 yards - the latter of which was a touchdown.
Miami forced a three-and-out on Ohio's ensuing drive to get the ball back in Bahl's hand. This time, they put together a four-play, 54-yard drive to tie the game nearing the end of the first quarter. Alonzo Smith took over on this drive, breaking free for 22 yards before carrying three defenders 14 yards for the game-tying score.
Following three-and-outs by both teams, Bahl missed a target which resulted in his second pick of the game. Ohio's Jalen Fox returned the ball to Miami's 14-yard line, allowing Rourke to punch it in and make it 21-14.
The Bobcats got the ball back halfway through the second quarter after two quick drives by the RedHawks. Rourke started it with a bang by connecting to Papi White for nine yards and then Andrew Meyer for nine more. Rourke would go on to connect with Papi to make it 28-14.
Back on offense with just over two minutes left in the second quarter, Bahl again went to Gardner for a score. The junior racked up 54 yards on four catches during the drive, eventually going up over two Bobcat defenders to catch the touchdown pass that made it 28-21.
The `Hawks punted twice after receiving to begin the third quarter, but then embarked on a ten-play, 95-yard drive to tie the game at 28. Bahl made Gardner his man to do this, but first he went to tight end Ryan Smith for 13 yards to get off their five-yard line. He proceeded to link up with Gardner for receptions of 23 yards and 13 yards. Bahl went right to him a third time, putting a perfect toss in his hands from 25 yards out.
After that, though, Ohio took control of the game. Rourke scored twice more in the second half. He took to the air for the first and punched it in himself in the fourth to give the Bobcats a 42-28 lead. Their third and final score of the second half came on a 36-yard field goal by Louie Zervos.
Miami returns to Yager Stadium for another mid-week game versus Akron on Tuesday, Nov. 7. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
