Nov. 15, 2017 Box Score | Box Score (PDF) 
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OXFORD, Ohio -- Eastern Michigan outscored the Miami football team 14-0 in the third quarter to erase a halftime deficit before holding Miami's late rally off to deal MU a 27-24 setback at Yager Stadium on Wednesday night.
The RedHawks drop to 4-7 (3-4 Mid-American) with the defeat.
After Miami's opening drive stalled at midfield, it pinned Eastern Michigan (4-7, 2-5 MAC) to its own nine-yard line with a punt. A false start put EMU back to its five, but two plays later, Brogan Roback hit Antoine Porter for 19 yards to get a first down. On the next play, Ian Eriksen took the carry 71 yards to the Miami four. It appeared Eriksen took it in two plays later, but a replay review determined his knee was down with the ball at the one. The RedHawks' defense then came up huge, stuffing Eriksen for no gain on consecutive plays to hold the Eagles off the board.
Pinned in the shadow of their own goal posts, the RedHawks went three and out with the punt giving the Eagles the ball at the Miami 44. A screen pass from Roback to Eriksen went for 20 yards to get EMU into the red zone at the 19. Roback capped the nine-play drive by calling his own number on third-and-goal from the three, running in for a touchdown to put Eastern Michigan on top 7-0 with 2:27 left in the opening quarter.
Miami drew a bit closer on the next possession, getting into plus territory on a methodical 12-play drive. A bid to the end zone by Ragland fell incomplete on third down at the nine, forcing a field goal try for Samuel Sloman, who connected from 27 yards out to cut the deficit to 7-3.
The Eagles used their ground game to gain a couple first downs on their next possession before Roback found Blake Banham over the top for 45 yards to get to the RedHawk 20. Miami clamped down in the red zone, holding Eastern Michigan to a 36-yard field goal, which Fricano hit to make extend the lead to 10-3 with 8:51 left in the half.
Miami's backfield contributed to its best drive of the game, picking up a few first downs to get near midfield. From there, Ragland found Ryan Smith wide open for a 45-yard gain that put MU into EMU territory at the six. Kenny Young then finished the drive with a six-yard touchdown scamper to even the score at 10 apiece with 5:28 to go until the break.
The defense came up with a big play on the ensuing Eastern Michigan possession as Heath Harding stripped Jaron Johnson on a completion to the sideline. The ball popped up right into the waiting arms of Brad Koenig as Miami took over at the Eastern Michigan 36.
Miami capitalized on the big play by its defense as Young gained 15 yards on the ground the next play and eventually punched it in from five yards out to give MU its first lead of the evening at 17-10 with 2:34 left in the half.
The Eagles did respond before the half as Roback hit a big pass for 31 yards to Mathew Sexton to get into plus territory. EMU eventually entered the red zone and Roback nearly hit Sexton in the end zone, but his pass fell incomplete on third down as it settled for a 34-yard field goal by Fricano that made it a 17-13 Miami lead at halftime.
Eastern Michigan regained the lead on the opening possession of the second half with an end around gaining 15 yards and Roback hitting a 26-yard pass to get into plus territory. He capped the drive by hitting Sergio Bailey for a 32-yard touchdown to put the Eagles back on top 20-17 just 2:07 into the third quarter.
MU's ensuing drive saw it get into plus territory where it faced a 4th-and-3 at the EMU 36. The RedHawks tried to convert that into a first down, but Ragland's scramble was stopped for no gain. Miami did force a three-and-out, but Eastern Michigan got pressure on Ragland and forced a fumble that it recovered at Miami's 10. The next play saw Roback find Bailey from 10 yards out to put it up 27-17 with 6:04 left in the quarter.
After forcing a punt, Eastern Michigan drove into Miami territory once again, reaching the 26-yard line. The Red and White defense came up with a big play, getting a sack from Junior McMullen and Nate Trawick for a 12-yard loss to knock the Eagles out of field goal range and keep it a 10-point contest.
An EMU sack forced MU to punt it away again, which gave the Eagles good field position at the RedHawks' 48. Miami came up with a big play to quell that drive as Joshua Allen intercepted a Roback pass at the 16 to inject some life into the Red and White.
While the RedHawks picked up a couple first downs, they were unable to pass midfield and eventually had to punt it away with 9:17 to go. After a big Eagle gain through the air to start, the RedHawks forced another punt and took over at their own 40. However, Ragland's pass on third down was intercepted by Kevin McGill just inside EMU territory with 6:29 to go in what remained a two-possession game.
Miami ultimately forced a punt and took over at its 20-yard line. In desperate need of a score, Ragland engineered an eight-play touchdown drive by hitting six of seven passes and drawing MU within 27-24 on an 11-yard strike to Ryan Smith with 2:04 left.
With no timeouts left, Miami had to attempt an onside kick for a chance to at least tie it up. However, Eastern Michigan recovered the try and kneeled three times to end it.
The Eagles outgained the RedHawks 454-392 overall on the evening. Ragland finished 22-of-32 passing for 251 yards, firing a touchdown and an interception. Young's 85 yards on 13 carries led MU on the ground while Eriksen's 112 yards led all rushers. Smith led all receivers with 73 yards on five catches and hauled in a touchdown as well.
Miami wraps up its 2017 season at Ball State on Nov. 21. Opening kickoff is at 7 p.m.
