OXFORD, Ohio – A dominant defense and balanced rushing effort guided the Miami football team to a decisive 31-6 victory over Kent State on Saturday.
Miami (3-4, 3-1 Mid-American) took a shutout into the final minute and finished with a season-high 295 yards on the ground.
The RedHawks put together a promising opening drive, picking up three first downs and getting into Golden Flashes territory. KSU stymied the drive as MU came up a bit short on a 4th-and-8 try from the 32 and Kent State took over for its first possession.
At the end of the quarter, Miami embarked on its longest scoring drive of the season. MU traveled 98 yards. The Red & White got big plays throughout the 11-play drive, including a 27-yard
Gus Ragland completion to
Jack Sorenson and a 26-yard scamper by
Kenny Young to the Golden Flashes' six. Two plays later, Ragland opened the second quarter with a three-yard scramble to put MU up 7-0.
Miami methodically drove the field on its next drive, going 74 yards in 10 plays and taking advantage of a Kent State pass interference penalty on a 4th-and-8 try. After getting new life, Ragland found Young for a 27-yard completion. Two plays later, Young took a direct snap into the end zone for a two-yard rush to extend the lead to 14-0 with 8:11 left in the half.
Backing up Kent State on its own five, Miami forced a three-and-out, but muffed the punt and allowed a fresh possession. Undeterred, the RedHawk defense forced another three-and-out and eventually took over on their 18. Once again, MU went down the field on an 11-play drive that culminated in a two-yard touchdown pass from Ragland to
Luke Mayock to make it a 21-0 game at the half.
The RedHawks opened the second half with another defensive stop and had a quick touchdown drive thanks to a big 44-yard rush by
Davion Johnson that got them to the Golden Flashes' six.
Jaylon Bester took the following handoff the rest of the way for his first career touchdown to bump the lead to 28-0.
KSU attempted to answer and drove into MU territory, but
Sterling Weatherford's first career interception off a tipped pass quelled that drive and put the Red & White back in business. Miami turned that into a long field goal try as
Samuel Sloman nailed a 42-yard field goal to make it 31-0.
Miami rotated in its bench in the fourth quarter and was less than a minute away from its first shutout since the 2007 season, but a seven-yard touchdown rush by Woody Barrett with 36 seconds left spoiled that bid. Still, MU nearly doubled up KSU in total yards (504-274) with a wide advantage in rushing (295-125). Four different RedHawks rushed for at least 50 yards on the day, led by Young's 90.
The RedHawks head on the road for their next two contests, starting with a non-conference tilt at Army next Saturday. Opening kickoff is at noon.
