Smith’s Big Night Makes RedHawks Bowl Eligible

Tuesday, November 20

Oxford, Ohio

7:00 PM

Miami University

6-6 , 6-2

Ball State (Fan Appreciation/Senior Night)

4-8 , 3-5

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Ball State

Miami

Smith’s Big Night Makes RedHawks Bowl Eligible

11/20/2018 10:37:00 PM | Football

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Miami rushed for 364 yards and scored the final 35 points to top Ball State.

OXFORD, Ohio – Alonzo Smith rushed for a career-high 207 yards and three touchdowns as the Miami football team scored 35-unanswered points to top Ball State 42-21 on Tuesday night.

The win makes the RedHawks bowl eligible at 6-6 (6-2 Mid-American) and is their third-straight victory. MU also retains the Red Bird Rivalry trophy.

After both teams traded punts, the Cardinals drew first blood by taking their second possession 87 yards for a touchdown, a drive that was capped by Justin Hall's 22-yard touchdown rush on an end-around that put BSU up 7-0 with about six minutes gone by.

Miami punted again on the next possession, but got the ball back in short order when Zedrick Raymond ran stride for stride with his man downfield to make his first career interception. That play spurred on a quick five-play touchdown drive that saw Gus Ragland start with a 25-yard completion to Quentin Hardy and a 17-yard toss to Jack Sorenson to bring up first and goal. Ragland dialed his own number three plays later on a quarterback sneak from the 1-yard line.

Zedrick Raymond with his first career pick! #RiseUpRedHawks

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— Miami Football (@MiamiOHFootball) November 21, 2018

Gus 🚌comin' through!#RiseUpRedHawks

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— Miami Football (@MiamiOHFootball) November 21, 2018

The Cardinals regained the lead just 2:14 later, responding with a 75-yard touchdown drive. Drew Plitt did a bit of everything on the drive, completing a pair of passes for first downs to get to plus territory before eventually making a 21-yard reception to the nine and finishing the drive with a nine-yard touchdown run on an option. That put BSU up 14-7 late in the frame, a score that wore on into the second quarter.

A 46-yard Smith run moved the RedHawks to the Cardinals' 33, but BSU countered with a sack and the drive stalled at the 39. The teams eventually traded punts, but Miami's went out of bounds at its own 39. The short field allowed Cardinals to pad their lead as Plitt hit Riley Miller for a 22-yard touchdown pass to put them up 21-7 with left in the half.

Needing a spark, Miami faced 4th-and-1 at its own 44-yard line. The RedHawks handed it to Smith to try and bulldoze for the first down and the senior did that and more, shedding a tackler and racing 56 yards for a touchdown to cut the cap to 21-14 with 3:27 to go until halftime.

Alonzo breaks past the defense on 4th down and takes it to the 🏠!#RiseUpRedHawks

Watch Live: https://t.co/ogqQp6mRoB pic.twitter.com/n31CfUzJl5
— Miami Football (@MiamiOHFootball) November 21, 2018

The Red & White forced a punt and had a chance to tie, but an interception ended the drive and the Cardinals appeared set to keep their lead at halftime. MU had other ideas, stopping BSU with the help of a Pasquale Calcagno sack and getting the ball back with 46 seconds remaining. Ragland opened the drive by hitting Andrew Homer for 29 yards to reach the 15. The RedHawks had a 1st-and-goal from the four two plays later and eventually Ragland hit Dominique Robinson for the tying touchdown with five seconds left, tying it up at 21 at the break.

Gus is fired up as the 'Hawks tie the game right before halftime! 🔥🔥🔥#RiseUpRedHawks

Watch Live: https://t.co/ogqQp6mRoB pic.twitter.com/ruQFBPNmWu
— Miami Football (@MiamiOHFootball) November 21, 2018

A big return by Maurice Thomas allowed Miami to open the second half with good field position at its 42. The Red & White capitalized to grab their first lead of the evening with Ragland sneaking it in from a yard out for the second time in the game to make it 28-21.

Gus sneaks it into the endzone (trust us, he got in) as the 'Hawks take the lead!#RiseUpRedHawks

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— Miami Football (@MiamiOHFootball) November 21, 2018

Ball State drove down the field on the following possession, reaching Miami's 33-yard line. The RedHawks' secondary came up with a big play, however, as Mike Brown picked off Plitt's pass down the sideline and putting MU back in business offensively.

Excuse me, sir ✋.. that football belongs to us.#RiseUpRedHawks

Watch Live: https://t.co/ogqQp6mRoB pic.twitter.com/rwxN8q8zbn
— Miami Football (@MiamiOHFootball) November 21, 2018

The RedHawks went entirely on the ground, playing smash mouth football with six-straight totes with three different backs getting carries. Smith took the final handoff for his second long touchdown of the game, this one from 47 yards out to up the RedHawks' lead to two scores at 35-21 with 5:33 left in the third.

YOU. CAN'T. STOP. HIM.

Alonzo Smith with touchdown number 2️⃣of the day!#RiseUpRedHawks

Watch Live: https://t.co/ogqQp6mRoB pic.twitter.com/WID32geCbT
— Miami Football (@MiamiOHFootball) November 21, 2018

BSU's ensuing possession reached midfield before getting bogged down by the Miami defense and punting. Starting at its five, Miami drove a stake into Ball State's heart by reeling off a methodical 12-play touchdown drive that went 95 yards and took 7:18 off the clock. Eleven of those plays were kept on the ground, with the lone toss a 22-yard strike from Ragland to Luke Mayock to keep the possession going on 3rd-and-6 early on. Jaylon Bester's 33-yard rush put the Red & White at the Cardinals' six and Smith punched in his third touchdown of the night from two yards out two plays later to close out the scoring at 42-21.

☝️..✌️..👌 touchdowns for Alonzo Smith!#RiseUpRedHawks

Watch Live: https://t.co/ogqQp6mRoB pic.twitter.com/l8NqcNDtBr
— Miami Football (@MiamiOHFootball) November 21, 2018

Smith accounted for 207 of the RedHawks' 364 rushing yards on his 18 carries, the team's most since racking up 399 against Akron in 1999. Ragland added two more rushing touchdowns with 15 yards on the ground while going 11-of-16 passing with 159 yards. Miami outgained Ball State 523-382 on the evening.

The RedHawks' hopes for a MAC East title remain alive and they'll await MAC results on Friday to see if they will be prepping for a MAC Championship game against Northern Illinois on Nov. 30. Continue checking MiamiRedHawks.com for the latest news on the RedHawks' postseason.