MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - The Miami University football team dropped a 26-3 decision to Big Ten foe Minnesota Saturday on a hot afternoon inside TCF Bank Stadium.
The RedHawks fall to 0-3 on the season while the Golden Gophers improve to 3-0.
After Miami was unable to get the offense going on its first drive of the game, the Gophers got on the board first with a 13-play touchdown drive. The next RedHawk drive saw the ball come free as
Gus Ragland dropped back to pass, with the Gophers recovering. Minnesota would be unable to convert, however, as the Miami defense held strong and kept the score at 7-0 going into the second quarter.
Minnesota would start the second with the ball after Miami was forced to punt at the end of the first. The Gophers would add to their lead on that drive with a 44-yard field goal. Miami grabbed their first points of the game with their next drive after two first down completions from Ragland and a pass interference call pushed the 'Hawks deep into Minnesota territory. A third down conversion attempt would come up short, but
Samuel Sloman knocked through a 37-yard field goal with 7:56 left in the quarter to shorten the Gopher lead to 10-3.
Miami would pick up a stop on the next Minnesota possession, but a strong punt pinned the RedHawks on their own two yard-line. The Gophers then turned that into a safety after the 'Hawks were unable to get out of the endzone, making the score 12-3. Minnesota followed the safety with a 68-yard touchdown drive, capped by a 7-yard Tyler Johnson reception with 1:14 left. The Gophers would take this 19-3 lead into the locker room.
Neither team would be able to get anything going on their respective opening drives of the second half. After forcing another three-and-out from the Gophers, the first play of the subsequent Miami drive resulted in an interception from Minnesota's Antonio Shenault who returned it down to the RedHawk 12. The Gophers would capitalize with a Zack Annexstad touchdown pass to Tyler Johnson to make it 26-3 with 5:47 left in the third.
Minnesota would force another RedHawk fumble with under a minute left in the quarter, recovering it on the Miami 22.
Brad Koenig would end the Minnesota threat, however, intercepting a Gopher pass in the red zone.
The Gophers would threaten one more time late in the fourth, but a forced fumble from
Doug Costin and a recovery from
Myles Reid put an end to the drive. The RedHawks would be unable to add any more points, and the game came to an end with a 26-3 final.
Defensively, the RedHawks were led by senior
De'Andre Montgomery who recorded a career-high 15 tackles. Sophomore
Mike Brown added his own career-high with 10 tackles. On offense, redshirt freshman
Davion Johnson carried the ball nine times for a career-high 50 yards.
The Red and White will kick off conference play next Saturday as they head to Bowling Green. Kick is scheduled for 3 p.m.
