ATHENS, Ohio - Senior kicker Sam Sloman delivered a game-winning field goal from 53 yards and the Miami defense made a massive final stand as the Miami RedHawks pulled out a huge 24-21 win over the rival Ohio Bobcats Wednesday night, on the 150th anniversary celebration of the first ever college football game.

With the win, Miami (5-4, 4-1 Mid-American Conference) takes the driver's seat in the MAC East, as Ohio (4-5, 3-2 MAC) slips a game behind the RedHawks in the standings.

Before Sloman's pivotal kick put the final stamp on what was a back-and-forth contest, Jaylon Bester had two touchdowns for Miami while Brett Gabbert (10-18, 149 yards) found Jack Sorenson for Miami's other score. The Miami defense held the high-powered Ohio offense to just 21 points, well under the Bobcats' season average, led in part by two key first-half takeaways.

Ohio started with the ball and looked to be putting together a promising drive as the Bobcats moved it into the Miami red zone. However, Sterling Weatherford kept OU off the board as he knocked the football free on an O'Shaan Allison carry, then Kameron Butler fell on it for the Miami recovery and a touchback.

The RedHawks put together a few first downs after the fumble, but were ultimately forced to punt after a third-and-four run on the Ohio 34 was stopped in the backfield.

The first frame would end with the game still scoreless.

Early in the second, Ohio faced a third and one in Miami territory, but a huge stop behind the line by Bart Barrati forced the Bobcats to try a field goal. Louie Zervos' 50-yard try went wide left, keeping the game scoreless.

The next RedHawks drive would be a short one as it ended in another Kramer punt, but the Miami defense made another huge play to make up for it. On third and long, Lonnie Phelps sacked Ohio's Nathan Rourke and the ball came loose; Doug Costin recovered the ball for the 'Hawks.

The very next play from scrimmage finally got Miami on the board, as Bester took the Gabbert handoff and raced past the Ohio defense to the end zone. The 45-yard touchdown carry put the 'Hawks up 7-0 with 10 minutes left on the clock in the half.

However, the Bobcats would quickly answer back with their own quick touchdown drive. After a 50-yard rush from OU's De'Montre Tuggle set them up deep in Miami territory, Rourke found Ty Walton for the score and tied the game at seven each.

Although it appeared each team might score some late points before halftime, the 7-7 score held at the break. Miami's Maurice Thomas had a nice punt return into Ohio territory with just over two minutes left, but the RedHawks couldn't do anything with it. Ohio had a chance of their own to score late, but their drive stalled out near midfield and the half came to an end.

The RedHawks opened up half number two with a statement touchdown drive. After nine plays from the RedHawks set up third and seven on the Ohio 21, Sorenson made an incredible juggling catch in the back of the endzone to put another touchdown on the board for Miami and put MU back on top, 14-7.

Neither team would get much done on offense the rest of the quarter, and the 'Hawks held on to the seven-point lead as the final 15 minutes got underway.

Ohio would quickly erase that lead early in the fourth, however, as Rourke snuck into the end zone from just a yard out to again level the game.

The momentum swings continued as the RedHawks found the end zone just two plays later. James Maye broke away from his defender and was found by Gabbert streaking down the middle of the field, taking it all the way down to the Ohio 12. After an Ohio penalty, Bester earned his second TD of the day as he raced into the end zone from seven yards out, putting Miami up by a touchdown for the third time in the game.

The next drive would follow a similar script, as once again Ohio strung together a long drive and put seven on the board to tie the game. After it looked like he had a 37-yard scamper for a TD that was ruled out of bounds before the goal line after a review, Rourke put up his second rushing TD when he did in fact score just two plays later.

After the ensuing kick, the RedHawks found themselves tied at 21 with 8:58 on the clock. Miami marched down the field into Ohio territory, taking over five minutes off the clock, but an incomplete pass on third down left Miami with a fourth and long on the OU 35. Sloman lined up for the 53-yard kick and drilled it, matching his career-long FG and giving Miami what would prove to be the final score.

The Bobcats would get the ball with nearly four minutes left to play, but this time there would be no comeback from Ohio. The pivotal play came on second and ten, where Butler and Ryan McWood blew up the Ohio offensive line and dropped Rourke for a big loss. The third and fourth down pass attempts were incomplete, turning the ball back over to Miami on downs.

The RedHawks would wind down the clock, giving Ohio one desperation play from its own 20 with just seconds left, but the Miami defense dealt with it easily and secured the win.

Bester ended the game with 84 yards to lead all Miami runners. Defensively, McWood had 13 total tackles to lead the 'Hawks while Butler and Myles Reid added 10 each.

The win was Miami's first in Athens since 2005, and extends Miami's all-time series lead against Ohio to 54-40-2.

The RedHawks will look to keep the three-game winning streak rolling on November 13 back in Oxford, as Bowling Green comes to town for an 8 p.m. game that will be televised on ESPNU.