I
OWA CITY, Iowa – Despite taking a lead in the second quarter and trailing by just three at the half, the Miami RedHawks fell away late to lose 38-14 to the #20 Iowa Hawkeyes in their season opener Saturday night at Kinnick Stadium.
Brett Gabbert became the first true freshman to start a game at quarterback for Miami and launched a pair of touchdown passes in his debut. He completed 17-of-27 passes (63%) for a total of 186 yards along with the two TDs and an interception.
The Hawkeyes got the ball to start the game and moved into Miami territory, but a big stop on fourth and three turned the ball over to the RedHawks. Gabbert completed his first collegiate pass for a first down, but a penalty negated the gain and eventually forced the 'Hawks to punt it away.
Iowa would take their next drive to within the Miami ten, but the Hawkeyes were forced to settle for a field goal after a Miami stop on third and goal and took a 3-0 lead as the first quarter came to a close.
The RedHawks answered back in a big way as they pieced together a 77-yard touchdown drive to take the lead early in the second. The series featured a big 30-yard strike from Gabbert to
Luke Mayock on third down to keep the drive alive and was punctuated by a diving touchdown catch from
Jack Sorenson for Gabbert's first career passing TD.
Iowa would come back and retake the lead with a big drive of its own. The Hawkeyes took it 79 yards and punched it in on a Nate Stanley pass to Brandon Smith, just one play after Stanley found Mekhi Sargent for 41 yards on third and 16.
The two teams would trade punts, resulting in the RedHawks taking possession at midfield with two and a half minutes left. A Gabbert scramble on third down appeared to pick up the first, but the call was reviewed and overturned and Iowa kept the 10-7 lead going into the locker room.
Miami went three-and-out to start the second half, and the Hawkeyes ran with the opportunity to extend their lead. A seven-play drive from Iowa resulted in Stanley's second touchdown pass of the game, this time to Oliver Martin, as the Hawkeyes stretched their lead to 17-7.
It wouldn't take long for Iowa to find the endzone a second time, as the Hawkeyes found pay dirt in just three plays, punching it in on a two-yard Mekhi Sargent run.
Miami took their next drive into Iowa territory but stalled out. However, the 'Hawks would take the ball back just a few plays later when they forced an Iowa fumble that was picked up by
Doug Costin as the third quarter came to a close.
The turnover paid off for the RedHawks – after a clutch fourth-down conversion from Gabbert to
Davion Johnson, Gabbert would throw his second touchdown of the game with a 20-yard toss to
Andrew Homer that trimmed the deficit to 24-14 with just under 13 minutes left in the game.
Despite the glimmer of hope for the RedHawks, Iowa would put things away on their next drive. After a 13-play, 75-yard series that chewed up nearly seven minutes of clock, the Hawkeyes converted a fourth down on the Miami two-yard-line with a touchdown run from Toren Young and went back up by 17.
The RedHawks immediately turned the ball back over to Iowa, as the very first play of the ensuing drive was a Michael Ojemudia interception off of a Gabbert pass. The Hawkeyes made good on the turnover, finding the endzone for the fifth time with an Ihmir Smith-Marsette touchdown reception from Stanley.
Jackson Williamson came in at QB for the last drive of the game, but the 'Hawks couldn't get anything going and the game to a close with the final score at 38-14.
Iowa outgained the RedHawks 465 to 245, including a 213-59 edge on the ground. The Hawkeyes ran 71 plays to Miami's 52 and had possession for just over ten minutes longer than the RedHawks.
On the defensive side of the ball,
Sterling Weatherford and
Ryan McWood led the 'Hawks with 10 tackles apiece.
Miami will return to action with its home opener next Saturday as the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles visit Yager Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 2:30 p.m.
