MOBILE, Ala. - The 2019 Mid-American Conference champion Miami RedHawks saw their season come to an end Monday night in Mobile as the 'Hawks (8-6) fell to the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns (11-3) 27-17 in the LendingTree Bowl.
Jaylon Bester had a pair of touchdowns on the ground to lead the RedHawk offense.
Brett Gabbert went 22-31 for 248 yards, while
Jack Sorenson had a career-high and Miami bowl record 10 receptions for 107 yards. Gabbert's 22 completions also ties a Miami bowl record, as Austin Boucher in 2011 and
Gus Ragland in 2016 both reached the same mark.
The first quarter would go uneventfully with neither team having any real scoring opportunities. After the RedHawks punted near midfield on their first possession, Louisiana moved the ball into RedHawk territory before facing a fourth and one. Although the Ragin' Cajuns initially lined up to go for it, back-to-back offensive penalties forced them to punt as well.Â
The RedHawks' next series looked promising as Miami moved the ball into plus territory after starting the possession pinned near their goal line, but a sack from Louisiana helped put an end to the drive. The Cajuns would then give the game its fourth punt in just the first quarter, as a huge tackle for loss from
Kameron Butler and
Ryan McWood helped the MU defense get off the field as the quarter came to a close.
The RedHawks finally opened the scoring in the early goings of quarter number two, as Miami marched 66 yards in 10 plays before Bester found the end zone from five yards out. The score marked his tenth consecutive game with a touchdown, a streak dating back to the RedHawks' conference opener against Buffalo in September, and his 13th rushing TD of the season.
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The Cajuns answered back with their first score, hitting a 33-yard field goal to cut the RedHawk lead to 7-3. Following a 36-yard completion down to the Miami 14, the RedHawk defense made a stand and forced Louisiana to kick.
After Miami stalled out on their next drive, the Ragin' Cajuns took their first lead of the game as they drove 57 yards and found the end zone on a two-yard rush from Elija Mitchell. Louisiana took the 10-7 lead into halftime.
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The Cajuns picked up right where they left off to start the third, as they received the second-half kickoff and put together a 70-yard touchdown drive to stretch their lead to 17-7. Ja'Mar Bradley provided the score when he caught a 9-yard pass from Levi Lewis in the back of the end zone after Lewis was nearly sacked by the Miami defense.
Miami would answer back with a score, as
Sam Sloman hit a field goal from 39 yards out to make the score 17-10. Gabbert completed his twelfth straight pass during the drive, a streak that counted for the seventh-best in bowl game history across all bowls.
The RedHawks would still have no answer for the Cajuns' offense, however, as Louisiana marched down the field for yet another touchdown drive and Bradley caught his second TD of the game.
Miami would not go away, as the RedHawks opened the fourth quarter with Bester's second touchdown of the game as he scored from one yard out to cap off a season-long 14-play drive. This trimmed Louisiana's lead to 24-17 with 11:35 left in the contest.
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The Miami defense would do its job, as the 'Hawks then forced the Cajuns into a three-and-out for the first time in the game.
The RedHawks would look to tie the game up, starting the drive from their own 20. After one first down, Bester had a two-yard third-down rush that was ruled down by contact on the field. However, after review, it was determined that there was a fumble on the play and a clear recovery by Louisiana. The Cajuns turned the turnover into three points, and took a 27-17 lead with four and a half minutes left to play.
After a would-be interception was negated due to pass interference from Louisiana, the RedHawks found a huge play when Gabbert connected with
James Maye for 63 yards down to the Louisiana two. However, after three failed attempts to get into the end zone, the snap on fourth down was fumbled, resulting in a 23-yard loss and a turnover on downs.
The RedHawks would force a three-and-out with just under three minutes left, but Gabbert would get sacked on a fourth-down conversion attempt and the Cajuns would run out the clock.
The final yardage tally was 401-351 in favor of Louisiana. McWood led the Miami defense with nine total tackles, while
Bart Baratti had eight.
Miami's all time bowl record slips to 5-5, while the 'Hawks are now 2-1 all time in the Mobile bowl game (previously known as the GMAC Bowl and GoDaddy.com Bowl).
The RedHawks open their 2020 campaign on September 5 against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh.Â
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