OXFORD, Ohio. — The Miami RedHawks began their season on a high note and scored four critical touchdowns in the second half as the RedHawks (1-0, 1-0 Mid-American) defeated Ball State, 38-31, at Yager Stadium on Wednesday evening. The win, which gave Miami the Red Bird Trophy, was also the 300th MAC win in team history.

The second half proved to be pivotal for the RedHawks in the season opener, with four touchdowns for 28 points to erase a 21-10 deficit to the Cardinals. Miami finished with 422 total yards in the victory. AJ Mayer finished the contest 16-of-24 for 211 yards with three touchdowns, including two passes to redshirt freshman Jack Coldiron. This game included milestones for the pair, with Mayer throwing his first touchdown pass and Coldiron scoring his first touchdown with his first career catch.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Ball State opened its first drive of the year with a score, as Justin Hall carried in one of his two rushing scores of the game during an 8-play, 90-yard drive. The kick attempt from Jack Knight for the extra point proved to be fair, giving the Cardinals a 7-0 lead with 7:01 left in the 1st.
• After an injury to Brett Gabbert in the second quarter, Mayer came in for the rest of the game at quarterback. Mayer's appearance marks his fourth career appearance in a game for the redshirt sophomore.
• Miami would begin the second quarter down by seven but driving. After the injury to Gabbert, Ball State received a penalty that cost them 15 yards, and Miami took the opportunity to capitalize. The RedHawks answered with a six-play, 84-yard drive ending with a two-yard rushing score from Zach Kahn. The kick attempt for the extra point from Henry Beckett also succeeded as the game was tied at seven to kick off the second quarter.
• Ball State immediately responded. Drew Plitt threw a complete pass to Justin Hall, who rushed 66 yards to double the Ball State point total with a touchdown. 
• The RedHawks secured three more points with a good field goal in the last minute of the first half to decrease the Cardinal lead to four. Beckett's field goal attempt was from 37-yards out.
• A key, nine-play drive for the Cardinals ended with another six points for the visitors as Caleb Huntley carried in his first score of the day. Knight's kick attempt was good, as Ball State increased their lead once more to make it a 21-10 game to begin the second half. 
• In the third quarter, Miami regained momentum, capping a 12 play, 79-yard drive with a six-yard touchdown pass to Coldiron after receiving a pass from Mayer. The scoring play marks the first career touchdown and catch for Coldiron and the first career touchdown pass for Mayer.
• Coldiron and Mayer added more to the stat sheet, with Mayer passing the ball back to Coldiron to cap a 98 yard drive with a touchdown to give the home team the lead for the first time in the game. 
• Mayer and the offense settled in, beginning from the Miami 12. Mayer threw a back-shoulder pass to redshirt junior Jalen Walker,  to score Miami's third touchdown of the second half and add to the RedHawk lead.
• Ball State closed to within three late in the fourth quarter when Huntley completed an eight-play, 54-yard drive with an 18-yard touchdown to keep the game in play for the Cardinals.
• Ball State tied the game with a 48-yard field goal to tie the game at 31.
• After a quick three-and-out for the RedHawks, the Cardinals took over with just over a minute to go. Two plays later Ryan McWood recorded his first career interception to set up the winning drive. Zach Kahn scored his second touchdown of the game to put the RedHawks up 38-31 with 10 seconds to play.

WHAT'S NEXT:

The RedHawks will continue the 2020 football season on the road, traveling to University at Buffalo to play on Tuesday, November 10. Kickoff in The Empire State is slated for an 8 p.m. start and will also be streamed live on ESPN.