KENT, Ohio – Erasing a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit was not enough for the Miami University football team as it dropped a 48-47 overtime decision to Kent State on Saturday afternoon. The win sends KSU to the MAC Championship game with a 7-5 overall and 6-2 Mid-American Conference record, while the RedHawks fall to 6-6 overall and 5-3 in conference play.
 
Trailing 41-31, the RedHawks scored 10 points in the last 10:03 of the contest to send the game to overtime. Then, with the RedHawks trailing 48-41, Jalen Walker scored a 25-yard touchdown and head coach Chuck Martin elected to go for the win, but the pass attempt was batted down, giving the Golden Flashes the victory.
 
In the loss, Brett Gabbert threw for 405 yards and four touchdowns and the offense finished with 549 yards from scrimmage. Miami has now lost three MAC games by a combined four points.
 
How it Happened:

• Kameron Butler intercepted Dustin Crum on the second play of the game, setting up a 33-yard field goal for Graham Nicholson.
• Kent State answered with a 75-yard touchdown drive to take an early 7-3 advantage. The RedHawks followed with another short field goal, this time from 28 yards with 4:43 to play in the first quarter.
• Following a Cedric Boswell interception, Gabbert and the RedHawk offense marched 65 yards, capped by a 19-yard touchdown to Jack Sorenson to give the Red and White a 13-7 lead early in the second quarter. A third Nicholson field goal made it 16-7 Miami with 4:32 left in the second quarter.
• The Golden Flashes scored the final 10 points of the first half and led 17-16 as the two teams went to the locker room.
• After Kent State scored to extend its lead to 24-16, the RedHawks once again responded, this time on a 24-yard Jack Coldiron touchdown to inch within 24-23 with 4:03 left in the third quarter. Moments later, KSU's Xavier Williams scampered for a 50-yard score to make it an eight-point contest at 31-23. The Flashes made it a 34-23 lead 53 seconds into the fourth with a 37-yard field goal.
• A Gabbert interception on the ensuing drive made things look bleak for the Red and White. Miami's defense then forced a three-and-out and Ben Kimpler blocked a field goal. Three plays later Gabbert found Kenny Tracy on a wheel route for a 49-yard touchdown. A Coldiron 2-point conversion made it 34-31 with 11:34 to play.
• KSU's Keshunn Abram broke a tackle and pulled away for a 70-yard score just 17 seconds later. Brett Gabbert rumbled for a nine-yard touchdown 1:14 later to cut the KSU lead to 41-38 with 10:03 to play.
• With Kent State threatening to ice the game, Ivan Pace Jr. split a pair of defenders on a fourth-and-one to give Gabbert and the Miami offense one final chance. The offense drove inside the KSU 5-yard line, but settled for a 20-yard field goal, sending the game to overtime.

 
Game Notes:

• The RedHawks are now 0-6 all-time in overtime contests, the last coming on Oct. 20, 2018 at Army.
• Cedric Boswell and Kameron Butler each recorded their first career interception.
• Kenny Tracy had a career-high 104 receiving yards.
• Kevin Davis recorded a career-high 56 rushing yards on 10 carries.
• Jack Coldiron finished with career-highs in catches (5) and yards (83).
• Ivan Pace Jr. had 13 tackles and four tackles for loss and Matthew Salopek added 12 stops.

 
Up Next:
Miami awaits a bowl invite. Stay tuned to MiamiRedHawks.com for more details.