Miami Blows Out Buffalo 45-18

Tuesday, November 9

Oxford, Ohio

7 p.m.

Miami University

5-5 , 4-2

Buffalo

4-6 , 2-4

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Buffalo

Miami (OH)

11/9/2021 11:07:00 PM | Football

Box Score Photo Gallery

OXFORD, Ohio - The Miami University football team remained perfect at home with a 45-18 victory over Buffalo Tuesday, earning their 13th straight victory at Yager Stadium. The dominating combination of Jack Sorenson and Brett Gabbert, plus key plays from multiple defensive players, proved too much for the Bulls, with Miami picking up six touchdowns compared to Buffalo's two. The win moves Miami to 5-5 on the season and 4-2 in the Mid-American Conference, while Buffalo falls to 4-6 on the season and 2-4 in the MAC.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

Sterling Weatherford and Sorenson helped Miami get off to an ideal start, with Weatherford recovering a fumble only a few minutes into Buffalo's first drive. A 58-yard pass from Gabbert to Sorenson on a flea-flicker gave the RedHawks a touchdown on MU's opening offensive play of the game and a 7-0 lead early in the first quarter.
Buffalo immediately responded with a touchdown the following drive, tying the score. On the next Miami drive, Graham Nicholson was able to convert a 27-yard field goal, putting the RedHawks on top 10-7.
The final Buffalo drive of the first quarter saw the team giving up possession after just four plays, allowing Miami to take over and move down the field once more. On the first play of the second quarter, Gabbert connected with Mac Hippenhammer for a 14-yard scoring pass, extending the RedHawks' lead to 17-10.
A 48-yard reception for Buffalo put them deep into Miami's territory, but the Bulls were unable to fully capitalize, only picking up a field goal. While the RedHawks turned the ball over on the following drive, John Saunders Jr. intercepted a Buffalo pass to give Miami the momentum right back. The RedHawks took advantage on a 27-yard scoring rush from Tracy Kenny, bringing the score to 24-10.
Despite once again moving within 25 yards of a touchdown, Buffalo could not create a one-score game. Miami didn't fare much better on the following drive, with a sack and a penalty bringing the RedHawks even further into their own territory and forcing a fourth-down punt, setting Buffalo up for the final drive of the half. However, Miami had the final say, closing the half out with a sack by Kobe Hilton.
Miami was able to earn two more touchdowns in the third quarter. The first came after a fumble recovery by Hilton, which led to a 10-yard pass from Gabbert to Andrew Homer. The second resulted from another pass from Gabbert, this one a 39-yard shot to Jalen Walker which brought the score to 38-10.
The first RedHawks drive of the fourth quarter ended abruptly with a fumble recovered by Buffalo. That led to a Bulls touchdown, with a successful two-point conversion edging the score to 38-18.
The following drive saw Miami, boosted by a 15-yard pass interference penalty, put the ball back into the red zone. Despite a reversed touchdown call placing the ball at the one-yard line, Keyon Mozee was able to convert on the following play, rushing in to make the score 45-18.
Buffalo's final drive of the game ended with a sack by Kameron Butler that resulted in Hilton's second fumble recovery of the game. Miami moved back into the red zone, but kneeled the final four plays to close out the night.

GAME NOTES:

Miami has the fifth-longest active home winning streak in the country at 13 games; Clemson currently leads the nation with 32 straight home victories.
Sorenson passed the 1,000 yard receiving mark on the opening touchdown; he is the sixth all-time RedHawk to do so. This is also Sorenson's fifth straight game earning over 100 receiving yards, with a final number of 112.
Walker was able to pick up over 100 receiving yards as well with a final count of 136, marking the first time since 2014 that two Miami players hit triple digits in one game.
With 351 passing yards across the game, Gabbert broke the Miami record for most passing yards in a two-game span, adding onto last game's count of 492 for a total of 843. The previous record was 819, set by Ben Roethlisberger in 2002.
Kenny Tracy's touchdown in the second quarter earned him the longest rush of his career at 27 yards.

UP NEXT:
The RedHawks return to action for the final home game of the season against Bowling Green on Tuesday, Nov. 16. Kickoff time and broadcast information will be announced Thursday.