RedHawks Stand Strong in 27-24 Win Over Kent State

Saturday, October 8

Oxford, Ohio

3:30 p.m.

Miami University

3-3 , 1-1

Kent State

2-4 , 1-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Kent St.

Miami (OH)

Photo by: Jeff Sabo

RedHawks Stand Strong in 27-24 Win Over Kent State

10/8/2022 7:25:00 PM | Football

Box Score

OXFORD, Ohio — With just over 60 seconds to play, Aveon Smith found Jack Coldiron for a 16-yard completion, converting a fourth-and-six from the Kent State 28-yard line, to propel the Miami University football team to a 27-24 victory on Saturday afternoon at Yager Stadium. The RedHawks (3-3, 1-1 MAC) defense was outstanding all afternoon, holding the Golden Flashes (2-4, 1-1 MAC) to just 109 rushing yards (on 35 carries), 110 yards below their season average

Offensively, the RedHawks rushed for 236 yards of their own and Smith finished the contest connecting on 9-of-14 passes for 179 yards and added 71 yards rushing.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

Miami capitalized on a Kent State miscue midway through the first period to take a 3-0 lead. Three plays after the Golden Flashes muffed a Dom Dzioban punt, Miami took advantage with a 49-yard field goal from Nicholson.
After forcing Kent State to go 3-and-out, Miami reclaimed possession at their 22. Miles Marshall put the RedHawks in prime position after a 76-yard Smith throw, with Tyre Shelton running the ball in from two yards out for the 10-0 touchdown.
Miami stretched its margin before the quarter expired. Rushes from Shelton and Smith moved the RedHawks into KSU territory, and Kevin Davis finished the drive off with a 41-yard dash into the end zone, bringing the Miami lead to 17-0.
A Kent State interception set up the Golden Flashes to grab their first points of the game. Moving down the field from their own 35, two connections from Collin Schlee to Devontez Walker closed out an eight-play drive to put KSU on the board 17-7.
The RedHawks forced a fourth-down punt from Kent State after a Matthew Salopek sack. On the following possession, Miami rushed just past the 50 before Smith delivered a 41-yarder to Jack Coldiron to set-up another scoring opportunity. Shelton brought the ball the remaining three yards, moving the score up 24-7.
Responding the very next drive, the Golden Flashes positioned just outside the redzone on a 21-yard rush from Schlee. The quarterback then sent a 23-yard pass to Walker, reducing the scoring gap to 24-14.
Despite putting three more up after a 45-yard field goal from Nicholson, the RedHawks couldn't stop Kent State from finding the first points of the fourth quarter. After the Golden Flashes got the ball within five yards of the endzone, Miami was able to push KSU backwards on back-to-back plays, including Salopek's second sack of the day, but Schlee got those lost yards back on a 14-yard touchdown pass to Dante Cephas.
Kent State was able to tease out a final field goal before the end of the game, with a nine-play drive culminating in a 38-yard kick from Andrew Glass to end the game's scoring with the RedHawks on top 27-24
Miami iced the game, converting a fourth-and six at the KSU 28-yard line to run out the clock.

GAME NOTES:

With the win, Miami extends its undefeated streak at Yager Stadium to 16.
Caiden Woullard blocked his second kick of the year, getting a hand on a KSU 41-yard field goal attempt in the opening quarter; Woullard previously blocked a punt in the win at Northwestern.
Reginald Virgil, Matt Bjorson and Ambe' Caldwell each made their first career start on Saturday.
Coldiron had a career long 41-yard reception in the third quarter.
Salopek's two sacks were a career-high.