NASSAU, Bahamas — The Miami University football team rallied from 10-0 and 17-13 deficits to take second-half leads, but UAB scored with 1:33 left to edge the RedHawks 24-20 in the HomeTown Lenders Bahamas Bowl on Friday. Miami drove the ball down the field once more on its final possession but came up two yards short of a dramatic victory on the last play of the game.
Aveon Smith threw for 162 yards and two touchdowns and added 50 rushing yards for the RedHawks (6-7). Trea Shopshire had 183 receiving yards to lead the Blazers (7-6).
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Blazers found the end zone first, taking a 7-0 lead on their opening drive after a 10-yard touchdown catch by Shropshire. UAB added on a 42-yard field goal later in the period to go on top 10-0.
- Miami got on the board in the final minute of the first half. After a 25-yard punt return from Jalen Walker, the RedHawks capitalized with an 11-play, 65-yard scoring drive. Smith converted a pair of fourth downs on the ground before finishing the possession with a 33-yard scoring strike to Mac Hippenhammer. The extra point was blocked, leaving the Blazers with a 10-6 lead at intermission.
- The RedHawks went on top 13-10 in the third quarter. Ambe' Caldwell recovered a muffed punt at the UAB 4-yard line, and Kevin Davis rushed for a touchdown on the next play to give Miami its first lead with 5:44 remaining in the quarter.
- UAB answered back with a 14-play, 75-yard drive to re-take the lead. Jermaine Brown Jr. picked up the final three yards on the ground to put UAB up 17-13.
- Miami promptly responded by marching the ball 75 yards down the field in 12 plays for the go-ahead score. Facing a 3rd-and-8 play at the UAB 10, Smith tossed a 10-yard touchdown pass to running back Kenny Tracy to give the Red and White a 20-17 lead with 6:52 to play.
- The Blazers went ahead 24-20 with 1:33 left on a 12-yard scoring run by Brown Jr., capping a five-play, 70-yard drive.
- Smith moved the chains on 4th-and-5 and 4th-and-4 plays to keep Miami's last-chance drive alive, with the RedHawks earning one final snap from the UAB 15-yard line in the last second of the game. Smith completed a pass to Walker over the middle, but he was tackled two yards short of the end zone as time expired.
NOTES
- Tracy's touchdown was his first of the season.
- Rowan Zolman made his first career interception.
- Nolan Johnson recorded his first career sack.
- Matthew Salopek collected his first forced fumble and first fumble recovery of the season.
- Salopek made a season-high 15 tackles, including 10 solo tackles.
- Miami is now 8-6 all-time in bowl games.
UP NEXT:
Miami Football will begin the 2023 season on Saturday, Sept. 2 with a non-conference game at the University of Miami (Fla).