Miami Comeback Comes Up Short Against Toledo

Saturday, October 21

Oxford, Ohio

4 p.m.

Miami University

6-2 , 3-1

Toledo

7-1 , 4-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Toledo

Miami (OH)

Miami Comeback Comes Up Short Against Toledo

10/21/2023 7:24:00 PM | Football

Box Score Matt Salopek Postgame Press Conference Photo Gallery

OXFORD, Ohio– The Miami University football team fell to visiting Toledo 21-17 on Saturday afternoon, snapping the RedHawks' six-game winning streak.

The RedHawks (6-2, 3-1 MAC) held the Rockets (7-1, 4-0 MAC) scoreless in the second half, but were unable to complete the comeback attempt after trailing 21-3 at halftime. Rashad Amos and Kenny Tracy each scored rushing touchdowns for Miami, while starting quarterback Brett Gabbert was 14 of 29 for 179 yards through the air before leaving the game late in the third quarter with a lower-body injury.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Toledo scored first on a three-yard touchdown pass from Dequan Finn to Devin Maddox late in the opening quarter. That ended a streak of more than 256 minutes of action since the last time Miami had trailed (dating back to the fourth quarter at Cincinnati on Sept. 16).
Miami answered back on its next possession to get on the board, capping a 13-play, 72-yard drive with a 21-yard field goal from Graham Nicholson to cut the margin to 7-3 at the 12:26 mark of the second quarter.
The Rockets used up more than half of the second quarter on a 16-play drive, ultimately stretching their lead to 14-3 on Finn's fourth-down scoring run with 3:50 remaining in the period.
Toledo found the end zone again with 33 seconds left before intermission on a 20-yard touchdown pass from Finn to Anthony Torres. The Rockets finished off an 84-yard drive that lasted less than two minutes.
The Miami defense made a statement on the opening possession of the second half, as Matt Salopek sacked Finn for a 16-yard loss to force a punt. Cade McDonald returned the kick 14 yards to give the RedHawks excellent field position at the Toledo 38.
Five plays later, a key 17-yard completion from Gabbert to Gage Larvadain on 3rd-and-10 set up Miami at the visitors' two-yard line. Kenny Tracy carried it in from there on the next snap to pull the Red and White within 21-10.
Miami struck again late in the third quarter to make it a one-possession game. Facing a 3rd-and-19, Gabbert found Larvadain for 18 yards and moved the sticks with a critical fourth-down completion to Javon Tracy. Amos finished the drive with a tough two-yard run to make it 21-17.
The RedHawks had multiple possessions in the fourth quarter with the chance to take the lead, but were unable to find the end zone. A turnover in the final two minutes ended Miami's final chance, allowing the Rockets to kneel out the clock.

NOTES

Nicholson moved into a tie for fourth on Miami's all-time list with his 47th career field goal, matching Chad Seitz.
Miami forced the Rockets to punt on seven consecutive possessions in the second half.
Amos had 10 carries for 55 yards and a touchdown for the Red and White.
Larvadain led the RedHawks with seven catches for 85 yards.
Ty Wise made a career-high 13 tackles, while Salopek added 10.
This was the teams' first meeting since 2011 (a span of 4,382 days).

UP NEXT:
Miami travels to Ohio on Saturday, Oct. 28 for the Battle of the Bricks. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. in Athens, Ohio, and the game will air on CBS Sports Network.