RedHawks Take MAC East Lead With 30-16 Win Over Bobcats

Saturday, October 28

Athens, Ohio

3:30 p.m.

Miami University

7-2 , 4-1

Ohio

6-3 , 3-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Miami (OH)

Ohio

RedHawks Take MAC East Lead With 30-16 Win Over Bobcats

10/28/2023 7:20:00 PM | Football

Box Score

ATHENS, Ohio – The Miami University football team scored 30 unanswered points en route to a 30-16 victory over Ohio University in the annual Battle of the Bricks. Miami's (7-2, 4-1 MAC) Rashad Amos rushed for a season-high 163 yards and a touchdown, while the defense held Ohio (6-3, 3-2 MAC) to 50 yards rushing on 26 attempts.

Aveon Smith, filling in for an injured Brett Gabbert, threw for 103 yards and one score and add a second touchdown on the ground, while Cade McDonald had 90 punt return yards and Graham Nicholson was a perfect 3-for-3 on field goal attempts. Defensively, Miami had three sacks and Matt Salopek recorded 14 tackles.

How it Happened:

After Miami opened the contest with a three-and-out, the Bobcats marched 79 yards on six plays, finishing with a two-yard rushing score. Caiden Woullard blocked the extra point for an early 6-0 Ohio advantage.
Ohio made it 9-0 in the first quarter after the Bobcats converted on a 33-yard field goal with 1:28 left in the opening stanza.
Miami's defense helped the RedHawks get on the board in the second quarter. Brian Ugwu's strip-sack, combined with Corban Hondru's fumble recovery, gave Miami the ball at the OU 11-yard line. Four plays later, Graham Nicholson drilled a 26-yard field goal to cut the deficit, 9-3.
McDonald's 20-yard punt return moved the RedHawks to their own 41-yard line to begin their next drive. Smith found Gage Larvadain on completions of 11 and 13 yards and Amos had rushes of eight and 12 yards to help set up a 40-yard field goal from Nicholson. Miami trailed 9-6 with 4:20 left in the first half.
Miami's defense forced a second straight punt and two plays later Amos rumbled for 66 yards (with help on downfield blocks from Javon Tracy and Larvadain), down to the Ohio 8-yard line. Two plays later, Amos finished the drive with a 1-yard touchdown score to give Miami its first lead of the game, 13-9.
To begin the second half, Miami forced a three-and-out and McDonald returned the punt 53 yards. The red-shirt junior did fumble during the return, but Woullard was there for the recovery. Four plays later, Nicholson connected on a 26-yard field goal for a 16-9 Miami lead.
Austin Ertl beat his block on a third-and-1 run play, forcing a fifth-straight OU three-and-out. On the ensuing drive, an Ohio pass inference penalty, followed by a 24-yard rush from Amos moved the RedHawks inside the redzone. Two plays later, Smith bullied his way into the end zone for a 3-yard touchdown, spotting Miami a 23-9 advantage midway through the third quarter.
Kevin Davis took a swing pass from Smith and tip-toed down the sideline for a 46-yard touchdown as the RedHawks extended their lead, 30-9 with 11:13 to play.
Ohio snapped the 30-unanswered Miami points with a 72-yard drive, converting a fourth down touchdown pass to make it 30-16 with 7:56 to play.
Miami's offense milked the next 7:23 to ice the contest.

Game Notes:

Rashad Amos had a career-high 163 rushing yards, including a career-long 66-yard carry. He has scored a touchdown in five of his last six games.
Oscar McWood, Brian Ugwu and Caiden Woullard all recorded sacks. Woullard now leads the MAC with 7.0 sacks this season.
Cade McDonald had five punt returns for 90 yards, including a career long 53-yard return, helping to set up a Miami field goal.
Matt Salopek finished with 14 tackles, the fifth time this season he has reached double-digit tackles in a game.
Raion Strader had a career-high nine tackles.
Miami is now 5-1 on the road this season (best in the NCAA) and the win snaps Ohio's 10-game home win streak.