Bring on Detroit! RedHawks Beat Buffalo 23-10 to Win MAC East

Wednesday, November 15

Oxford, Ohio

7 p.m.

Miami University

9-2 , 6-1

Buffalo

3-8 , 3-4

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Buffalo

Miami (OH)

Javon Tracy had a career-high five catches for 123 yards to lead the Miami offense

Photo by: Bella Sagarese

Bring on Detroit! RedHawks Beat Buffalo 23-10 to Win MAC East

11/15/2023 10:13:00 PM | Football

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OXFORD, Ohio– The Miami University football team defeated Buffalo 23-10 Wednesday night at Yager Stadium to clinch the 2023 Mid-American Conference East championship and advance to the MAC title game.

Rashad Amos had 82 rushing yards and two touchdowns for the RedHawks (9-2, 6-1 MAC), who won their first division title since 2019 and earned a rematch with MAC West champ Toledo on Saturday, Dec. 2 at Ford Field in Detroit. Aveon Smith threw for a season-high 146 yards for Miami. Buffalo falls to 3-8, 3-4 MAC.

HOW IT HAPPENED

After a scoreless first quarter, Miami got on the board midway through the second period. In a field position battle, the RedHawks eventually forced Buffalo's Anthony Venneri to punt from his end zone and took over after a fair catch at the Bulls' 44-yard line. Kenny Tracy dashed 37 yards on the next play, and Miami went on to take a 3-0 lead on Graham Nicholson's 25-yard field goal at the 8:45 mark.
The RedHawks found the end zone on their next drive, marching 88 yards on six plays to go up 10-0. Javon Tracy made a twisting highlight-reel grab for 22 yards to get Miami into Buffalo territory, and Amos scored three plays later on a 30-yard touchdown run.
Buffalo responded with an 11-play, 47-yard drive to trim Miami's lead, connecting on a 48-yard field goal as the first half expired to pull within 10-3.
The RedHawks tacked on three points on the first possession of the second half. A 37-yard catch by Javon Tracy helped Miami convert a third down and keep its drive alive, leading to a 37-yard Nicholson field goal.
The visitors put together a 13-play, 75-yard drive to cut the margin to 13-10. A successful fake punt moved the Bulls to the Miami 22-yard line, and UB later chose to accept an offside penalty on a field goal try, setting up a first-and-goal situation. CJ Ogbonna capped the drive with a three-yard touchdown run with 2:14 remaining in the third quarter.
Sparked by a 52-yard Javon Tracy catch down the left sideline, Miami pushed the lead to 20-10 with 10:45 to play. Tracy juked one defender and broke the tackle of another, racing all the way to the Buffalo two-yard line. Amos did the rest, breaking through to the end zone on the next play to put Miami on top by 10.
The RedHawks added a 23-yard field goal with 3:11 left to extend their lead to 23-10. Buffalo then tried to rally with a 80-yard pass to Marlyn Johnson, but Miami's Michael Dowell tracked Johnson down from behind and punched the ball out inches from the end zone to force a turnover and a touchback for the home team.
After a Miami punt in the final minute, Caiden Woullard registered a sack and forced a fumble on the Bulls' last play of the night, with Brian Ugwu recovering.

NOTES

Nicholson was 3-for-3 on field goals and is a perfect 22-of-22 this season.
Javon Tracy finished with a career-high in both catches and yards, finishing the night with five receptions for 123 yards.
Ty Wise made a career-high 15 tackles to lead the Miami defense.
Woullard's forced fumble was his second of the season, while Dowell's was his first of the year.

UP NEXT:
Miami travels to Ball State on Saturday, Nov. 25 to conclude the regular season. Kick time is set for noon in Muncie, Ind. and the game will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network.