Defense Leads Way in 23-3 Win Over Kent State

Saturday, September 30

Kent, Ohio

2:30 p.m.

Miami University

4-1 , 1-0

Kent State

1-4 , 0-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Miami (OH)

Kent St.

Defense Leads Way in 23-3 Win Over Kent State

9/30/2023 5:54:00 PM | Football

Box Score

KENT, Ohio – Brett Gabbert threw for 216 yards and one touchdown and the Miami University defense held Kent State to 206 yards of offense as the RedHawks downed the Golden Flashes, 23-3. Miami's 23 unanswered points helped propel the RedHawks to 4-1 overall and 1-0 in Mid-American Conference play, while KSU falls to 1-4, 0-1 MAC.

How it Happened:

After a Miami three-and-out to open the game, Kent State drove 59 yards and settled for a 27-yard field goal to take an early 3-0 advantage.
On KSU's following drive, Jackson Kuwatch sniffed out a Golden Flashes fake punt to set up Miami at the KSU 22-yard line. Four plays later, Graham Nicholson split the uprights on a 40-yard field goal to tie the game midway through the first quarter.
Gabbert's swing pass to Cade McDonald for a 32-yard catch-and-run touchdown gave Miami a 10-3 lead with 20 seconds remaining in the opening 15 minutes of action. Gabbert was a perfect 3-for-3 on the drive.
A Joe Wilkins Jr. 49-yard contested catch followed by a Rashad Amos 12-yard rush moved Miami down to the KSU 12-yard line, but the RedHawks had to settle for a Nicholson 40-yard field goal. Miami led 13-3 with 5:17 left in the half.
Miami's defense forced a punt to begin the second half and the RedHawks drove 50 yards on nine plays, capped by a 24-yard field goal from Nicholson.
The RedHawks pushed their lead to 23-3 after a six-play, 84-yard drive late in the third quarter. The drive was sparked by a 48-yard grab by Wilkins Jr. and Amos finished the drive with a one-yard touchdown score.
Miami's defense did the rest. The Flashes only crossed the 50-yard line once in the second half and were forced to punt/turnover on downs on all five second-half drives.

Game Notes:

With Gage Larvadain out with an injury, Joe Wilkins Jr. had a career-best 110 receiving yards to go along with three catches.
Chuck Martin passed Terry Hoeppner with 49 career Miami wins, which ranks second all-time in program history, behind only Randy Walker (59).
Miami's 4-1 start is the best start for the RedHawks since 2003.
Kent State finished the contest with 36 yards rushing on 35 attempts.
Gabbert posted his 55th career passing touchdown, fourth-best in Miami history. Next on that list is Gus Ragland (56).
Miami had a season-high 7.0 sacks in the win over the Flashes. Ty Wise (2.0), Caiden Woullard (1.5), Silas Walters (1.0), Oscar McWood (1.0, first career), Corey Suttle (1.0) and Austin Ertl (0.5) all brought down the KSU quarterback.
Graham Nicholson was a perfect 3-for-3 on Saturday from field-goal range and has yet to miss a kick in 2023 (8-for-8).
Ty Wise (9), Matt Salopek (9) and Brian Ugwu (8) led the way in tackles.