Miami Drops MAC Opener at Toledo, 30-20

Saturday, October 5

Toledo, Ohio

3:30 p.m.

Miami University

1-4 , 0-1

Toledo

4-1 , 1-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Miami (OH)

Toledo

Photo by: Joe Zak

10/5/2024 7:02:00 PM | Football

Box Score Photo Gallery

TOLEDO, Ohio– The Miami University football team dropped its Mid-American Conference opener 30-20 at Toledo Saturday afternoon. Javon Tracy caught 10 passes for 119 yards and a touchdown for the RedHawks (1-4, 0-1 MAC), while Corban Hondru recorded two interceptions and a career-high 11 tackles for the Miami defense. Tucker Gleason threw for 318 yards for the Rockets, who move to 4-1 (1-0 MAC).

HOW IT HAPPENED

Toledo scored on its opening drive to take a 7-0 lead, as Gleason recovered a fourth-down fumble and plunged into the end zone midway through the first period.
After the Rockets extended the margin to 14-0, capitalizing on a blocked punt with a three-play scoring drive, the RedHawks got on the board. Miami moved into Rocket territory on back-to-back completions from Brett Gabbert to Andre Johnson and Cade McDonald, and Dom Dzioban finished off an 11-play, 68-yard drive with a 26-yard field goal.
The Rockets responded with a 10-play, 67-yard drive of their own, moving the ball into the red zone, but Hondru made an interception at the RedHawks' three-yard line to end the UT threat.
Toledo went ahead 17-3 on a second-quarter field goal, and the RedHawks came right back with a field goal of their own. A 51-yard pass to Reggie Virgil set up a 35-yard kick from Dzioban with 2:38 left in the half.
Hondru picked off another pass to thwart the Rockets' next possession, but the home team eventually tacked on a 48-yard field goal before halftime and a 47-yard field goal to begin the third quarter.
After an Adam Trick sack near the UT goal line, Miami took advantage of good field position on the ensuing punt to claim their first touchdown of the day. A 22-yard strike to Tracy set up a nine-yard scoring pass to Kevin Davis with 24 seconds left in the third quarter.
The deficit grew to 30-13 early in the fourth quarter on a one-yard Toledo touchdown pass, but Miami wouldn't go away. The RedHawks drove 75 yards in 15 plays and reached the end zone on a three-yard pass from Gabbert to Tracy with 5:46 remaining. The visitors would get one more possession, but were unable to put any additional points on the board.

NOTES

Hondru's interceptions were Miami's first of the season; the redshirt junior linebacker matched his previous career total with two picks in the game.
Gabbert threw for 296 yards and two scores.
Miami was a season-best 10-of-18 converting third downs.
Oscar McWood matched his career high with nine tackles.
Mychal Yharbrough made a career-high seven tackles.
Connor Briggs and Preston Daniel made their first career starts as RedHawks.
The RedHawks and Rockets played for the third time in less than 12 months after not having faced each other for the previous 12 years.