Miami Takes Down NIU 20-9 For Sixth-Straight Win

Tuesday, November 19

Oxford, Ohio

8 p.m.

Miami University

7-4 , 6-1

Northern Illinois

6-5 , 3-4

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

NIU

Miami (OH)

Photo by: Ellie Reynolds

Miami Takes Down NIU 20-9 For Sixth-Straight Win

11/19/2024 11:33:00 PM | Football

Box Score Bowl Interest Form Corey Suttle and Reggie Virgil Postgame Interview Photo Gallery

OXFORD, Ohio– The Miami University football team scored on three straight possessions in the first half and went on to defeat Northern Illinois 20-9 Tuesday night. Reggie Virgil made four catches for 107 yards and a touchdown for the RedHawks (7-4, 6-1 MAC), who won their sixth game in a row. NIU falls to 6-5, 3-4 MAC.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Miami took a 7-0 lead with 2:31 to play in the first quarter on a two-yard touchdown run by Dylan Downing. A 26-yard completion to Javon Tracy put the RedHawks in the red zone, and Tracy drew a pass interference flag in the end zone on the next snap to lead to Downing's score.
The RedHawks added a field goal on their next drive, taking advantage of a 23-yard Keyon Mozee run up the left sideline and a 50-yard completion from Brett Gabbert to Virgil to set up a 22-yard kick by Dom Dzioban with 12:24 left in the half.
Miami stretched its advantage to 17-0 on a trick play later in the quarter, as Tracy took a handoff and threw a 30-yard strike to Virgil in the right corner of the end zone at the 3:50 mark. NIU got on the board with a 47-yard field goal before the half expired to pull within 17-3 at the break.
After a scoreless third quarter, the visitors trimmed the lead on a two-yard touchdown run with 11:51 to play. The ensuing two-point conversion try was no good, keeping the score at 17-9 in favor of the Red and White.
Corey Suttle forced a fumble that Brian Ugwu recovered with 5:46 remaining to give Miami the ball in field goal range at the NIU 25-yard line. The RedHawks ran more than three minutes off the clock before Dzioban drilled a 27-yard kick to put Miami up 20-9.
Northern Illinois attempted a 42-yard field goal in the final seconds, but Suttle blocked it to seal the game for the Red and White.

NOTES

Four different RedHawks made double-digit tackles in the game: Matt Salopek (13), Ty Wise (season-high 11), Eli Blakey (10) and Silas Walters (10).
Salopek moved into fifth place in program history for career tackles with 491, passing Kent McCormick (488) and Matt Pusateri (485) .
Downing scored his first touchdown as a RedHawk.
Virgil caught a touchdown for the sixth game in a row.
Gabbert threw for 207 yards and extended his streak of consecutive pass attempts without an interception to 117 before a pick late in the second quarter.
Savio Frazier produced his first career sack, finishing the night with 1.5 sacks.
Mozee rushed for a game-high 91 yards on 14 carries.
Miami matched its longest win streak under head coach Chuck Martin (also in 2016 and again in 2023).