Reggie Virgil touchdown
Ellie Reynolds
9
NIU NIU 6-5 , 3-4
20
Winner Miami (OH) MIA 7-4 , 6-1
NIU NIU
6-5 , 3-4
9
Final
20
Miami (OH) MIA
7-4 , 6-1
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
NIU NIU 0 3 0 6 9
MIA Miami (OH) 7 10 0 3 20

Game Recap: Football |

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

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).

UP NEXT:
The RedHawks wrap up the regular season on Friday, Nov. 29 at Bowling Green. The game will kick at noon.
 
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