RedHawks Rally Past WMU 26-17 in Battle of MAC Heavyweights

Saturday, October 25

Oxford, Ohio

3:30 p.m.

Miami University

5-3 , 4-0

Western Michigan

4-4 , 3-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Western Mich.

Miami (OH)

Photo by: Jeffrey Sabo

RedHawks Rally Past WMU 26-17 in Battle of MAC Heavyweights

10/25/2025 6:55:00 PM | Football

Box Score Photo Gallery

OXFORD, Ohio— It didn't seem like anything could bother Dequan Finn Saturday afternoon during a come-from-behind 26-17 victory over Western Michigan.

Take a look at the RedHawks' go-ahead drive in the fourth quarter, part of a 17-0 burst to close the game.

In the space of six plays, Finn…

…managed to avoid an intentional grounding penalty near his own end zone to keep Miami from getting behind the sticks.

…escaped on 3rd-and-10 to scramble for a first down and move the chains.

…heaved a 50-yard play-action pass to Kam Perry two plays later to move the Red and White into the red zone.

And finally, on the next snap, Finn faked a handoff, raced to his left, and held the ball aloft as he crossed the goal line for an 18-yard touchdown run to put Miami on top for good.

Nothing flustered Finn.

Until postgame, that is: When head coach Chuck Martin popped his head inside the press conference room and intentionally yelled to try and scare his seventh-year quarterback mid-answer.

Both men laughed, and the presser (with its sky-high vibes) quickly resumed, as Finn continued to explain how Miami turned the tide down the stretch in a battle of the final two unbeaten teams in the Mid-American Conference.

Western Michigan had gone 11-straight quarters without allowing a touchdown before the RedHawks broke through with back-to-back scoring drives to turn a 17-9 deficit into a 23-17 lead.

"We were chopping away, but that [first] touchdown felt refreshing – I'm not gonna lie," Finn said. "Just finally capitalizing on the plays that we did when we got the chance to get to the red zone."

The RedHawks went on to seal the game on a Dom Dzioban field goal from 51 yards out, matching the redshirt senior's career-long and extending the margin to two possessions. Dzioban was a perfect 4-for-4 on the day as Miami improved to 4-0 in the conference (5-3 overall) and won its fifth consecutive game. WMU falls to 4-4 (3-1 MAC) with the result.

"I'm very proud of this group- very, very proud," Martin said later. "The fact that they really like each other helps. When they don't know if they can stick together, they look around, and, it's like, 'I've got to [do this.]'

"I keep telling 'em, 'You've got to do it for your teammates…just think about your teammates and keep fighting for them.' They did a great job today, so I'm very proud of the whole group."

HOW IT HAPPENED

The RedHawks opened the game with a seven-play, 48-yard drive, fueled by a 21-yard completion from Finn to Cole Weaver on the first snap and a 17-yard connection with Keith Reynolds two plays later. Dzioban hit a 44-yard field goal to put Miami on top 3-0.
Miami took over on downs at its 26-yard line after a key fourth-down stop by Eli Blakey and once again moved the ball down the field for a Dzioban field goal. Finn escaped near-certain sacks multiple times in the backfield to complete throws, first to Braylon Isom and later to Weaver, moving the RedHawks into scoring range. Dzioban converted from 24 yards out to conclude a drive that spanned 13 plays and nearly seven minutes.
The Broncos got on the scoreboard with 5:17 left in the half, using 45-yard and 43-yard passes on consecutive plays to take a 7-6 lead. Miami responded quickly, with Jordan Brunson racing 46 yards on the next offensive snap into WMU territory to set up a 29-yard kick for Dzioban six plays later. That made it 9-7 in favor of the home team at the 2:36 mark of the second quarter. Brunson would finish the day with a game-high 90 yards on 13 carries.
WMU took a 14-9 lead into the locker room after a 72-yard kick return by Devin Miles eventually led to a two-yard scoring run by Michael Brescia with 49 seconds remaining in the half.
The Broncos extended their advantage to 17-9 on a 42-yard field goal with 4:10 left in the third quarter, capping a 15-play drive that lasted more than half of the third period.
The RedHawks answered back, marching 71 yards in nine plays to find the end zone on a three-yard scoring pass from Finn to Brian Shane. The key play on the scoring drive was a 36-yard pass to Perry down the right sideline that moved the ball to the WMU three-yard line. The two-point conversion attempt came up short, leaving the score at 17-15 with 10:31 left in the contest.
After Miami forced a WMU punt, the RedHawks put together their second-consecutive touchdown drive, capitalizing on the aforementioned trio of huge plays by Finn. Finn raced 18 yards untouched to help Miami re-take the lead, and the ensuing two-point conversion attempt (a short pass to Perry) was initially ruled no good before a video review determined the wide receiver had broken the plane of the end zone. Miami went on top 23-17 with 4:40 to play.
Adam Trick forced a fumble that Roosevelt Andrews III recovered with 2:54 to go for the game's first turnover, and the RedHawks then put the game out of reach on Dzioban's 51-yard field goal.

KING COLE: Weaver set a new career high for catches and yardage with nine receptions for 96 yards, surpassing his previous high of five grabs in the first-half alone.

"Big, strong, athletic, [Cole can] catch the ball, super smart, and he's getting his confidence...he can do so many good things for us," said Martin. "He's such a team player; he's such an awesome person. He's got a huge ceiling that he should ascend to, but he had a huge game today.

"He's coming; we're glad we have him!"

DOM-INATION: Dzioban's four field goals marked his most in a game since a career-high and stadium-record five on Oct. 26, 2024 versus Central Michigan.

COOL AS ISOM: Isom, a redshirt-freshman wideout, made the longest catch of his career (20 yards) in the first quarter.

SHANE AGAIN: After catching his first-ever touchdown pass last week in his 15th career appearance, Shane repeated the feat again this weekend on a play-action toss from three yards out by Finn.

MOVIN' ON UP: Finn's two touchdowns (one passing and one rushing) give him 104 in his career, good for a tie with Chad Pennington for 79th place on the all-time FBS career list.

WE WIN, YOU WIN!: Miami Football's victory over Western Michigan unlocks a $4 ticket special for the Nov. 12 home game against Toledo. Celebrate the RedHawks' 4-0 conference record with $4 tickets to the showdown with the Rockets. Use promo code WEWINYOUWIN at MiamiRedHawks.com/promos (offer good until Nov. 4 at 5 p.m.).

UP NEXT:
The RedHawks travel to Ohio on Tuesday, Nov. 4 for the Battle of the Bricks. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.