Ohio Edges Miami Late in Battle of the Bricks

Tuesday, November 4

Athens, Ohio

7 p.m.

Miami University

5-4 , 4-1

Ohio

6-3 , 4-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Miami (OH)

Ohio

Ohio Edges Miami Late in Battle of the Bricks

11/4/2025 11:21:00 PM | Football

Box Score

ATHENS, Ohio— In a back-and-forth game featuring four lead changes in the fourth quarter alone, the Miami University football team dropped a 24-20 decision at Ohio Tuesday night. Dequan Finn threw for 194 yards and two scores for the RedHawks (5-4, 4-1 MAC), who saw their five-game winning streak snapped. Sieh Bangura scored two touchdowns for the Bobcats, who improve to 6-3, 4-1 MAC and join Miami in a four-way tie for first place in the conference.

"This win would have put us in great shape, but this is our life: We're 4-1 and there's a lot of teams 4-1 in our league," head coach Chuck Martin said afterward.

"We've got to continue to mature and grow. We've come a long way with this team; I love these guys. This is just another hard lesson, and how we handle this and move forward will tell us a lot about ourselves."

HOW IT HAPPENED

The teams battled through a scoreless first quarter before Miami's offense began to move the ball down the field in the second period. The RedHawks used a 13-play, 74-yard drive that took nearly nine minutes off the clock to take a 3-0 lead. After a strong run by Jordan Brunson moved the chains on 3rd-and-2, Finn hit Cole Weaver for 27 yards and 17 yards on back-to-back plays to move the ball to the red zone. Miami capped the march with a 23-yard field goal by Dom Dzioban with 1:57 left in the half.
Ohio came back to tie the score at the break, moving into position for a 35-yard kick with seven seconds remaining before halftime to make it 3-3.
The RedHawks re-took the lead in the third quarter, capitalizing after Corban Hondru forced and recovered a fumble at the Ohio 36-yard line. Dzioban drilled a 47-yard kick four plays later to put the Red and White on top 6-3.
OU answered back on its next drive, finding the end zone on a 22-yard run up the middle by Bangura with 4:37 left in the period to grab a 10-6 lead.
Miami broke through for a touchdown with 13:29 to play, using a long kick return by Lynel Billups-Williams to start at the 40-yard line. A strong run by D'Shawntae Jones converted a fourth down at the OU 40, and Miami moved the ball to the six-yard line after a 19-yard strike to Cole Weaver and a defensive penalty. Finn then bought time and connected with Braylon Isom for a four-yard score to give the visitors a 13-10 advantage.
The Bobcats struck quickly, as Bangura faked a lateral and raced 97 yards to the end zone on the ensuing kickoff to make it 17-13 with 13:15 to play.
Miami wouldn't go away, putting together a seven-play, 65-yard drive to re-take the lead. Jones ripped off a 19-yard gain to move the Red and White into Ohio territory, followed by an 11-yard throw to Josh Ringer on a trick play. The RedHawks' drive seemed on the verge of stalling out with a 4th-and-9 at the OU 27, but Miami kept the offense on the field and Kam Perry hauled in a touchdown pass from Finn to take a 20-17 lead with 9:29 left on the clock. "Kam ran a really good double move on the safety and beat him, and DQ threw the ball and our protection was really good," Martin said. "It looked like practice: Good execution on those plays."
Ohio closed the scoring with a 49-yard pass from Parker Navarro to Rodney Harris II with 2:15 to go, and Miami turned the ball over near midfield on its final possession to seal the outcome.

HONDRU'S HITS: Hondru was all over the field for the RedHawks Tuesday, making a career-high 17 tackles (his previous high was 16 at Eastern Michigan on Oct. 12, 2024). Hondru made eight stops in the first period alone Tuesday and totaled 13 before halftime to lead the Miami defense, adding a sack, forced fumble and fumble recovery in the third quarter.

"You hope senior year you take your game to another level," Martin said postgame in reference to Hondru. "He's had a great career, but you don't know if you're going to make that big jump. He had big shoes to fill at linebacker and he has made a big jump this year, and it's not just this game…

"He's really elevated his game: Not only the leadership but the tackles and the interceptions and all that plays that he's making has been awesome to watch. I'm very proud of him."

BRAYLON'S BIG BREAK: Isom's touchdown catch in the fourth quarter was not only Miami's first time reaching the end zone in the contest, but also represented the redshirt freshman wideout's first career score. Isom finished with two receptions for a career-high 31 yards.

"Executing our offense: They took away the first read, and Isom did exactly what he was supposed to do," Martin said in breaking down the scoring play later. "He ran a go route, then he wrapped it, and DQ bought some time and found him in the back of the end zone."

MOVIN' ON UP: Finn is now tied for 73rd in career touchdowns on the all-time FBS list with 106, passing three players including 2025 NFL Draft top pick Cam Ward.

JUST FOR KICKS: Dzioban improved to 14-for-16 on field goals this season and has now made 10 consecutive kicks dating back to Oct. 4.

RINGER'S RECEPTIONS: Redshirt freshman running back Josh Ringer made a career-high three catches for Miami today.

UP NEXT:
The RedHawks return home to host Toledo on Wednesday, Nov. 12 at 7 p.m. at Yager Stadium.