‘Keep Pounding’: RedHawks Pick Off Zips 34-14

Saturday, October 17

Oxford, Ohio

3:30 p.m.

Miami University

4-3 , 2-1

Akron

1-6 , 0-3

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Akron	7	0	7	0	14
Miami (OH)	7	10	10	7	34

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Photo by: Jeffrey Sabo

Photo by: Jeff Sabo

Photo by: Jeffrey Sabo

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Photo by: Liam Zimmerman

‘Keep Pounding’: RedHawks Pick Off Zips 34-14

10/17/2026 8:31:00 PM | Football

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OXFORD, Ohio— Rodney Nelson is used to scoring touchdowns.

The redshirt junior running back had 18 touchdown runs a year ago with Monmouth, but hadn't made it to the end zone yet this season for the RedHawks through the season's first six games.

That changed Saturday afternoon…in a big way.

Nelson scored from nine yards out in the first quarter and added a 58-yard touchdown run in the fourth to basically put the game away as Miami rolled to a 34-14 win over visiting Akron Saturday at Yager Stadium.

"Good day on the ground today," Nelson said in one of the afternoon's biggest understatements.

"We tried to emphasize this week running the ball, putting force on blocks, and opening run lanes. I think we did a good job of that today…

"It felt amazing," Nelson continued as he referenced his pair of scoring runs. "It feels like I've been playing catch-up…today, I was really able to let it loose and get some of those yards back and score – hit paydirt."

Nelson led the way for Miami (4-3, 2-1 MAC) offensively with 142 yards on 13 carries, but the Miami ground game as a whole racked up a total of 324 rushing yards, marking the RedHawks' best rushing performance against an FBS team since 2018.

"Our running game was the best it's been," said head coach Chuck Martin, pointing out the blocking from not only the five linemen up front, but specifically the receivers and tight end down the field as well.

"Typically this time of year, we get in conference play; we usually rush the ball pretty good in conference play. It was good today…

"They did a great job…overall, a very good team win."

Defensively, Miami came up with four interceptions by four different players, a feat the program last accomplished over 15 years ago (2011 GoDaddy Bowl). Blayne Myrick's pick-six in the third quarter as the visitors were driving to try and pull within a single possession was one of the biggest defensive plays in breaking the game open.

"I'd say it starts in practice," Myrick said later. "We have to practice the right way, and we have been. This week was probably one of our best weeks of practice this year, and today we came out and played with the confidence and swagger that we needed to to take control of the game…

"It's just doing your job. When everybody does their job, those turnovers just come. Everybody was doing their job and they just threw it right to me!...

"I just got to my drop and melted off the quarterback's eyes and went and got it."

In all, Miami turned the four turnovers by Akron (1-6, 0-3 MAC) into 21 points, which proved to be the difference in the contest.

"Really great job by the defense," said Martin. "Really controlled the game…

"We didn't have anything to show for it as far as turnovers or interceptions [last week], but as I've been saying all week, "'Listen, if you play that way, they're coming…

"We've just been more aggressive. Last week, we got our hands on four or five balls; we didn't get any picks. We had some more today; we've just got to keep attacking the ball. If you do, you're going to make plays…

"If you're on your toes and you attack the ball, you're going to get yours. And obviously, getting four today was huge…those turnovers are creating field position for our offense…and [the] offense did a good job of cashing in on a couple short fields."

HOW IT HAPPENED

After the Zips took a 7-0 lead on a six-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter, the RedHawks responded to even the score. Ben Minich intercepted an Akron pass and returned it to the visitors' 26-yard line to set Miami up with great field position. Three plays later, Nelson dashed into the end zone from nine yards out to make it 7-7 with 1:17 to play in the period.
Miami took a 10-7 lead with 2:29 to go in the half, as a 69-yard Scoop Smith run moved the ball into the red zone and Kellan McLaughlin converted a 28-yard field goal to put the RedHawks on top.
Just over a minute later, the RedHawks capitalized on a 15-yard Akron punt, taking over at the Zips' 37-yard line. From there, Miami only needed two plays to find the end zone. After Nelson's 10-yard run, Caleb Heavner connected with Damarion Witten for a 27-yard scoring pass to give the hosts a 17-7 lead.
The RedHawks pushed the margin to 20-7 on a 24-yard McLaughlin kick with 3:32 left in the third quarter. Nelson started the drive with a 36-yard run to move the ball into field-goal range.
Miami seized control three plays later, as Myrick intercepted a pass and ran it back 36 yards for a touchdown to give the RedHawks a 27-7 cushion. Akron used a long kick return to pull within 27-14, but after an onside kick, Amariyun Knighten extinguished the threat with a fourth-down interception. On the very next play, Nelson made a sharp cut and raced 58 yards for a touchdown to restore a 20-point lead at 34-14, which proved to be the final scoreline.

MARTIN'S MILESTONE: Martin earned his 150th career win as a college head coach with the victory. He is now 150-84 in 19 seasons between Grand Valley State and Miami.

"I didn't even know I got to 150, but I'll say this – really, really appreciative," Martin commented, reiterating the word 'blessed' multiple times as he reflected on the milestone.

"All the great players that I've coached here and all the great coaches I've worked with here and all the great memories: Every one's great. Today's win is great, last week's win was great - they're all [great]. Just very appreciative and very proud. 150 wins: It's been awesome. I know how hard it's been…

"Every win's a good win…it's hard to win…

"[Miami] is an awesome place. It's not just football; it's an awesome place and awesome people…get to know a Miami athlete…they are great young men and women and so easy to root for and so easy to be proud of.

"I'm a stat guy. I appreciate it, and it's awesome. It really is."

EASY PICKINGS: The RedHawks intercepted multiple passes in the same game for the first time since Nov. 19, 2025 at Buffalo…Minich and Martin each recorded their first career interceptions…Myrick's pick-six in the third quarter was his first interception and first touchdown since Nov. 29, 2024 with South Alabama…Knighten picked off a pass for the first time since Sept. 7, 2024 at Notre Dame (with Northern Illinois).

GROUND AND POUND: Miami rolled up 324 rushing yards on 35 carries, led by Nelson's 142 yards (his most as a RedHawk). The Red and White eclipsed 300 rushing yards in a MAC game for the first time since Nov. 20, 2018 vs. Ball State. Nelson went over the 100-yard mark for the first time with Miami and the 13th time in his collegiate career. In all, five different RedHawks finished with a carry of at least 10 yards in the contest.

"Shout out to the O-line; they're blocking their butts off," Nelson said. "It's only right that we make their job easier and we make it right for them when they're blocking how they're blocking…

"We're definitely going to try to keep it on the ground [and] make it as easy as possible for Caleb [Heavner]. If it's not broke, don't fix it; we're just going to keep pounding and pounding."

SMITH'S SCAMPER: Smith's 69-yard run on a jet sweep in the second quarter was the longest run for a RedHawk this season and the longest for a Miami player since Kevin Davis went 97 yards in the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl on Dec. 28, 2024.

DON'T MESS WITH DES: Desmon Yharbrough set a new career high for tackles before halftime, making seven first-half stops. The redshirt freshman safety finished with eight tackles in the game, the second-highest total for any RedHawk today (Malcolm McCain - 10).

LYONS' ROAR: Grant Lyons led the Miami defense with a pair of sacks, matching his career high and marking his second multi-sack performance of the season.

STRETCHING THE STREAK: Miami defeated Akron for the ninth time in a row and improved to 25-9-1 in the all-time series. The Zips have not defeated the Red and White since 2016.

UP NEXT: The RedHawks travel to face Central Michigan next Saturday, Oct. 24 in Mount Pleasant, Mich. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.