The Miami University RedHawks won their fourth and final non-conference game of the season in a rainy battle with the University of Massachusetts Minutemen. The RedHawks sent the game into overtime 20-20, and a field goal ended their three-game losing streak.
The Minutemen won the coin toss and deferred to Miami, giving the RedHawks the ball to open the first quarter. Sixth-year quarterback Brett Gabbert threw for 29 yards, but a quarterback scramble on third down brought out senior punter Alec Bevelhimer on fourth-and-14.
UMass punted on fourth-and-1, giving the RedHawks another chance on offense at the opposing 45-yard line. A deep incompletion to junior receiver Reggie Virgil had the RedHawks at third-and-8. Gabbert’s next deep pass to Virgil was broken up, but a pass interference call on redshirt sophomore cornerback Jerrod Cameron gave Miami a 15-yard advantage.
Senior running back Keyon Mozee broke through the Minutemen’s defensive line for a 27-yard touchdown run on second-and-9, his first of the season. Redshirt junior kicker Dom Dzioban’s extra point brought the RedHawks to a 7-0 lead halfway through the first quarter.
The Minutemen found the endzone on their next offensive drive off a 64-yard pass. Redshirt senior quarterback Taisun Phommachanh found graduate student receiver Jakobie Keeney-James open at the 35-yard line, and Kenney-James ran the rest of the way.
Graduate student kicker Jacob Lurie’s kick tied the game at 7-7 with under three minutes in the first quarter.
Bevelhimer was brought out to punt on fourth-and-6 two minutes into the second quarter. The Minutemen marched down the field, converting on fourth-and-6 to get them to the opposing 24-yard line.
An incompletion on third-and-13 brought out Lurie for a 45-yard field goal attempt. The kick was good, bringing UMass up 10-7.
Brett Gabbert had 15 rushing yards against UMass, the most in any game this season
Gabbert found redshirt senior receiver Andre Johnson for a 44-yard pass on the RedHawks’ next drive, putting Miami at the opposing 18-yard line. Redshirt sophomore linebacker Tyler Martin tackled senior running back Kevin Davis for a 5-yard loss, forcing third-and-14.
Dzioban was brought out on fourth-and-10. His attempt was good, tying the game at 10-10 late in the second quarter.
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Senior punter CJ Kolodziey gave Miami the ball back after a failed third-and-10 conversion. The RedHawks got to the opposing 22-yard line, but a pass to the endzone was intercepted by redshirt junior viper Jalen Harrell to end the second quarter.
The third quarter opened with a Minutemen punt. Redshirt senior receiver Cade McDonald caught the punt and returned the ball to the endzone, but a holding call on redshirt junior defensive back William Hardrick brought Miami back to its 19-yard line.
The RedHawks punted shortly after. Keeney-James caught a 51-yard pass from Phommachanh to get UMass to the opposing 42-yard line. Miami forced a third-and-7, and Phommachanh’s pass to redshirt sophomore receiver Jacquon Gibson was incomplete, forcing a punt.
Mozee broke free for a 66-yard rush to put Miami within 10 yards of the endzone. Gabbert found redshirt sophomore receiver Javon Tracy for a 7-yard passing touchdown to put the RedHawks up 17-10.
Both teams traded possessions to start the fourth quarter. A 23-yard rush from sophomore running back CJ Hester got the Minutemen within 20 yards of a touchdown. Phommachanh rushed for 12 yards, and Hester got another seven to get them to the 1.
Hester punched in for a touchdown, and Lurie’s extra point tied the game 17-17 with eight minutes left in the fourth quarter.
The Minutemen finished with 173 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown on Saturday
Back-to-back tackles for losses forced the RedHawks on third-and-15. McDonald caught a 7-yard pass, but Bevelhimer was still brought out to punt on fourth-and-8.
Keeney-James opened UMass’s next drive with a 28-yard reception. Phommachanh rushed for a critical first down to get the Minutemen to the 14-yard line with less than two minutes to go.
The RedHawks got UMass to third-and-4 and burned through all three timeouts. Hester rushed for three yards to get the Minutemen to the 5-yard line on fourth-and-1. Lurie’s 23-yard field goal attempt was good, giving UMass the 20-17 lead with 40 seconds to go.
Kolodziey’s punt was a touchback, putting Miami at its own 20-yard line. Multiple short passes and a Gabbert scramble got the RedHawks to the opposing 46-yard line with 14 seconds left.
Davis caught a 10-yard pass to bring them to the 36. Another 8-yard pass to Davis got them to the 26, bringing Dzioban out for a 47-yard field goal attempt with four seconds left to send the game into overtime.
Dzioban’s kick, the longest of his kicking career, was good, sending the game into overtime with both teams at 20-20.
The Minutemen started with the ball. An illegal formation penalty brought them to third-and-6. Keeney-James caught a touchdown pass, but an ineligible downfield flag was thrown at senior offensive lineman Josh Atwood.
On third-and-11, Phommachanh threw an incomplete pass to Keeney-James. Lurie was brought out for a 44-yard kick.
Lurie’s kick was no good, keeping the score 20-20 and giving the RedHawks a chance to win.
The RedHawks found themselves at third-and-11 after a one-yard loss on a Davis rush and an incomplete pass to redshirt senior tight-end Preston Daniel.
Dzioban returned to the field for a game-winning 47-yard field goal attempt. The kick was good to seal Miami’s victory 23-20.
Miami’s run game was the best so far this season, with Mozee rushing for 114 yards and one touchdown. The running backs combined for 153 yards.
Gabbert finished the game with 181 passing yards, 15 rushing yards, one touchdown and one interception.
In the post-game press conference, Dzioban expressed excitement for both of his moments during the game. When he was on the field, he took those kicks the same as any other rep.
“We knew what the task at hand was,” Dzioban said. “We were not going to shy away from the fact that we’re 0-3. We got to 1-3, and however it’s done, whether it’s a game-winning field goal or winning 49-0, that was our goal coming in.”
The RedHawks travel to the University of Toledo Rockets next Saturday to begin their conference slate.
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