The Miami University RedHawks football team (6-4, 5-1 in conference play) returned to Yager Stadium for another mid-week conference game, but the rain from last week’s Ball State game followed.
This week, the RedHawks changed their game plan against the Kent State University Golden Flashes (0-10, 0-4 in conference play). They found success on the ground, a highlight game for senior running back Keyon Mozee pushed Miami to its fifth consecutive win.
Kent State took an early lead after a forced fumble on Miami senior running back Kevin Davis by sophomore safety Tevin Tucker. Junior quarterback Tommy Ulatowski connected with redshirt sophomore receiver Chrishon McCray for a 11-yard touchdown to put the Golden Flashes up 7-0 after two minutes of play.
A pass from Ulatowski on the Golden Flashes’ next drive was deflected by redshirt senior defensive lineman Brian Ugwu and intercepted by sixth-year linebacker Matt Salopek.
The turnover allowed sixth-year quarterback Brett Gabbert to find junior receiver Reggie Virgil for a 69-yard touchdown to even the score 7-7 halfway through the first quarter.
Gabbert nearly threw a pick on the RedHawks’ next drive, but redshirt junior cornerback Jaylen Dotson dropped the ball. Miami marched down and sent redshirt junior kicker Dom Dzioban out for a 45-yard field goal.
Miami took a 10-7 lead to close out the first quarter. Junior kicker Will Hryszko missed a 41-yard field goal on the Golden Flashes’ next drive at the start of the second quarter.
Mozee cut the distance to the end zone with a 39-yard rush down the sidelines. Gabbert found Javon Tracy for a 34-yard touchdown after Tracy broke a tackle and strutted backwards past the goal line.
Javon Tracy (left) and Reggie Virgil (right) celebrating after Virgil's touchdown in the first quarter
Dzioban’s PAT attempt brought Miami up 17-7 with 10 minutes left in the first half.
Both teams traded possessions for the remaining minutes. Dzioban’s missed a 49-yard field goal, and Miami held its 17-7 lead going into half.
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After a turnover early in the third quarter, Miami marched down the field, with Davis and Mozee combining for 44 yards on five rushes. Davis punched in a 6-yard touchdown rush to bring the RedHawks up 24-7.
Mozee earned a touchdown rush on a 74-yard sprint to the endzone, the longest touchdown rush of his career. The RedHawks led 31-7 going into the fourth quarter.
Senior linebacker Ty Wise earned his fourth sack of the season on Kent State’s next drive, causing Ulatowski to fumble. Redshirt sophomore linebacker Adam Trick recovered the ball, and head coach Chuck Martin sent out redshirt junior backup quarterback Henry Hesson.
Hesson set Dzioban up for a 25-yard field goal, tacking three onto Miami’s score, 34-7.
The RedHawks got the ball back with 10 minutes left and wasted seven minutes of the clock. Their drive was stopped when redshirt junior running back Jordan Brunson fumbled the ball at the opposing 34-yard line.
First-year safety Clinton Robinson initially housed the fumble, but the Golden Flashes were called back by an inadvertent whistle from the referees.
The defense kept Kent State from impacting the scoreboard, and the RedHawks took their victory 34-7.
In the first quarter, the RedHawks made fatal mistakes that could have been detrimental for the rest of the game. Martin addressed these mistakes after the game, saying the team played much more aggressively in the second half.
“We just have to play harder,” Martin said. “We weren’t attacking like we can attack. We could have shut them out in the first half.”
In comparison to last week, the RedHawks found more success on the ground with 275 rushing and 202 passing yards. Gabbert targeted Tracy and Virgil for 164 yards and two touchdowns.
Mozee finished the game with 196 rushing yards and one touchdown, his best game of the season. After the game, he said he didn’t know about his accomplishment, and that all he wants to do is push the team forward as a unit.
“I don’t really think about it like that,” Mozee said. “I just try to be a team player. I want to do whatever I can for the team.”
Mozee has 650 rushing yards this year, more than any previous season. Martin said the senior stepped into a new role this year with the absence of Rashad Amos.
“He’s taken a really nice step his last year, really trying to do everything right, and it’s really paid off for him and for us,” Martin said.
The RedHawks will play their last game of the season at Yager Stadium against the Northern Illinois University Huskies (6-4, 3-3 in conference play).
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