TUCSON, AZ. – The Miami University RedHawks football team (9-5) emerged victorious over the Colorado State University Rams (8-5) at the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl. 20 points in the third quarter and senior running back Kevin Davis’ performance allowed the RedHawks to celebrate their 43-17 win with Snoop Dogg after the game.
For head coach Chuck Martin, this was his second bowl game victory. Despite missing pieces on the offense, including receivers Reggie Virgil and Javon Tracy, Martin felt that the young players put in a significant effort for the RedHawks.
“It’s always hard [at] a bowl game,” Martin said. “There’s always new guys out there. We had a bunch of young guys [getting] experience. But defense was the deal. They controlled the whole game.”
Both teams traded field goals in the first quarter. Dzioban gave the RedHawks a 6-3 lead after redshirt sophomore linebacker Adam Trick intercepted redshirt sophomore quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi.
Dzioban extended Miami’s lead another three points with a late-half field goal to close out the second quarter. Through the first half, sixth-year quarterback Brett Gabbert threw seven completions on 18 attempts.
The third quarter ultimately sealed Miami’s victory.
Gabbert found redshirt sophomore receiver Kam Perry for a 40-yard pass to put Miami in the red zone. Davis rushed on three straight plays, including a 4-yard rush to push into the endzone and give Miami a two-score lead 16-3.
The RedHawks earned another offensive drive after sixth-year linebacker Matt Salopek forced a fumble on senior tight end Vince Brown II.
Redshirt senior tight end Jack Coldiron caught a 22-yard pass to put the RedHawks at the opposing 10-yard line. Gabbert kept the ball for his first rushing touchdown of the year to give Miami a 22-3 lead halfway through the third quarter.
After the Rams failed to convert on fourth-and-4, Davis rushed 97 yards down the field for his second touchdown of the day and his longest rush of the season to increase Miami’s lead to 29-3.
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On Colorado State’s next drive, Fowler-Nicolosi threw his first touchdown of the day with a 56-yard pass to redshirt first-year receiver Stephon Daily.
Davis returned the next kickoff 81 yards, but redshirt senior defensive back Ayden Hector forced a fumble on first-year running back Josh Ringer for a short-lived Rams offensive drive. Senior linebacker Ty Wise picked Fowler-Nickolosi’s pass to Brown II for his second interception of the season.
Miami opened the fourth quarter with redshirt junior running back Jordan Brunson’s third touchdown of the year. Miami held a 36-10 lead with just over 13 minutes left.
Graduate student tight end Peter Montini briefly closed the gap with a rushing touchdown, but Brunson ran in for his second touchdown with under five minutes left.
The RedHawks took their victory 43-17, Miami’s first bowl game win since 2021.
“They wanted to win this game bad, and they wanted to play good football,” Martin said. “They had a bad taste in their mouth [from] the last game. Every game is important to these guys, but I know today was very satisfying for all those seniors.”
Davis earned the MVP award after the game. His 148 rushing yards and two touchdowns led the RedHawks to a second-half domination.
Gabbert finished his collegiate career with 184 yards on 13 completions. Redshirt senior receiver Cade McDonald caught three of those passes for 25 yards, and Perry led with 57 yards on his two catches.
Defensively, Wise and Salopek contributed nine tackles each. Salopek also forced one fumble in his final game.
For Davis and the other seniors on the team, finishing the season the way they did was fitting.
“It’s like a dream come true,” Davis said. “It doesn’t even feel real. The biggest thing about it is [that] I get to do it with the guys I love. I’ve been here for five years… so just going out in a way like that [with] the guys that have been through it all for the past few years.”
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