Martin calls victory over Ohio 'incredible team win' By MIKE SMITH Resiliant! If there is one word to describe Miami RedHawks football over the last two games, reslliant might be the perfect fit. After losing a potential MAC Player of the Year while falling to MAC West-leading Toledo Oct. 21, the RedHawks rallied around backup QB Aveon Smith to defeat rival -- and preseason MAC East favorite - Ohio in Athens one week later. I'm really, really pleased and proud of our coaches and players," Miami Head Coach Chuck Martin said Monday during his weekly press conference. "That was an incredible team win." The schedule is what it is, and that meant Miami would face Toledo and Ohio in back-to-back weeks. After spotting the talented Rockets a 21-3 lead, MU stormed back with 14 third quarter points. However, quarterback Brett Gabbert suffered a season-ending injury late in the period, and the RedHawks offense fizzled after that. "It takes the starch out of you," Martin said of the ugly injury. The RedHawks could not . . . Run game buoys offense as MU upsets Bobcats By MIKE SMITH
ATHENS, OH -- After losing quarterback Brett Gabbert to injury in a loss against Toledo last week, the Miami RedHawks needed their offense to step up for this week's showdown against Ohio. That offense answered the call by scoring 30 points on the way to a 30-16 win. With the RedHawks defense and special teams contributing solid efforts, MU took a big step in its bid to win a MAC East crown. Both Buffalo and Miami have one conference loss. Those two meet Nov. 15. Ohio falls to 4-2 in Conference play. Sophomore running back Rashad Amos led . . . RedHawks must regroup for key MAC matchup By MIKE SMITH Suffice it to say, there is plenty of anxiety among Miami football fans heading into this week's Battle of the Bricks against Ohio in Athens. The matchup has been circled on calendars for months, and with the game now just a few days away, RedHawk fans have plenty of cause for concern. Last Saturday's action did more than pin the 'Hawks with their first Mid-American Conference loss. Miami also lost veteran quarterback Brett Gabbert to a season-ending leg injury. On the very short term, it short-circuited a second-half rally that saw MU score 14 unanswered points. While the defense continued to shutout Toledo in the second half, Miami's offense subsequently gained just 44 yards and could not score again in a 21-17 loss. One loss against the preseason MAC favorite would not have . . . Gabbert injury ends Miami comeback bid Toledo hands RedHawks first MAC loss By MIKE SMITH OXFORD, OH - Quarterback DeQuan Finn tossed two touchdown passes and ran for another -- all in the first half -- as Toledo (7--1, 4-0 MAC) edged Miami (6-2, 3-1 MAC) 21-17 Saturday at Yager Stadium. It was the first conference loss for MU, which also lost quarterback Brett Gabbert to a serious injury late in the third quarter. Although the RedHawks scored one play later to close within four points, Rashad Amos' touchdown was the end of a 14-point third quarter rally. With Gabbert out, Miami gained a total of 44 yards over four fourth quarter possessions that ended punt, punt, punt, fumble. "The defense continued to get stops, (but) we didn't get it done on offense," Miami Head Coach Chuck Martin said of MU's work after Gabbert went down. Although Toledo failed to get on the scoreboard after intermission, it did enough in the first two quarters to post its seventh straight win and . . . Homecoming tilt features battle of MAC leaders By MIKE SMITH Homecoming games are sometimes one-sided contests. While it's POSSIBLE this week's Miami RedHawks homecoming game in Oxford could go that way, it is more likely to be a real slugfest. When Miami hosts Toledo Saturday, it will be a matchup of the only two Mid-American Conference teams without a MAC loss. Both teams are 3-0 in league play and both own 6-1 overall records. Both are also coming off hard-earned road wins. The Rockets are perennial contenders in the West Division and are defending MAC champions. With a strong contigent returning, UT got the MAC head coaches preseason nod to repeat. They have thus far lived up to the hype, albeit two of their three MAC contests were one-score margins. "They won the league last year (and) they've got everybody back," Miami Head Coach Chuck Martin said. They're an "incredibly experienced team. Their defense is (filled with) six- or seven-year guys, so it's not only good players that are really well-coached, but they've also been in their system for a while. They know what they are doing." He continued, "Offensively, (they are) talented . . . RedHawks hold off WMU for sixth straight win Homecoming showdown with talented Toledo next By MIKE SMITH KALAMAZOO, MI -- Brett Gabbert threw for two touchdowns and ran for two more as the Miami RedHawks (6-1, 3-0 MAC) overcame two turnovers to post a 34-21 win over Western Michigan Saturday at Waldo Stadium. It was the sixth straight win for MU, which hasn't lost since Week one against the Miami Hurricanes. With Ohio's loss to Northern Illinois Saturday, the RedHawks move into sole possession of first place in the MAC East. Ohio and Miami meet in two weeks, but the RedHawks must now turn their attention to next Saturday's battle against MAC West-leading Toledo. With its loss, Western Michigan falls to 2-5 (1-2 MAC). Both of Gabbert's passing TDs came in the first period, and both went to Gage Larvadain, who finally returned to action following an injury in in Week Three. The first was a 9-yard strike at 9:18. After a . . . Darwin might like RedHawks style(s) By MIKE SMITH According to Head Coach Chuck Martin, of the many things that have contributed to Miami's 5-1 start, one is the team's ability to adapt. The RedHawks, it might be said, have thus far proved very adept at adapting while facing a variety of offensive styles. Winners of five straight, they'll need to keep adapting in order to keep winning. The next several weeks are filled with diverse challenges as MU battles Broncos, Rockets and Bobcats. The first matchup of that mid-season MAC run is Saturday when MU visiits Kalamazoo. It will face a Western Michigan team that is 2-4 overall after a 41-28 loss at Mississippi State last week. The Broncos are 1-1 in MAC play. Miami Head Coach Chuck Martin touched . . . Miami pitches shutout; RedHawks win fifth straight By MIKE SMITH OXFORD, OH - After surrendering just three points a week earlier, the Miami RedHawks defense improved on that Saturday as MU shut out Bowling Green 27-0 at Yager Stadium. While registering MU's first shutout since 2007, the RedHawks (5-1, 2-0 MAC) held Bowling Green (2-4, 0-2 MAC) to 135 yards of total offense. A week earlier, BGSU generated 438 yards of offense and scored 38 straight points in a 38-27 upset win over Georgia Tech. The Falcons converted 10 of 17 third downs in that one. Against Miami, Bowling Green converted one of eight. "They're better than we made them look (today)," MU Head Coach Chuck Martin said. "They've got (skilled) guys," Offensively, Miami produced 356 yards. Quarterback Brett . . . MU must keep Falcon offense from going on roll By MIKE SMITH One of the week's top MAC games may be taking place in Oxford, where the Miami RedHawks host Bowling Green. To a certain extent, this will pit a very good Miami defense against a dangerous Bowling Green offense that may have found itself in last week's 38-27 road upset of Georgia Tech. The Falcons scored 38 straight points, generated 438 yards of offense and dominated much of that game. One week earlier, the Ohio Bobcats held BGSU to 211 yards of offense and seven points in a 38-7 victory. The Falcons added to their burden by committing four turnovers against Ohio. It was a different story against Georgia Tech, as Bowling Green . . . 'Good teams win all styles of games' - Martin By MIKE SMITH For Chuck Martin, the ending makes the story. He can -- and has -- experienced many different plots/conflicts over the years. As long as his team comes out of a game relatively healthy and with a win, he can enjoy the result. Such was the case with Saturday's RedHawks 23-3 victory over Kent State. It lacked the offensive/scoring muscle MU showed against Delaware State the week before and was definitely off MU's dramatic overtime upset of rival Cincinnati two weeks ago. In fact, neither Kent State (206 yards) nor Miami (292 yards) reached 300 yards of offense. The Flashes only score of the game was a field goal to cap their opening drive. Once the RedHawks . . . |
Editor-Publisher Mike SmithMike grew up in Mid-American Conference football and basketball territory and returned there after military service. He has been covering MAC football and men's basketball for much of the last several decades. Archives
November 2024
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