MAC FOOTBALL

Bobcats dominate Miami to claim MAC title

RedHawks struggle on both sides of ball 

Javon Tracy recorded seven of MU's 14 receptions. (MVSmith/MRO)

By MIKE SMITH
DETROIT, MI -- This time was different -- very different.
Parker Navarro passed for two TDs and ran for another two scores to lead Ohio (10-3, 7-1 MAC) over Miami (8-5, 7-1 MAC) 38-3 Saturday at Ford Field.

With their victory, the Bobcats claimed their first MAC championship since 1968. Defending MAC champ Miami, which won seven straight games to reach the title game, fell short of its bid for back-to-back conference championships. 

"It was my . . . 

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. . . 36th year of coaching, 20 years here, and that was the best four quarters of football I've ever seen. It was from start to finish. Wow," Ohio head coach Tim Albin said.

The Bobcats will travel to Orlando, Florida for the StaffDNA Cure Bowl on December 20. To learn more about the Cure Bowl, visit CureBowl.com. Miami should hear its bowl destination by Sunday. 

Oscar McWood (23) and Ty Wise (10) defend on a Ricky Hunt Jr. reception. (MVSmith/MRO)

Brett Gabbert gets off a pass in Saturday's MAC title game. The senior was under significant pressure much of the day. (MVSmith/MRO)

The RedHawks handed Ohio its only conference loss back in October. It did so by limiting Navarro's damage and striking for several big plays. Among the latter were three touchdown passes by quarterback Brett Gabbert. 

Saturday was a 180-degree difference as Navarro repeatedly stung the RedHawks with key plays. Gabbert, meanwhile, was harassed all day. Although the 'Cats recorded just one sack, they made life in and around the pocket uncomfortable. 

Gabbert finished the contest with 14 completions on 25 attempts, good for 127 yards with one interception. Navarro, meanwhile, connected on 20-of-27 passes for 235 yards and two TDs. As a runner, he logged 13 carries totaling 67 yards and two TDs. 

Ohio out-gained the RedHawks 467-189 overall and owned a 32-11 edge in first downs. Miami went 4-of 11 on third down. Two of the conversions came on Miami's opening possession. That drive stalled at the Ohio 11. Facing fourth-and-one, MU settled for a Dom Dzioban field goal. 

Those three points gave Miami its only lead -- and only points -- of the game, Ohio scored TDs on each of its three first half possessions to take a 21-3 lead into halftime. 
Ten more points early in the third quarter put the 'Cats up 31-3 before they punted for the first time late in period.

Miami drove to the Bobcats 14-yard line, but the drive ended there when Tank Person intercepted a Gabbert pass in the endzone. Ohio then drove 90 yards for its final touchdown -- an Anthony Tyus III 21-yard run. 

Tyus, a 6-1, 226-pound senior, recorded 27 carries for 151 and the final TD. Overall, Bobcat runners averaged 5.0 ypc while running 46 times for a total of 232 yards. Miami ran 23 times for a total of 62 yards (2.7 ypc). Keyon Mozee, who averaged 6.9 ypc and ran for 111 yards against Ohio in October, was held to 28 yards on 11 trips in Saturday's rematch. 

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Miami defenders Corban Hondru (12) Kobe Hilton (96) and Savio Frazier (0) stop Anthony Tyus III. The 6-1, 226-pounder from Portage Michigan carried 27 times for a game-high 151 yards and a TD.

NOTES: 
>> Navarro proved elusive all day. Two of Ohio's third down conversions followed dropped shotgun snaps. Navarro picked up the first one and scambled for a first down that set up an early TD. Later, he picked another fumble, ran several yards and then pulled up to throw a two-handed push pass that set up another touchdown. 

Miami head coach Chuck Martin makes his point during a controversial second half review by officials. (MVSmith/MRO)

>> Javon Tracy had half of the RedHawks 14 receptions. His seven catches totaled 58 yards. Owen Coleman (5 catches, 73 yards, 1 TD) and Chase Hendricks (7 catches, 61 yards) led the Bobcats. 
>> MU linebacker Ty Wise led all defenders with 17 tackles (3 solo, 1 sack, 1.5 TFL). 
>> Matt Salopek became the fifth player in Miami history to reach 500 career tackles. 
>> The RedHawks had a spate of injuries in the hard-hitting game. Several were among defensive backs. However, senior Ambe' Caldwell recorded a career-high nine tackles. 
>> Ohio punted just once on the day. MU punted four times. 
>> Albin spoke highly of Miami head coach Chuck Martin, the RedHawk program and the Ohio-Miami rivalry: 
"I want to congratulate Chuck Martin and his staff on their season. He got my vote for Coach of the Year. I picked him to win the whole thing in the preseason. He does it the right way, both teams (show) tremendous sportsmanship, and that's important. I applaud our commissioner in the letter that he had sent last week, and you've got a big rival game, two great fan bases college football, two best defenses, the two best quarterbacks, two best offensive line, and we did it the right way today."

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