MAC/MIAMI FOOTBALL

RedHawks beat Ball State; punch title game ticket

Gotkowski throws three TDs in must-win challenge

Kam Perry grabs a long touchdown pass. (MVSmith/MRO)

By MIKE SMITH
OXFORD, OH -- Standing before the press after his team's 45-24 win over Ball State Saturday, Miami Head Coach Chuck Martin observed this season has been like no other in his nearly three decades of coaching. At least one thing about it, however, is familiar. Martin's RedHawks are going to the MAC Championship game. 

It's the third straight . . . 

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Nasir Washington tackles Kiale Kelly to prevent a big gain. (MVSmith/MRO)

. . . title game appearance for Miami, which split the 2024 and 2024 contests. The RedHawks will now face Western Michigan in next Saturday's championship. 

It was MU's win over WMU earlier this year that played a big part in a multi-team tie-breaker. Still, to benefit from that edge, Miami had to beat Ball State.

Thomas Gotkowski's first start resulted in a RedHawks win that secured a spot for Miami in the MAC Championship game. (MVSmith/MRO)

Redshirt freshman QB Thomas Gotkowski,making his second straight appearance and first start since MU lost Daquan Finn, again led the RedHawks. He completed 12 of 24 pass attempts, good for 226 yards and three of Miami's first four touchdowns. 

Miami got on the board first, driving 52 yards in seven plays. Gotkowski hit Isom for 23 yards to finish the drive. 

Ball State answered quickly thanks to a 56-yard drive-opening run by QB Kiale Kelly. Two plays later, Jalen Bonds tied the game with a two-yard TD. 

Miami took the lead back almost as quickly as it had disappared. The RedHawks used three completions to move 69 yards, with Isom catching a 10-yarder for the score. Both of the freshman's catches on the day went for touchdowns. 

Kelly's 44-yard pass to Donovan Hamilton opened BSU's next drive, suggesting the day mght turn into a track meet. However, Miami's defense stiffened and held the Cardinals to a field goal. 

"(The) defense was not great the first couple drives, but then they settled in the rest of the game and suffocated them," Martin said. 

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Adam Trick gets to Ball State quarterback Kiale Kelly. (MVSmith/MRO)

MU turned to the run on its next drive, and the results were similar. It took just four plays to go 63 yards. When Jason Brunson ran it in from 12 yards out, Miami led 21-10 with 21 seconds left in the first period. 

"We talked a lot this week . . . about how we've got to come out fas and get after them," Martin said. The "Offense came out smoking. We made a bunch of big plays. 

​Ball State would not score again until the fourth quarter. However, Miami added 10 more points before halftime. The first was a lightning strike on the first play of MU's second possession of the second quarter. Gotkowski found Kam Perry streaking down the left sideline for a 55-yard TD at 10:09. Dom Dzioban's 33-yard field goal later in the period gave MU a commanding 31-10 lead at intermission. 

Miami freshman D'Shawntae Jones' 1-yard TD run was the only score of the third period for either team. However, there was a late flurry of scoring. Ball State went 74 yards in 13 plays for its second touchdown -- a 2-yard run by Qua Ashley at 7:44 of the final period. 

Two plays after a Miami punt, Kiale was sacked and fumbled. Jermaine Agee fell on the ball in the end zone and Miami led 45-17. 

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Braylon Isom comes down with one of his two touchdown receptions against Ball State. (MVSmith/MRO)

Ball State put up the game's final points as Kelly hit Eric Weatherly for 35 yards over the middle.

Kelly finished with 14 completions (23 attempts) for 177 yards and two TDs. Hamilton and Weatherly combined for seven receptions, 126 yards and a touchdown. 

Kelly also topped BSU rushing with 16 carries for 61 yards, most on his 56-yard first quarter run. 

Freshman D'Shawntae Jones carried eight times for 47 yards and a touchdown. (MVSmith/MRO)

NOTES
• Miami will play Western Michigan for the MAC Championship at noon on Saturday, Dec. 6 at Ford Field in Detroit.

• With more than two teams tied for second with 6-2 league marks, the tie-breaker became records against common opponents. MU had a 3-0 record against Western Michigan, Northern Illinois and Ball State. 

• Miami is the first team to play in three-straight MAC Championships since NIU did so from 2010-15.

• The RedHawk defense combined for seven total sacks.

• In Miami's previous four games, the RedHawks scored two offensive touchdowns in the first half. Miami recorded three touchdowns in the first quarter versus Ball State.

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ABOVE -- Drew Terrill (78) and Jacob Schorsch fire out as Darin Conley begins his rush. AT RIGHT - Cole Weave picks up a first down. (MVSmith/MRO)