MIAMI FOOTBALL

'Game of the Year' looms Friday at Bowling Green

RedHawks face multiple big threats in Falcons

MIAMI at BOWLING GREEN - Noon -- ESPNU
Doyt L. Perry Stadium -- Bowling Green, OH

By MIKE SMITH
While much of American turns its attention to shopping Friday, the Miami RedHawks and Bowling Green Falcons will be laser-focused on a noon battle at Doyt L. Perry Stadium. 

Both teams own 6-1 MAC records. So does Ohio, who has won four straight and is a solid favorite over Ball State in the MAC's other Friday matchup. 
If the Bobcats do prevail against BSU, they will head to Detroit in search of their first MAC championship since 1968. Joining them for a title joust at Ford Field will be the winner of Bowling Green vs Miami.

The RedHawks won it all in 2023 and were a MAC coaches preseason poll pick (119 points) to repeat -- something that has been very difficult for any team to pull off in recent years. Toledo (109 points) was next in the same poll and a fairly popular pick for the title in several other polls. There was a tie for third in the coaches poll, with Bowling Green and Northern Illinois pulling in 92 points. Ohio was fifth with 81 points.

Both MU and BGSU bring significant win streaks into Friday's matchup. The RedHawks have won six straight since losing to Toledo (30-20) during a brutal early schedule. With their backs against the wall, head coach Chuck Martin subsequently began referring to each week's matchup as a "tournament" game - win or fall by the wayside. 

Bowling Green, meanwhile, has won five straight since losing to Northern Illinois (17-7) back on Oct. 12. While MU defeated the Huskies, it lost to Toledo. The Falcons knocked off UT Oct. 26 at the Glass Bowl.

Miami defeated Bowling Green 27-0 in Oxford last year, but the Falcons won  five of their next regular season games. The only loss was by one point (33-32) against Toledo. BGSU's third MAC loss of 2023 was to Ohio, but those two teams did not meet in regular season play this year. If they both win Friday, Bowing Green would have a chance to finish avenging all three of its 2023 MAC losses. 

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BOWLING GREEN (7-5, 5-3 MAC) 
>> Not only did the Falcons show considerable progress in 2023, they were impressive in several non-conference losses earlier this year. They lost to No. 8 Penn State 34-27 in Week 2 and were edged by No. 25 Texas A & M 26-20 the following week. 
>> The Falcons scored 27 or more points in four of the five games in their current win streak. The high was 41 against Toledo. The low was 23 against Central Michigan. 
>> BGSU ranks sixth (one behind Miami) in MAC scoring. The Falcons are averaging 27.7 ppg, while MU averages 30.7 in conference action.
>> Bowling Green is seventh in total offense (368.4 ypg), seventh in rushing (153.0 ypg) and seventh in passing (215.4 ypg). 
>> Senior Connor Bazelak has been a key to effectively managing BGSU's offense and capitalizing on its assets. He has completed 67.6 percent of his passes this year, producing 2,453 passing yards with 15 TDs and four interceptions. 
>> The Falcons most dangerous offensive weapon is tight end Harold Fannin Jr. BGSU has found many ways to get him the ball. Not only does he lead the team in receiving, he is a national leader.
Overall, Fannin has 92 receptions totaling 1,295 yards with nine TDs. 
>> Terion Stewart leads the Falcon run game with 151 carries for 856 yards and six touchdowns. His 95.1 ypg ranks first among MAC rushers. 
Jason Patterson has logged 90 carries totaling 397 yards and four TDs. 
>> As well as the offense has done, the Falcons success is also related to its defensive work. In conference-only stats, BGSU ransk second in scoirng defense (15.4 ppg), third in total defense (288.7 ypg), fourth in rushing defense (119.3 ypg). It is second in pass defense (169.0 ypg) and pass defense efficiency (103.1).
>> The Falcons are coming off a 38-13 win over Ball State.

MIAMI (7-4, 6-1 MAC)
>> The RedHawks have survived the loss at Toledo to run off six straight wins despite a spate of injuries on both sides of the ball. With a 10-day break since their recent win over Northern Illinois, head coach Chuck Martin is hopeful MU can be relatvely healthy for Bowling Green.
>> One spot that has remained RELATIVELY healthy this year is quarterback. Senior Brett Gabbert has been at the helm all for all 11 games after coming back from a very serious leg fracture last year. 
Gabbert struggled, uncharacteristically throwing seven interceptions in MU's firt five games. He has thrown one since that time -- last week in a 20-9 win over Northern Illinois.
>> Cade McDonald was the RedHawks leading receiver earlier this year, but he has missed significant time recently. Martin was hopeful the recent break would help his availability.
>> Reggie Virgil and Javon Tracy have been important parts of the RedHawks resurgent passing game in recent weeks. Virgil has 33 catches totaling 705 yards with eight TDs. Tracy has a team-high 41 catches fpr 669 yards with six scores. 
>> The RedHawks run game picked up with the start of MAC play. Keyon Mozee is second among MAC backs in conference action, averaging 109 ypg -- just one yard behind leader Al-Jay Henderson of Buffalo. Mozee had reached 100 yards in five straight games before finishing with 91 last week against a tough Northern Illinois defense. 
>> As was the case in 2023, this year's Miami defense is a big piece of MU's success. In MAC action, the RedHawks are third scoring defense (15.4 ppg), second in total defense (278.4 ypg), second in rushing defense (98.6 ypg), fourth in passing defense (179.9) and first in pass defense efficiency (98.3).
>> Martin recently noted that the young MU secondary has made big strides since the beginning of the year. It entered 2024 as the least experienced unit on the team, and it showed during non-conference play. "Everything (our opponents) threw was a completion," Martin said. 
Sophomore Raion Strader has been one of the bright spots, registering 45 tackles, 14 passes defended and two interceptions so far in 2024.
>> Miami's linebacking corps continues to be a team strength. Matt Salopek, 2023 MAC Defensive Player of the Year, has 99 tackles and should break the 100 mark (for a fourth time) early Friday. 
Ty Wise has a size-speed combination that allows MU to do some special things on defense. Last year, he was a key part of limiting DeQuan Finn's damage in the MAC Championship game. 
>> The RedHawks defensive line did well in limiting several potent run games this year. At the same time, Corey Suttle, Brian Ugwu and associates typically do a good job of pressuring opposing quarterbacks.
>> As other teams found out, Bowling Green's combination of rushing and passing production is a big challenge. Martin said it will take a total team effort to handle the Falcons.