MIAMI FOOTBALL

RedHawks prevail in defensive battle

Defeat Huskies for sixth straight win

Dylan Downing celebrates Miami's first score. (MVSmith/MRO)

By MIKE SMITH
OXFORD, OH -- Wide receiver Javon Tracy's 30-yard TD pass to Reggie Virgil was part of a 17-point first half run that helped propel Miami (7-4, 6-1 MAC) to a 20-9 win over Northern Illinois (6-5, 3-4 MAC) Tuesday at Yager Stadium.
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It was the sixth straight win for MU, which finishes its regular season Nov. 29 at Bowling Green. The Huskies, who saw their . . . 

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John Young has played through some injuries to help anchor the RedHawks offense during a six-game winning streak. (MVSmith/MRO)

. . . two-game win streak end, finish the MAC campaign Nov. 30 when Central Michigan visits DeKalb. 

Miami head coach Chuck Martin had expected a physical battle dominated by the defenses, and that is how the game played out -- especially in the second half. 

Miami broke in front when Dylan Downing banged his way in from two yards out at 2:31 of the first quarter to complete a 69-yard drive. 

Dom Dzioban's 22-yard field goal at 12:24 of the second stanza gave MU a 10-0 lead. Later in the period, they added seven more. 

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Miami's final touchdown of the night came on Tracy's toss to fellow wideout Reggie Virgil, who made a diving catch in the back corner of the end zone. Ironically, Tracy had been injured just two plays earlier when he caught a pass and drew a targeting penalty against NIU. 

Martin said Tracy proposed the play several days ago, pointing out he had been successful with it twice during spring drills. Martin said couldn't immediately remember the formation  or other factors, and it took him a while to find the video. Eventually, he  decided it might work against NIU. 

"It was the best pass I had seen him throw," Martin said of his Tracy's  toss. 

Dylan Downing blocks as Javon Tracy throws his second quarter TD pass to Reggie Virgil (right). (MVSmith/MRO)

With the score, Miami appeared ready to take a 17-0 lead to halftime, especially after Eli Blakey picked off a Huskies pass. MU, however, repaid the miscue in kind as QB Brett Gabbert was intercepted by Jashon Prophete, who returned it to the Miami 19. 

Northern Illinois gained just one yard in three plays, but it was already close  enough to try a field goal. Kanon Woodill split the uprights with four seconds remaining before intermission.

Neither team scored in the third quarter, but NIU scored with a Telly Johnson Jr. two-yard run at 11:51 of the fourth period. When Miami was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct on the play, Northern Illinois decided to go for a two-point conversion. However, the pass fell incomplete, leaving NIU down eight (17-9). 

After forcing a Miami punt, the Huskies were on the move again, but after converting a fourth-and-two from their own 30, NIU fumbled two plays later. 

Keyon Mozee slips through a hole for some of his 91 rushing yards. (MVSmith/MRO)

Matt Salopek brings down a Huskie ball carrier. The linebacker recorded 13 tackles on the night. (MVsmith/MRO)

Brian Ugwu recovered for MU, which moved 16 yards before turning to Dzioban. His 27-yard field goal put Miami up 20-9 with 2:29 remaining and the hosts kept NIU scoreless after that. 

Miami out-gained the Huskies 324-242 overall, with most of the RedHawks progress coming through through the air. Gabbert completed 14-of-23 for 207 yards. Tracy's TD pass added another 30 yards. Virgil and Tracy combined for 10 catches186 yards and a TD.
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Although MU netted just 87 yards on the ground, Keyon Mozee registered 14 carries for 91 yards. 

Huskies QB Ethan Hampton completed 10-of-25 passes for a total of 70 yards. Josh Holst (6-of-8) and Trayvon Rudolph (1-of-1) added another 44 yards passing. Andrew McElroy led NIU receivers with five catches for 38 yards. 

Johnson and Gavin Williams combined for 21 carries, 92 yards and one TD. 

Four Miami defenders had at least 10 tackles, led by Matt Salopek's 13. That left him one short of 100 tackles on the season. He already has recorded three years with at least 100 tackles. 

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