MIAMI FOOTBALL

Miami aims to keep MAC wins rolling

RedHawks defense will face more potent offense

By MIKE SMITH
After two weeks on the road, Miami returns to Yager Stadium Saturday when it hosts Eastern Michigan. Kickoff is scheduled for noon and the game will be shown on ESPN+.

In last year's meeting, Brett Gabbert threw four touchdowns for Miami in a 38-14 victory over Eastern Michigan at Rynearson Stadium. Miami's defense added a pair of turnovers and held EMU to 18.4 points under its season average. Eli Blakey posted a career-high 18 tackles, while Corban Hondru added 16 stops.

Last Saturday, the Eagles (2-5, 1-2 MAC) broke . . . 

---

. . . a two-game losing streak and picked up their first MAC win by edging Northern Illinois 16-10 in Ypsilanti. They missed a chance to register another win one week earlier when they fell 31-30 in overtime at Buffalo.

MORE POTENT OFFENSE
The RedHawks, meanwhile, are riding a three-game winning streak, with the last two -- both MAC matchups -- coming on the road. Miami's defense and special teams were key parts of the recent wins. However, MU Head Coach Chuck Martin is expecting a tougher challenge for his defense this Saturday. "They're much different than the Lindenwood, Akron and Northern (Illinois) offenses as far as being able to run the ball, throw the ball and be explosive."

Eastern Michigan (23.7 ppg) ranks fourth -- one spot above MU (23.0 ppg) -- in scoring offense  The Eagles (365.9 ypg) are third in total offense, while Miami (345.0  ypg) is fifth among MAC teams. 

There is more of a disparity on the defensive side. Miami (20.7 ppg) is fourth in scoring defense and third (321.3 ypg) in total offense defense.
The Eagles are 11th in scoring defense (32.0 ppg) and 12th in total offense defense 456.0 ypg).

According to Martin, the RedHawks defense has been performing pretty well overall but is still a work in progress. 

"(We're) defending the run tremendously. ... If you get a team one-dimensional and then get a lead ...  they're even more one-dimensional because they're chasing points," he said. "There are still some things in our pass defense that we weren't very pleased with at Akron. ... But our coverage is tightening up each week. It's getting better, but we're not a finished product over there.at all."

Offensively, injuries and inconsistency have contributed to some spotty play. Miami managed just three points before intermission last week. It was another story in the second half as MU scored 21 points and probably could have added at least a few more. 

"It was a disappointing first half. Just a lot of us not executing our offense," Martin said. "They executed their defense better than we executed our offense and credit to them. They kept getting stops."

TRACY FINISHED FOR YEAR
In addition to execution inconsistencies, Miami has been dealing with injuries, and during Monday's press conference Martin confirmed a season-ending injury for running back Kenny Tracy. The senior, who missed all of 2024 with a leg injury, went down early at Northern Illinois two weeks ago. 

"Kenny is done for the year" Martin said. "He has unfortunately injured his knee. He was off to a phenomenal start and (was) playing great football. I could not feel any worse for somebody that has worked so hard and had such a nice career for us."

"It's a huge, huge blow for Miami football -- not to have Kenny Tracy at the level he does (things)," Martin added. 

BIG BACKS STEPPING UP
While Tracy's blend of speed, versatility and experience is difficult to totally replace, the RedHawks are having some running success with a different formula: one part Dequan Finn and one part power backs.

Finn, a senior dual-threat quarterback, leads Miami rushing with 271 yards on 61 carries (4.5 ypc). After getting hurt during first half action against UNLV, he missed the Lindenwood game. He returned a week later, totaling 155 yards on 34 carries in MU's next two outings. His ability to scramble and pick up first downs has been a boost and is something opposing defenses have to respect. 


Meanwhile, the RedHawks have also been able to develop a decent power game between the tackles. Tracy's backup -- Josh Ringer -- has missed two games with an injury. That moved senior Jordan Brunson (6-0, 233) into the backfield. Freshman D'Shawntae Jones (5-10, 245) is an even bigger back and has contributed three TDs among his 17 carries for 51 yards. 

"I've been very pleased for two weeks with Brunson and D'Shawnte (Jones)," said Martin, who noted Tito Glass Jr (6-2, 238, R-Fr)  is also "coming along."

"They were more involved this week," Martin noted. "We didn't have to play (tight end Brian) Shane (in the backfield) on third down. They just need another week of prep and a little more focus on details in our third down offense, which they did a really nice job in the (Akron) game. ... Third down offense isn't easy in any level of football ... with all the exotic looks you get."

MORE NOTES AND QUOTES
• Saturday will be the 27th meeting between the two programs with the RedHawks holding an 20-6 advantage. Miami is 10-3 all-time at home versus
the Eagles inside Yager Stadium
• EMU quarterback Noah Kim has completed 142 of 227 pass attempts (62.6%), good for 1,483 yards with eight TDs and four interceptions. He has a quarterback rating of 125.5. Senior Dontae McMillan (5-10, 203) is the top Eagles rusher (105 carries, 637 yards (6.1 ypc) and two TDs. Tavierre Dunlap has contributed 232 yards and three scores, while Kim has logged 50 carries for 115 yards and four TDs. 
Benson Prosper (53.6 ypg) and Terry Lockett (52.6 ypg) rank sixth and seventh, respectively, in receiving.  Prosper leads all MAC receivers in total catches (47).
•  Miami football will wear special helmets/jerseys versus Eastern Michigan as Miami and the Myaamia Tribe continue to foster their relationship. 
•  Kam Perry currently averages 29.7 yards per reception, which ranks first in the country. After posting just 10 catches for 166 yards last season, the junior has already recorded three 100-yard games this season. He had 108 yards at Rutgers, 122 versus UNLV and 122 against Lindenwood.
•  Adam Trick's interception to halt an early Akron drive near the goal line was a key play in last week's win. 
"Trick gets the pick. What can't Adam Trick do," said Martin, who called the redshirt junior a phenomenal player. 
"The idea was to move him back to linebacker after (Matt Salopek and Ty Wise) left, but he (wanted to take his game to another level at D-end). ...He's always working on his game. He's never satisfied."
Trick ranks third in the MAC in sacks (5.5) and has proven to be a major disrupter for opposing offenses.