MIAMI FOOTBALL

McComb, Heavner guide RedHawks in comeback win

Young interception, Stidham field goal among key fourth quarter plays

Brady Stidham steps into his game-winning field goal. (MVSmith/MRO)

By MIKE SMITH
OXFORD, OH -- David McComb ran for one score and threw for 312 yards with two touchdowns as Miami (2-2) rallied from an early 14-0 deficit to defeat visiting UConn (2-2) 24-21 Saturday at Yager Stadium.

McComb actually led MU rushing, as well, using three runs to pick up 33 yards (and the TD). Still, it was backup Caleb Heavner at the helm when Miami drove 28 yards in 11 plays to set up freshman Brady Stidham's tie-breaking 33-yard field goal with 1:58 remaining. 
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A final Huskie drive ended at the MU 38 after four straight incompletions. 
Heavner, a senior transfer who . . . 

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. . . was third on the Miami depth chart at one point this fall, entered when McComb was injured late in the fourth period. When linebacker CJ Young made a leaping interception, Miami had its opportunity, taking over at the UConn 43 with 8:47 left. ​

Caleb Heavner (6) audibles before a fourth quarter play. The senior was called to duty when starter David McComb went down with an injury. (MVSmith/MRO)

Ten plays later, MU faced fourth-and-five. Having missed two earlier field goals, it turned to the freshman Stidham. His first field goal attempt of the season split the uprights, and MU's defense sealed a win.
Coming off last week's tough loss to rival Cincinnati, MU sputtered on both sides of the ball early. UConn scored on its first two possessions and took a 14-0 lead into the second quarter.

Brach Rise barrels ahead for a key first down during Miami's drive to a winning field goal. (MVSmith/MRO)

CJ Young's interception allowed Miami to start its decisive drive with good field position. (MVSmith/MRO)

While the RedHawks defense stiffened and would keep UConn off the board until the third quarter, Miami's offense needed something to get untracked, especially with UConn containing MU's run game. McComb's 31-yard pass to Damarion Witten at 10:04 of the second period seemed to provide the spark. Aided by a Huskie penalty along the way, Miami drove into the Huskie red zone. McComb then put MU on the board with a 10-yard TD run at 6:14.

After a UConn punt, the RedHawks came back for more. 

One play after Huskie pass interference penalty, McComb found tight end Brendan Loftus over the middle. The 6-6 redshirt freshman made a one-handed catch while splitting two defenders and raced to the end zone for a 57-yard TD. With the PAT, Miami reached halftime locked in a 14-all tie. 

"I knew my number was going to be called at some point this week, and we got the look," said Loftus. "I was so excited when I scored, but it was a great ball by David...I knew it was going to be a big play when he called it."

​​"We talked all week: If we hit this right, it's going to be a touchdown...executed really nicely," Miami head coach Chuck Martin said. "Really good throw...then, obviously, Brendan makes a great, great catch and then a great run after the catch."

Both teams scored one more TD late in the third period. Miami took its first lead of the day when McComb hit Scoop Smith on an 11-yard TD pass at 3:48. However, UConn used a 53-yard pass to reach Miami's red zone on the next possession. Cyncir Bowers finished the drive three plays later, squirming in from one yard out.

Miami's Kellan McLaughlin attempted a 40-yard field goal attempt early in the fourth , but it was no good and the two teams remained locked at 21-all until Stidham's late field goal.

A crowd of 18,180 mostly RedHawk fans were on hand as Miami improved its all-time record in Homecoming games to 66-37-4 (.636) with the victory.  Asked if the home crowd support played a part in his team's comeback, Martin said. "No doubt ...  "Big plays and we got some energy in the building...being at home is always awesome."

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Miami defenders apply pressure to UConn quarterback Kalieb Osborne during second half action. (MVSmith/MRO)

NOTES
• The RedHawks open MAC play next Saturday when they host Bowling Green. 
• Miami outgained the Huskies 414-377 overall and had three more first downs. 
• UConn was penalized six times for 60 yards. Miami drew two flags for 30 yards. 
• Heavner, who transferred in from Division II Fort Hayes State, completed all three pass attempts, totaling 13 yards. 
• Martin indicated McComb's injury status was to be determined, but he did not finish Saturday's contest. 
• Miami finished with 89 yards rushing, averaging 3.1 ypc on 29 trips. 
• Among the ground game contributors for MU was Brach Rice. The 260-pound defensive lineman was used on a key third-and-one play early in Miami's drive for the winning field goal. Rice fought his way for two yards and a first down. That not only moved MU forward, it allowed the RedHawks to burn some clock. The 11-play drive took 6:49 off the clock before UConn's final possession.
• Loftus caught three balls for 72 yards and a score. Braylon Isom recorded four catches for 66 yards and Lynel Billups-Williams added five receptions for 41 yards. Smith finished with six catches totaling 34 yards (1 TD).
• UConn recorded one sack and seven TFL. 
• Miami's defense as a whole responded after a slow start and only allowed seven total points in the final 51 minutes. "They settled down. They took a deep breath...we really settled in and we got stop after stop. After the first two drives, they scored seven points in the last three quarters and six minutes, which, again, is what we expect around here. ,,, We're very prideful in how our defense plays. And then, obviously, they got the huge stop at the end to win the game."

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UConn runner Trey Cornist (6) is halted by a swarm of RedHawk defenders. (MVSmith/MRO)