2007 Miami RedHawks football team

Dustin Grutza, who started in place of the injured UC quarterback Ben Mauk threw for two scores to lead the University of Cincinnati Bearcats to a 47-10 win over Miami. UC defense dominated the game with a fumble recovery , three interceptions, a blocked punt, and five sacks. [
Cory Jones, a fifth-year senior running back who hadn't played a game in his career until this season, gained 125 yards on 12 carries and scored two touchdowns to lead the RedHawks to a 17-14 win over Syracuse at Yager Stadium. For this game coach Montgomery adjusted the offense to focus more on the running game instead of passing attack. The RedHawks had 286 yards rushing which was the most since Miami’s 1999 team ran for 399 in a 32-23 win over University of Akron. Mike Kokal returned to the starting lineup at quarterback replacing sophomore Daniel Raudabaugh who started at Colorado the week before, Kokal ran for 63 yards on 11 carries and threw for 150 yards while completing 13 of 26 passes. [Before the game Miami University retired former quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's number and honored former head coach Terry Hoeppner with a moment of silence. After the pre game activities, Miami beat Bowling Green, 47-14, as Austin Sykes ran for a career-high 124 yards including two touchdowns. Eugene Harris scored his first two career touchdowns, including a 73-yard pass that helped the RedHawks open up a 30-7 halftime lead. The RedHawk defense controlled the game by sacking Falcons' quarterback Tyler Sheehan six times and limited him to a 140 yards passing. [Miami lost to Vanderbilt of the Southeastern Conference by the score of 24-13. Three straight Vanderbilt turnovers in the second quarter allowed Miami to lead 13-10 midway through the third quarter. Miami’s only touchdown came when quarterback Daniel Radabaugh connected with Jamal Rogers for a 40-yard touchdown pass with 6:16 left in 2nd quarter. With 4:54 remaining in the third quarter back up quarterback Chris Nickson ran for a 2-yard touchdown allowing the Commodores to take a 17-13 lead. Nickson replaced starting quarterback Mackenzi Adams who left the game because of a chest injury. During the game Vanderbilt's Earl Bennett became the leading receiver in Southeastern Conference history. For the game he had eight catches for a career total of 215, breaking Craig Yeast's record of 208. [Coming into the game Miami was tied with Buffalo for first place in the Mid-American Conference East Division. The RedHawks hold all the tiebreaker advantages and would represent the East in the MAC Championship Game by winning their final two regular-season games or a Buffalo loss. Coach Motgomery's main concern coming into the game was how to contain the Zips offense, led by sophomore tailbacks Alex Allen and Bryan Williams along with the senior wide receiver Jabari Arthur. The defensive game plan had to take into account two different styles of play depending on who was playing quarterback for the Zips. The Zips could play either Chris Jaquemain, who is more of a passing quarterback or Carlton Jackson who is more of a running quarterback. [] For the game Miami outgained the Bobcats 379 to 199 yards but Ohio’s placekicker Michael Braunstein sealed the victory for Ohio with a 40-yard field goal that gave Ohio a 38-29 lead with 2:26 remaining. []

Notes

See also

* 2007-08 Mid-American Conference season

External links

* [http://muredhawks.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/06-mediaguide.html 2006 Media Guide]
* [http://muredhawks.cstv.com/ Official site]