MAC Football: Miami Wins First Battle of the Bricks Since 2019

Aveon Smith stepped into the starting role in place of an injured Brett Gabbert on Saturday in Athens. The redshirt sophomore threw a touchdown and ran for a

Joe Londergan | Oct 28, 2023

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Aveon Smith stepped into the starting role in place of an injured Brett Gabbert on Saturday in Athens. The redshirt sophomore threw a touchdown and ran for a touchdown in a 30-16 win for the Redhawks.

A steady rain throughout the first half made the run game a bigger emphasis for both teams. Ohio struck first with a six-play, 79-yard drive capped off by a Sieh Bangura touchdown run from the two-yard line. Though Gianni Spetic would miss the extra point, he would atone with a 33-yard field goal on their next possession.

After the Miami defense recovered a Kurtis Rourke fumble inside Ohio's 12-yard line, Redhawks' kicker Graham Nicholson would hit a 26-yarder to shorten the Bobcat lead. Nicholson also hit a 40-yarder with 4:20 remaining in the half.

Inside the two-minute mark, a Rashad Amos run for 66 yards would put the Redhawks in the red zone. Amos would finish the drive two plays later with a one-yard dive into the end zone. Miami led 13-9 at the break.

In the second half, Nicholson would hit again from 32 yards out on Miami's first possession of the third quarter.

As the rain let up, the run game continued to serve the Redhawks well. Smith punched in another rushing touchdown for Miami after a 24-yard run from Amos put them back in the red zone.

With 11:13 remaining in the fourth quarter, Smith would find running back Kevin Davis, who broke off a 46-yard touchdown to make it 30-9. The Bobcats finally got their first touchdown of the evening with 7:56 remaining in the game, but that wouldn't be enough time to score again.

The Redhawks held Ohio to just three third down conversions on 14 attempts.

The Bobcats also committed 11 penalties on the evening.

With the win, 7-2 Miami takes sole control of the MAC East and awaits a battle with Akron on November 8.

Published Oct 28, 2023

JOE LONDERGAN

Joe covers college sports from the Group of Five ranks and beyond. He has worked in the sports industry since 2008, earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Louisville, and a Master's degree from Seattle University.