Miami Returns to MAC Title Game with Win over BG
The Miami RedHawks secured their spot in the MAC Championship game on Friday, defeating Bowling Green 28-12 to book their ticket to Detroit for the second straight season.
After a winless first three weeks and a 1-4 start to the season, the RedHawks rattled off seven straight wins in their quest to reclaim the conference title. Friday’s win means that the Miami win streak will continue for at least 63 days.
“I said to the team ‘if we keep playing like this we’re going to go 1-11” said Miami head coach Chuck Martin “there’s not a team we can’t beat on the schedule but there’s not a team we can’t lose to.”
By: Jack Mueller
“There was a lot of doubt when we were 1-4,” Martin added, “We had high expectations, we had a really good team coming back and we knew it.”
The holiday matchup with Bowling Green could not have had more at stake, the winner would go onto the title game, the losing team’s season would end. Led by their veteran playmakers and “big-game” experience, the RedHawks ensured that they would have the chance to win back-to-back conference titles.
The winning recipe was a familiar one for Martin’s team, as his team’s defense dominated all four quarters. They also limited the effectiveness of future NFL tight end Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green’s biggest weapon. The junior was held to just 47 yards on eight receptions out of 15 targets. The home team did everything they could to get him involved, calling designed runs and even dialing up a pass play, but Miami held firm.
After struggling to run the football in the early part of the season, Coach Martin was adamant that his team’s “identity” was not going to change and they were still going to run the football. Run the football they did. Keyon Mozee added another 108 yards and a touchdown on the ground, taking his season total over 1,000 yards, giving the RedHawk’s a running back who surpassed that mark for the second straight season.
While Brett Gabbert was picked off twice, he managed to recover to the tune of 255 passing yards and three touchdowns, including a 72-yard score to Javon Tracy which took the game out of reach. All three of Gabbert’s top receiving targets ended with a score, with Reggie Virgil and Cade McDonald each racking up 82 receiving yards on 15 combined catches.
“I’m very lucky I have phenomenal playmakers at every position, it makes my job much easier when I have those guys on my side.” said Gabbert, highlighting the return of McDonald, who had missed three weeks due to injury.”
“Having him back is so nice, he’s a guy I can throw to on any play,” said Gabbert.
It was Gabbert and McDonald that got the scoring started. A punting miscue gave Miami the ball on the 30-yard line, and on the first play, the veteran QB found his receiver over the middle to give the RedHawks the lead.
Miami’s defense forced the home team into a fourth down, but Bowling Green’s next punt was much better, leaving the RedHawk offense at the one-yard line. Dylan Downing failed to escape the Bowling Green pressure, and went down in the end zone for a safety. Five minutes later, the home side drew within two points after Zach Long connected on a 41-yard field goal.
Miami showed their resilience though, driving 82 yards down the field to put themselves into scoring position. They capitalized via Reggie Virgil, who was the beneficiary of Javon Tracy tipping the ball into the air and into the hands of the senior receiver. The Falcons failed to score before the end of the half, going to the locker room at the half down 14-5.
Neither side added to their points total in the third quarter, but Bowling Green looked as if they were in prime position to make a comeback in the fourth. Jamal Johnson took a counter run to the right side of the end zone to bring his team within two with 12 minutes remaining in the game.
Exactly one minute later, Miami re-established their lead. Brett Gabbert saw Javon Tracy one-on-one with a safety down the field, hit his man, and Tracy did the rest, scoring a 72 yard touchdown to give Miami a two-score lead with ten minutes remaining.
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“The two times we had to answer, we answered with seven points,” said Martin.
The home team failed to bring themselves back within striking distance, giving the RedHawks the chance to run down the clock. When Keyon Mozee found the end zone from 27-yards out with less than two minutes on the clock, the writing was on the wall that Miami would be traveling north next week.
Their opponent? A familiar one. The MAC Championship will serve as another “Battle of the Bricks” between Miami and Ohio, the 101st in history between the two teams. In their first matchup of 2024, the RedHawks defeated the Bobcats 30-20 at Yager Stadium. Gabbert threw for 3 touchdowns, and the defense came away with two interceptions.
“A double battle of the bricks, that's Christmas twice a year for both schools” said Martin, emphasizing that despite their good result early in the season, the Bobcats are a formidable foe.
“They do things the right way,” said Martin. However, his quarterback showed a little more emotion when asked about the rematch against Ohio.
“I cannot wait to play them again.” said Gabbert.
The MAC Championship game will be played at Ford Field, home of the Detroit Lions, next Saturday at 12 p.m. EST.