Miami's defense opened scoring with a safety and the offense followed with three points off Sam Sloman's field goal. That early 5-0 lead, however, evaporated in what became a whirlwind of Buckeye scores as Ohio State blasted the RedHawks 76-5 Saturday at Ohio Stadium. The game was shortened nearly three minutes due to lightning in the area.
OSU moved back in front by . . .
Earlier this week, MU head coach Chuck Martin had noted that his already injury-depleted team needed to avoid turnovers and move the football to compete against a Top Ten Buckeyes team. Especially in the second period, the RedHawks' play was quite the contrary.
"It was going to be hard enough without giving them short field, short field, short field, short field," Martin said after the game.
True freshman auarterback Brett Gabbert completed 5 of 15 passes for 48 yards before leaving the game. Jackson Williamson came in during the second quarter and fumbled twice as he got hit attempting to pass. With the redshirt sophomore completing 2 of 5, Miami was 7 of 20 for 60 yards with one interception on the day.
It wasn't much better with the ground game. Facing the nation's fourth stingiest defense against the run, Miami managed 70 yards. Maurice Thomas provided 44 of those with eight carries for 44 yards (5.5 ypc). However, with losses included, the RedHawks averaged 1.6 ypc.
Jack Sorenson, meanwhile, provided 42 of the RedHawks 60 receiving yards and was the only receiver with more than one catch (4).
As for Ohio, the Buckeyes were led by sophomore transfer Justin Fields. Completing 14 of 21 passes for 223 yards, he threw four TDs and ran for two more while only playing the first two quarters.
Miami took the opening kickoff and was forced to punt after eight plays. Kyle Kramer's boot was downed at the Ohio State two. After a run play, Fields attempted to pass, but Myles Reid got around a defender and knocked the ball out of Fields' hand before he could get the pass off. When it bounced out of the back of the end zone, MU had a safety and two points.
The Buckeyes also had to kick to Miami, and the RedHawks put together their best drive of the day for another score. After using 14 plays to move 66 yards, they faced fourth and goal at the OSU three. Sam Sloman connected from a tough angle and the visitors led 5-0 with 7:25 to play in the first period.
Ohio State reponded with a 26-yard J.K. Dobbins touchdown run on its next drive and, after seveal punts, added another touchdown with Fields hitting K.J. Hill on a 53-yard play. It was the leading edge of a front that would wreck the RedHawks chances to hang with OSU.
On the RedHawks next play, Jeff Okudah intercepted Gabbert. Fields ran in a seven-yard touchdown three plays later. Two Miami fumbles and an Ohio State punt block then helped the hosts pull into a commanding 49-5 halftime lead. Both teams substituted heavily in the second half.