OXFORD, OH -- History repeated itself Tuesday at Yager Stadium in Oxford. Well, recent history, anyway -- and maybe with an asterisk.
After trailing. 21-7 late in the second quarter, the Miami RedHawks scored the next 35 points to claim a 42-21 victory over Ball State in the season finale for both teams.
With the win, Miami raised its overall record to 6-6, making the RedHawks bowl eligible for the second time in three years. They also finish 6-2 in MAC play, with an outside chance to win the East Division based on a three-way tie scenario and tiebreakers
This year’s RedHawk run to the finish was dramatic in its own right. After starting 1-4, MU was 3-6 with three to play. It needed three wins, and two of those games were against elite MAC teams -- rival Ohio at home and Northern Illinois on the road. Though beset with injuries, particularly on defense, the RedHawks won both to set up a showdown at home against Ball State.
"We were left for dead after Minnesota . . . (but) our guys didn't blink," Miami head coach Chuck Martin said. "They fought and scratched and clawed (their way back."
Plitt completed four-of-five passes on Ball State’s second drive, which covered 87 yards in eight plays. Justin Hall skirted left end for the final 22 yards.
Plitt, who completed 17-of-29 for 175 yards and a touchdown on the night, also tossed two interceptions. Zed Raymond got the first pick, setting Miami up near midfield and the RedHawks scored five plays later.
Quarterback Gus Ragland, part of a huge senior class playing its final regular season game on home turf, started the drive with passes to Quentin Hardy (25 yards) and Jack Sorenson (17 yards). Ragland also finished the trip with a one-yard plunge.
In addition to his passing contributions, Plitt ran 13 times for 53 yards on the night (netting 41 after sacks/tfls).
"The kid is a heck of a quarterback (and) a heck of a competitor," Martin said.
According to Martin, the Cardinals’ early success was aided by a series of "gadget" plays. "They're throwing everything at us. (Of) the first 20 plays in the game, 15 were gadgets. We didn't stop any of them."
The teams began to settle down early in the second quarter, but BSU raised its advantage to 21-7 with 4:45 remaining when Riley Miller (under tight coverage) wrestled in a Plitt pass for 22 yards and a touchdown to give BSU a 21-7 lead.
"If I'm going down, I'm always going down with the percentages," said Martin, who liked the matchup of his offensive line against the Ball State defense.
After a Cardinal time out, Miami’s Alonzo Smith bounced off some early contact and went down the right side 56 yards for a touchdown with 3:27 remaining. Suddenly, it was a 21-14 game.
"He gets drilled in the backfield and it should be a 2-yard loss," Martin said. "He runs over the kid and goes 56 yards for a touchdown to turn the game around."
Two Ball State punts later, Miami got a final possession with 46 ticks left. Starting at the BSU 44, MU raced the clock to reach the end zone.
Ragland’s 29-yard pass to Homer got the drive going, but Miami used its last time out with 22 seconds left. Ragland worked in four more plays, however, and squeezed a tipped pass into Dominique Robinson for the touchdown with five seconds remaining. Sam Sloman’s kick tied the game at 21-all.
Momentum continued to swing Miami’s way after intermission. Ragland finished the RedHawks opening drive with a 1-yard score to move the RedHawks in front 28-21.
Mike Brown’s interception and 17-yard return stopped Ball State and Miami went 77 yards for another score. Smith covered the last 47 after bursting through the middle and fending off Cardinal defenders. "He's beena great player since he's been here," Martin said. "He was hard to bring down the whole game."
Smith was the workhorse as the 5-10, 208-pound senior carried 18 times for 207 yards (11.5 ypc) and three TDs. Jaylon Bester and Maurice Thomas combined for 18 trips and 106 rushing yards. Overall, MU netted 364 yards on 53 carries (6.86 ypc).
Miami’s final score came on a 2-yard Smith run at 10:27 of the fourth quarter, marking 35 straight RedHawk points.
"It was an unbelievable way to finish," Martin said. "I don't know that I've ever been around a team that maximized what they had more than these guys did."
➤➤ After the game, Martin praised his team for fighting through adversity to perform as one of the MAC's top teams. “We may not be the second best team in the conference on paper, but we’re the second best on the field,” he said, noting wins over Ohio and Northern as evidence.
➤➤ Ball State rushed for 143 yards on 34 carries (4.2 ypc). Malik Dunner led the way with 58 yards on seven carries (8.3 ypc). He also had four catches for 34 yards.
➤➤ Miller led the Cardinals receivers with five catches for 71 yards and a TD.
➤➤ Bryce Cosby was Ball State’s top tackler with nine stops.
➤➤ Miami’s Jack Sorenson had three catches for 36 yards.
➤➤ MU senior Brad Koenig, back from an injury at Northern Illinois, led all defenders with 11 stops, including a sack on Miami’s final defensive play.
➤➤ Martin lamented some early penalties that stopped Miami drives. However, the RedHawks settled down after that and ended up losing yardage on just three plays (totaling 40 yards). Ball State had three penalties for 30 yards.