FRISCO, TX -- Still reeling from a host of injuries, the Miami RedHawks cobbled together a winning performance to defeat North Texas 27-14 Tuesday in Frisco Football Classic Bowl action at Toyota Stadium.
It was the first bowl win for MU since the RedHawks downed Middle Tennessee State (35-21) in the 2010 GoDaddy.com Bowl. Miami came up short in the 2016 St. Petersburg Bowl (Mississippi State, 17-16) and 2019 Lending Tree Bowl (Louisiana, 20-27). This was MU's first bowl victory under Head Coach Chuck Martin, and he was blasted with a traditional Gatorade bath near mid-field shortly after the final play.
"I'm really proud of the way my team played," Martin said. "We had a ton of kids out . . . and so many guys stepped up and made plays."
Many of the RedHawks injuries shortages were on defense, requiring a number of far less experienced players to step up against a Conference-USA team that had found its offensive identity and stride with five straight wins to close the season. Heading into the matchup, Martin noted. the Mean Green had learned the ground game was their strength. They rode the run to late season success and piled up 340 rushing yards during a big upset of No. 22 Texas San Antonio (45-23) in North Texas' last regular season contest.
It was a different story against Miami. The RedHawks defense limited North Texas to a total of 89 yards on 32 carries (2.8 ypc). When the Mean Green opened up their passing game, they enjoyed some early success -- but also committed two critical miscues. Overall, quarterback Austin Aune completed 15 of 32 passes for 228 yards and was picked off twice.
Miami trailed 14-13 late in the first half when John Saunders Jr. picked off a UNT pass and returned it 31 yards to the Mean Green 30. Four plays later, Brett Gabbert lifted a 5-yard pass to RB Kevin Davis for a TD that put Miami in front 20-14. Martin called the swing a key point in the game.
North Texas responded and was well on its way to retaking the lead, marching 61 yards to the Miami 14 in less than three minutes. However, when Aune attempted a pass on the drive's 10th play Jacquez Warren jumped the route and ran his interception back 13 yards. "When I saw the quarterback look off the middle, I just read his eyes and it took me to where the ball was at," said Warren, who was named Defensive Player of the Game.
It was one of two occasions -- both late in a half -- when MU's defense came through with its back against the wall. Miami led 27-14 when North Texas started a 12-play drive with 13:00 remaining in the contest. Aune's 18-yard pass to Roderick Burns gave UNT a first down at the Miami 10. Isaiah Johnson burst up the middle for eight years on the very next play. However, the RedHawks surrendered just one yard on the following snap and dropped Ikaika Ragsdale for a three-yards loss on third down.
The Mean Green took a time out and then went with a pass play on fourth down. When it fell incomplete, Miami took over with 9:18 remaining. North Texas never got another offensive touch.
Gabbert's 8-yard scramble on third down got the sticks moving and MU's ground game ground out five more first downs. "For us to get out of that with zero points being scored, it's a credit to our defense. ... That was awesome," Gabbert said. Then, to be able to get that first down "it changed the entire drive. Momentum kind of flipped, and we just kind of rolled from there on out. ... It was a great way to end a game."
And also a pretty good way to end the season, according to Gabbert. "To be able to play a full season, and to end it with a bowl victory against a really good team, that means everything," he said. "We've got a couple sixth and fifth year guys that hopped on this train when Miami wasn't very good. ... To send them out with a win ... meant a whole lot to me."
Miami's last drive totaled 15 plays and 86 yards, with MU reaching North Texas' 4-yard line before taking a knee three times.
Ultimately, Miami held a 38:21--21:39 advantage in time of possession. The RedHawks also had eight more first downs (26-18) and 426-317 edge in total yardage.
There was only one second half score, and that was Gabbert's 11-yard pass to a diving Nate Muersch at 11:31 of the third stanza. Not only was it the freshman's only catch of the game, it was just his fifth reception of the season, and four have been touchdowns.
Gabbert finished the day connnecting on 22 of 31 attempts for 228 yards and 2 TDs. Although he was sacked four times for 31 yards, he did manage to scramble for 28 yards to facilitate drives. "Brett Gabbert's No. 1 quality is his toughness," Martin observed, noting his sophomore QB played through some injures on the way to earning Most Valuable Player of the Game honors.
With WR Mac Hippenhammer among the missing, Gabbert's top two targets were senior Jack Soreson (7 catches, 116 yards) and junior Jalen Walker (4 catches, 34 yards). RB Kevin Davis had five receptions for 24 yards and a score to go with his 10 carries for 33 yards.
Freshmen Kenny Tracy and Keyon Mozee led Miami rushing with a combined 23 trips, 173 yards and 1 TD.
North Texas, meanwhile, was missing leading rusher DeAndre Torrey. The senior produced 1,215 yards and 13 TDs this year. Aune led UNT with nine carries for 28 yards and a score, followed by Ragsdale's 11 carries.
Burns and Damon Ward Jr. led North Texas receiving with a total of 10 catches for 157 yards.
FIRST HALF
• Miami got on the scoreboard first with a 48-yard Graham Nicholson field goal to cap its first drive of the game.
• North Texas quickly responded and took a 7-3 lead with a 12-play, 75 yard drive. Johnson went in from one-yard out for the score.
• A North Texas pass interference penalty and Sorenson's 23-yard catch were the big plays Miami's subsequent 75-yard drive. Kenny Tracy ran it in from eight yards out.
• After punts by both teams, the Mean Green drove 90 yards in 10 plays for their final points. Aune found Roderic Burns on 43- and 22-yard completions along the way. The junior QB then skirted left end from two yards out for the score and a 14-10 UNT lead.
• Miami pulled within one on Nicholson's second field goal of the day -- this one from 36 yards. It then moved in front for good Davis' five-yard reception at 4:08. Aided by MU's second interception, the RedHawks took their 27-14 lead to intermission and added one more second half TD while keeping North Texas off the board.