MINNEAPOLIS, Minn -- It may have been a sunny day Saturday at TCF Bank Stadium, but the results cast something of a cloud over Miami’s RedHawks.
MU not only suffered a 26-3 loss to Minnesota, it also lost several key players to injuries. Running back Kenny Young, receiver James Gardner and offensive lineman Tommy Doyle topped the casualty list. None of the three returned.
It remains to be seen how long they will miss, but Miami opens Mid-American Conference play next week at Bowling Green. The Falcons won Saturday, leaving Central Michigan and MU as the only MAC teams without a win so far in 2018.
Western Michigan, meanwhile, rode its running game, along with some timely passing and RedHawk penalties, to its third victory in as many outings.
Freshman running back Bryce Williams was a key cog for the Gophers offense. He carried 33 times for 141 yards. While he never quite reached the end zone, he helped the hosts register 22 first downs to Miami’s 10.
All three Minnesota touchdowns came through the air. Freshman Zack Annexstad, who injured an ankle early (during De’Andre Montgomery’s sack of 13 yards), may have been a little gimpy the rest of the game, but he was back two plays later and hit Tyler Johnson for 20 yards to set up fourth-and-one. Former Western Michigan head coach P.J. Fleck opted to go for it, and Williams stepped off nine yards to keep the drive alive.
Minnesota eventually used 13 plays to travel 66 yards, with Annexstad hitting Johnson on the first of three touchdowns.
The junior receiver finished with nine catches for 133 yards and all three Gopher touchdowns.
His first score was the only touchdown allowed by Miami’s defense until almost halftime, but the hosts managed five more points before that. Three came on Emmit Carpenter’s 44-yard field goal at 11:59 of the second period.
Shortly thereafter, Miami got its only points of the contest when Sloman slipped his 37-yard kick just inside the right post.
Fleck eschewed a field goal try on Minnesota’s next drive, electing instead to try and pin the visitors back. Jacob Herbers, who dropped several punts inside the Miami 10, put this one at the Miami two.
Three plays later, Alonzo Smith tripped in the end zone and could not fall forward enough to clear the goal line. Minnesota got two points and the football. The Gophers decision to punt turned golden when they covered 68 yards in five plays for another touchdown.
Two of the five plays moved Minnesota back as Miami twice sacked Annexstad. That encouraged MU to call a timeout in hopes of mounting a final drive. However, Annexstad found Williams for a 35-yard strike on the next play. When he tried to hit Bateman one snap later, Miami was flagged for pass interference.
That put Minnesota at the RedHawks 26-yard line. Annexstad then went to his favorite target, Johnson, for 18 yards before Seth Green entered and tossed a 7-yard pass to Johnson. With the PAT, UM took a 19-3 lead to the locker room.
There were still two quarters left, but only one touchdown would be scored. Miami set that up by throwing an interception that Antonio Shenault returned 42 yards. Williams carried twice before Annexstad hit Johnson on a five-yard slant.
Annexstad finished the day completing 12 of 20 attempts for 142 yards and two TDs. Green threw one pass, which went for a touchdown, and freshman Tagger Morgan hit one of five passes with one interception.
That pick followed a Miami fumble which Esezi Otomewo recovered at the RedHawks 22. After Minnesota gained a first down, however, Miami linebacker Brad Koenig fielded a deflected pass to end the threat. Another Gopher drive ended at MU’s 22 when Doug Costin hit Williams and Myles Reid recovered.
NOTES:
>> Miami punter Kyle Kramer booted the ball seven times, averaging 46.2 yards per kick. He had a long of 64 yards.
>> Punters combined for 13 points. There was only one return, but Minnesota sophomore Antoine Winfield Jr. took that back 31 yards.
>> Sloman’s field goal was Miami’s first attempt of the 2018 season.
>> Montgomery led MU defenders with 15 tackles (9 solo) and a sack. Sophomore Mike Brown notched 10 hits (5 solo, 1.5 tfl). Doug Costin’s seven stops included 3.5 tfl and one sack.
>> Grad transfer Alex Malzone (Michigan) saw his first action late in the contest. He was 0 for 3 passing.
>> Freshman Davion Johnson owned one rushing attempt prior to Minnesota. With Young out, Johnson got nine carries, which produced 50 yards (5.6 ypc) against a tough Minnesota front.