By Charles Hollister

11/5/2024

MUNCIE, Ind.– The Miami University football team posted its fourth straight win Tuesday, defeating Ball State 27-21. Brett Gabbert threw for 219 yards and three touchdowns for the RedHawks (5-4, 4-1 MAC), while Keyon Mozee added 105 rush yards on a career-high 22 carries. Justin Bowick led the Cardinals (3-6, 2-3 MAC) with 171 receiving yards.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Ball State took a 7-0 first-quarter lead, intercepting a pass by Miami punter Alec Bevelhimer on a broken play and returning it 46 yards. The RedHawks answered back to even the score on their next drive, as Gabbert found Reggie Virgil for a 41-yard completion and followed three plays later with a 34-yard scoring strike to Virgil to make it 7-7 at the 5:48 mark of the period.
• After BSU went ahead 10-7 on a 27-yard field goal early in the second quarter, Miami promptly responded to take its first lead of the contest. A 25-yard run by Mozee moved the RedHawks into Ball State territory, and Gabbert finished the drive with a third-down completion to Kevin Davis from 12 yards out to put the Red and White on top 14-10.
• The Cardinals pulled within 14-13 on a 21-yard field goal, but Miami stretched its lead before halftime with a seven-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. Javon Tracy made three catches on the drive to account for 56 receiving yards, including a wide-open 10-yard grab in the end zone with 33 seconds remaining in the half for a 21-13 margin.
• Ball State scored the only points of the third quarter, tying the score at 21-all on a 55-yard completion down the left sideline and a two-point conversion. Miami re-took the lead with 11:13 left in the game, moving the ball 52 yards in 12 plays before a 28-yard field goal by Dom Dzioban.
• The RedHawks tacked on another field goal with 1:48 to play. Miami took advantage of good field position at the Ball State 45 and moved the ball into the red zone, with Dzioban converting from 39 yards out for a 27-21 lead.
• Miami’s defense closed out the game with a key stop, as Matt Salopek’s first sack of the year forced a 4th-and-18 situation. An incompletion on the next play allowed the RedHawks to kneel out the clock and defeat Ball State for the eighth time in nine meetings.

NOTES

• Gabbert now has 75 career touchdown passes, moving past Zac Dysert (73) for second place in program history.
• Salopek made nine tackles and moved past Tim Colleran (464) for seventh place on Miami’s career tackles list; Salopek now has 472 career tackles.
• Corban Hondru and Raion Strader each collected interceptions in the first half.
• Corey Suttle matched his career high with two sacks.
• Salopek, Savio Frazier and Adam Trick also produced at least 1.5 tackles for loss apiece.
• Virgil made a career-high five catches for 101 yards, producing his second career 100-yard game.
• Mozee rushed for at least 100 yards for the fifth time in the last six games.

UP NEXT:
The RedHawks host Kent State on Wednesday, Nov. 13 at 7 p.m. at Yager Stadium. The game will be broadcast on ESPNU.
 

COURTESY MIAMI ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS