By Price Brothers
9/6/2025
PISCATAWAY, N.J.— The Miami University football team came up short at Rutgers Saturday, dropping a 45-17 decision at SHI Stadium. Dequan Finn threw for 251 yards and added 85 on the ground for the RedHawks (0-2). Keith Reynolds (120 yards) and Kam Perry (108) became the first Miami teammates to each record 100 receiving yards in the same game since Jalen Walker and Jack Sorenson (against Buffalo in 2021).
Ian Strong caught two touchdowns for the Scarlet Knights, who scored the game’s final 21 points to hold off the Red and White and improve to 2-0 on the year.
“Offensively, we did some better things: Made some big plays – two 100-yard receivers,” head coach Chuck Martin said after the game. “We learned a ton of hard lessons on offense last week…we learned some really hard lessons on defense [today]…
“We’ve got a lot of work, but I like our group. I like that we fight. I like that we stuck together two weeks in a row. I like that everybody’s competing hard…
“We made plenty of plays the last two weeks, but we didn’t make enough…we got better this week and did some better things. We’re going to learn some more lessons, and you get better from those lessons, and we’re going to be fine.”
LIGHTS, ‘KAM’ERA, ACTION: Perry had his biggest day as a RedHawk, setting a new career high for single-game receiving yards and producing the longest reception of his career on Miami’s first scoring drive.
“We worked that play in practice a lot and got the perfect look,” Perry said afterwards. “I ran a pretty good route, and DQ threw a great ball.”
“It’s all about practice,” Martin agreed. “We ran a really good double move early and we protected it….that’s how it’s supposed to look, and then –guess what— we got a big chunk play out of it. It takes 11 guys on both sides…we practiced better on offense; we got better results.”
Perry finished with four grabs for 108 yards and became the first Miami player to collect 100 receiving yards in a half since Reggie Virgil against Northern Illinois last season.
AGENT ZERO: Reynolds also finished with a career-high in receiving yards, making a team-high seven catches for 120 yards to lead the Red and White. More than half of his yards (68 in all) came after the catch. Reynolds and Perry each recorded a reception of more than 60 yards, a feat last accomplished by multiple RedHawks in the same game back in November 2021 (Sorenson and Mac Hippenhammer vs. Bowling Green).
KU’WATCH’ THIS: Jackson Kuwatch set a career high for tackles with a team-high 11, including a key third-down sack in the second quarter —the first of his career— to force a Rutgers field-goal attempt.
JUST FOR KICKS: Dzioban’s field goal was his first of the season and improved his career percentage at Miami to 87.1% (27-for-31). It was the redshirt senior’s eighth career make from at least 40 yards.
JONES’ JAUNT: Jones’ one-yard touchdown plunge in the first quarter was the redshirt freshman running back’s first career carry.
WEATHER OR NOT: Kickoff was delayed by 55 minutes due to a thunderstorm in the area, with heavy winds knocking over tents and equipment on both sidelines and quickly-accumulating rainwater pooling around the corners of the stadium. However, the rest of the game was played without stoppage, although the rain once again picked up significantly again in the final quarter.
ROLL CALL: Among the fans in attendance at this afternoon’s game were former Miami hoops great and five-time NBA champion Ron Harper and former RedHawk defensive lineman Brian Ugwu. Harper’s sons, Ron Harper Jr. and Dylan Harper, both played basketball for the Scarlet Knights; Ugwu (a First Team All-MAC selection last season) began his college football career with Rutgers before transferring to Miami in 2022.
UP NEXT:
The RedHawks will be off next week before hosting UNLV on Saturday, Sept. 20 in the 2025 home opener at Yager Stadium. Tickets are available here.
COURTESY MIAMI ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
