11/22/2022

OXFORD, Ohio—Aveon Smith threw a 34-yard touchdown pass to Miles Marshall with 1:42 to play and the Miami University football team rallied for a thrilling 18-17 win over Ball State Tuesday night. The RedHawks trailed 17-6 with under seven minutes remaining before mounting a furious comeback to become bowl-eligible. With their sixth victory of the season, the RedHawks (6-6, 4-4 MAC) claim a trip to the HomeTown Lenders Bahamas Bowl. 

Smith threw for one touchdown and ran for another, while Graham Nicholson made field goals of 30 and 25 yards for Miami. Carson Steele rushed for 180 yards and two touchdowns for the Cardinals (5-7, 3-5 MAC).

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Ball State struck first on a 48-yard touchdown run by Steele. The Cardinals converted back-to-back third downs to work into Miami territory, and Steele did the rest to give the visitors a 7-0 lead with 4:23 left in the first quarter.
• The Cardinals doubled their lead in the second quarter on a three-play, 86-yard drive. Kiael Kelly’s 40-yard run and 23-yard pass set up a 23-yard scoring run for Steele with 8:09 remaining in the half.
• Miami got on the board with a 30-yard field goal from Nicholson, capping a 14-play, 64 yard drive. Kevin Davis’ 14-yard run and 13-yard reception on back-to-back plays moved the RedHawks into BSU territory. Smith followed that with a 12-yard rush and 12-yard completion to Nate Muersch to get Miami into the red zone, which led to Nicholson’s kick with 1:41 left before halftime.
• Ball State added a field goal on the opening possession of the third quarter. After a 12-play, 48-yard drive, Ben VonGunten converted a 44-yard kick to make it 17-3.
• The RedHawks promptly responded with a field goal of their own. After a 32-yard kickoff return by Davis, Miami put together a nine-play, 56-yard scoring drive, sparked by a 19-yard Smith run and an 18-yard pass to Mac Hippenhammer. That led to a 25-yard field goal by Nicholson with 5:24 left in the period.
• Miami cut the lead to 17-12 with 6:12 to play. Smith completed passes of 10 or more yards to four different receivers on the scoring drive, including a key 16-yard connection with Jalen Walker on 4th-and-10 to keep the RedHawks’ hopes alive. Smith finished the possession with a nifty juke on an 18-yard touchdown run, although the ensuing two-point conversion attempt was no good.
• After stuffing a Ball State rushing attempt on fourth-and-inches, Miami drove 47 yards in seven plays for the game-winning score. Smith moved the chains with a nine-yard pass to Walker on 3rd-and-6 and found Marshall for a deep touchdown pass down the right sideline three snaps later for the biggest play of the season.
• The RedHawks sealed their trip to the Bahamas with an interception by Brian Ugwu in the final minute.

 NOTES:

• Smith threw for 217 yards and led the RedHawks with 84 rushing yards.
• Suttle and Ugwu recorded their first career interceptions.
• Matthew Salopek made a season-high 14 tackles for the Red and White; Ryan McWood added 14 tackles.
• Oscar McWood made his first career start for Miami, joining his older brother Ryan in the defensive starting lineup.

UP NEXT:
Miami will play in the HomeTown Lenders Bahamas Bowl Friday, Dec. 16 at 11:30 a.m. on ESPN.

COURTESY MIAMI ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS