OXFORD, Ohio (AP) — Alonzo Smith ran for a pair of first-half touchdowns, and a safety in the second half helped Miami (Ohio) hold on for a 30-28 victory over Ohio on Wednesday night to keep its bowl eligibility alive.
Miami (4-6, 4-2 Mid-American Conference) beat Ohio (6-4, 4-2) for the first time since 2012 to snap a five-game skid in the Battle of the Bricks.
Smith finished with 94 yards on 20 carries. Gus Ragland was 20-of-32 passing for 199 yards with a touchdown for the RedHawks. Kenny Young had a 16-yard scoring run.
A.J. Ouellette had 168 yards rushing on 15 carries to lead Ohio. Nathan Rourke threw for 163 yards and two touchdowns.
Rourke connected with Papi White on a nine-yard scoring throw, and Dylan Conner returned a blocked punt 28 yards for a touchdown to cut Ohio’s 28-7 halftime deficit to 28-21 with 9:14 remaining.
Kyle Kramer’s 47-yard punt with 4:40 to play pinned Ohio at the 1-yard line. Doug Costin sacked Rourke in the end zone three plays later to make it 30-21. Rourke then led a seven-play, 80-yard drive capped by an 18-yard TD pass to Andrew Meyer with 2:24 to play.
The Bobcats got the ball back with 30 seconds remaining and Rourke drove the Bobcats to their 45-yard line, but his Hail Mary attempt went out of bounds to end it.
Ohio 7 0 7 14 = 28
Miami (Ohio) 7 21 0 2 = 30
First Quarter
OHI—Irons 3 run (Zervos kick), 11:11
MOH—Smith 3 run (Sloman kick), 8:16
Second Quarter
MOH—K.Young 16 run (Sloman kick), 11:12
MOH—Mayock 12 pass from Ragland (Sloman kick), 6:32
MOH—Smith 8 run (Sloman kick), 3:44
Third Quarter
OHI—P.White 9 pass from Rourke (Zervos kick), 2:32
Fourth Quarter
OHI—Conner 30 blocked punt return (Zervos kick), 9:14
MOH—safety, 5:52
OHI—Meyer 18 pass from Rourke (Zervos kick), 2:24
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OHI MOH
First downs 16 20
Rushes-yards 32-201 35-158
Passing 163 199
Comp-Att-Int 16-28-0 20-32-1
Return Yards 70 96
Punts-Avg. 5-42.8 6-35.14
Fumbles-Lost 2-1 0-0
Penalties-Yards 4-53 5-35
Time of Possession 26:07 33:53
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INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING—Ohio, Ouellette 15-168, Irons 4-17, Rourke 13-16. Miami (Ohio), Smith 20-94, K.Young 7-37, Bester 2-31, (Team) 1-(minus 2), Ragland 5-(minus 2).
PASSING—Ohio, Rourke 16-27-0-163, Maxwell 0-1-0-0. Miami (Ohio), Ragland 20-32-1-199.
RECEIVING—Ohio, P.White 5-44, Odom 4-31, Meyer 3-34, Ouellette 3-29, Cox 1-25. Miami (Ohio), K.Young 7-67, Sorenson 4-36, Mayock 2-29, Becker 2-26, Homer 1-33, Bester 1-7, J.Walker 1-7, Smith 1-1, Thomas 1-(minus 7).
MISSED FIELD GOALS—Ohio, Zervos 29.