Miami wins first MAC Game of 2024, Defeats EMU 38-14
By: Jack Mueller
The Miami RedHawks won their second game of the season on Saturday, defeating Eastern Michigan 38-14.
It was Miami’s best performance of the season by far. Brett Gabbert registered four touchdowns and 222 yards in the air, and the run game contributed over 200 yards for the first time this season.
Keyon Mozee has laid claim to the RedHawk backfield, putting up 100 yards on the ground for the second time this season. The senior running back leads Miami in rushing yards with 314 so far. Jordan Brunson was a key contributor too, adding 65 yards on six carries. He reached the end zone on a 44 yard burst up the middle to secure the win for Miami.
The RedHawk defense put together their best showing of the season, holding their opponents to under 20 points for the first time since week one against Northwestern. They ended with seven TFL’s, three sacks and two takeaways. Eli Blakey led the unit with 18 tackles, with Corban Hondru adding 16 more.
Miami jumped off on the front foot immediately, as Gabbert connected with Reggie Virgil up the seam for a 75 yard score on the first play from scrimmage. Virgil ended the day with three catches for 113 yards and two scores.
Cole Snyder and Eastern Michigan responded in kind. The Eagles’ QB scrambled in from a yard out to tie the game at 7, ending a 12-play, 75 yard drive. Miami retook the lead in the second quarter after Connor Briggs found the end zone, taking a lead they would never relinquish.
Gabbert found Virgil again to take a 14 point lead before the halftime break after the offense was set up in great field position due to a Matt Salopek interception. Mozee and Brunson picked up 15 combined yards on the ground to take the RedHawks into the red zone before the veteran QB found the end zone.
Eastern Michigan fought their way back into the game after the intermission. Snyder led his team on a ten play, 59 yard drive that Delbert Mims III capped with a one yard touchdown run. Mims III ended the game with 83 yards and a touchdown score.
Miami reclaimed the momentum immediately though, driving 80 yards in just over two minutes to restore their two-touchdown advantage. The RedHawks opened the fourth period with a score after Gabbert found Cole Weaver for a 24-yard touchdown. Dom Dzioban added three more points five minutes later to give the RedHawks a 17-point lead.
Brunson and the RedHawks capped off the performance with another touchdown with just seconds left in the game. The senior running back took off through the middle for a 44-yard touchdown run with ninety seconds left on the game clock.
Miami returns to Oxford next Saturday with their season on the line against their rivals, the Ohio Bobcats. The RedHawks, sitting at 1-1 in the conference, could jump OU in the standings with a win.