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Home > Blogs > RedHawk rumblings | Miami University sports news > Archives > 2008 > October > 18
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Miami football report card
Miami at Bowling Green
Pass offense
C
This was Clay Belton’s first start at quarterback and at times he looked anything but calm, cool and collected as Bowling Green’s pass rush swirled around him. This will improve with time. He did rifle that 53-yard touchdown pass to Chris Givens, and although his 129 yards passing aren’t impressive, the RedHawks didn’t really need to pass that much.
Run offense
A
Wow. True freshman J.R. Taylor was a true wonder, ripping through the Falcons for 127 yards on 18 carries, and not a single negative-yard play. Give credit to the offensive line of Josh Satterthwait, Bob Gulley, Brandon Brooks, Steve Sutter, Dave DiFranco (who got hurt late in the first half) and Ken Staudinger (who replaced him). They got better as the game went on. Andre Bratton picked up good yardage, 59 yards, and so did Thomas Merriweather on the first drive before he hurt his ankle.
Pass defense
B
Anytime a defense holds Bowling Green to fewer than three touchdown passes and 250 yards, that is a good day. Joe Coniglio showed some senior leadership, stepping up to record two sacks. Caleb Bostic and D.J. Svabik also teamed on an important sack which stalled a Falcons drive early in the second quarter. And Robbie Wilson’s tipped interception in the fourth quarter was the big play on defense Miami has been looking for; more senior leadership, this time from the strong safety and tri-captain.
Run defense
B
Chris Bullock did get loose for a 26-yard run to set up Bowling Green’s first touchdown late in the second quarter. Otherwise, the Falcons managed only 54 yards on the ground. Linebackers Joey Hudson, Caleb Bostic, Clayton Mullins, Ryan Kennedy and Chris Shula combined for 28 tackles, including 12 solos.
Special teams
B
Nathan Parseghian is starting to become Mr. Automatic on field goals. His two against the Falcons gives him six in his last six attempts, and he is 12-for-13 for the season. And he has yet to miss an extra point. Jake Richardson’s national-leading punting average suffered when he averaged only 41.3 yards on nine punts, though he was hurt at times, oddly enough, by Miami’s offense having better-than-usual field position. He did drop two punts inside the 20-yard line. The punt-return coverage team needs a little work, as indicated by Corey Partidge’s 73-yard punt return which set up the 4-yard touchdown pass from Tyler Sheehan to tight end Jimmy Scheidler (his sixth touchdown on just 11 catches). That touchdown gave Bowling Green a 17-14 lead in the third quarter.
Intangibles
A
Miami’s first-quarter touchdown was long overdue, but also desperately needed. The RedHawks needed an early boost for a change.
— Pete Conrad
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Taylor leads RedHawks to 27-20 win
By Pete Conrad
True freshman tailback J.R. Taylor scored on a 5-yard touchdown run with 2:35 left in the fourth quarter to lift the Miami RedHawks to a 27-20 victory over the Bowling Green Falcons Saturday, Oct. 18 at Doyt Stadium.
The victory snapped a three-game losing streak for the RedHawks.
Taylor rushed six times for 70 yards on Miami’s game-winning drive, which covered 75 yards on nine plays. The last six plays of the drive were runs by Taylor, who finished the game with more than 100 yards on the ground.
Taylor saw increased playing time after sophomore Thomas Merriweather was injured in the first quarter.
Bowling Green had moved to the Miami 26-yard on the previous possession, but Miami senior defensive back Robbie Wilson tipped and intercepted a pass at the RedHawks’ 5-yard line and returned it to the 25 with 7:29 to go to set up Miami’s touchdown drive.
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Bowling Green surges past Miami in third quarter
By Pete Conrad
The Bowling Green Falcons lead the Miami RedHawks 20-17 after three quarters of their Mid-American Conference football game Saturday, Oct 18 at Perry Stadium.
The RedHawks led 14-10 at halftime, but a 4-yard touchdown pass from Tyler Sheehan to tight end Jimmy Scheidler and a 34-yard field goal by Sinisa Vrvilo gave Bowling Green a 20-14 advantage.
Nathan Parseghian’s 37-yard field goal with 2:52 left in the third period sliced Bowling Green’s lead to four points.
Dave DiFranco, Miami offensive lineman who suffered an ankle injury late in the second quarter, was back in the game for the RedHawks’ opening drive of the second half, but has not played since.
Thomas Merriweather, Miami tailback who also suffered an ankle injury in the first half, has not returned.
X-rays were taken at halftime for DiFranco and Merriweather. Both were negative.
Miami red-shirt freshman Clay Belton, making his first start at quarterback, has completed 10-of-19 passes for 124 yards, one touchdown (a 53-yard touchdown pass to Chris Givens) and no interceptions.
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Belton throws first touchdown pass, Miami leads at half
By Pete Conrad
Red-shirt freshman Clay Belton, making his first collegiate start, lofted a 53-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Chris Givens as the Miami RedHawks took a 14-10 halftime lead over over the Bowling Green Falcons Saturday, Oct. 18 at Perry Stadium.
The touchdown pass came with 7:34 remaining in the second quarter and was Miami’s longest offensive play of the season.
Miami sophomore tailback Thomas Merriweather, who gained 29 yards on the RedHawks’ first toudchdown drive, has not returned to action. He apparently suffered a lower leg or ankle injury. He was on his feet during most of the second quarter; his status for the rest of the game is unknown.
It was a tough first half, physically, for the RedHawks, who later lost offensive lineman Dave DiFranco to what appeared to be a right knee injury. His status is being determined.
Belton started for junior Daniel Raudabaugh, who made started Miami’s previous 13 games at quarterback.
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Belton starts, RedHawks break first-quarter drought
By Pete Conrad
Red-shirt freshman quarterback Clay Belton made his first career start for the Miami University football team Saturday, Oct. 18 at Bowling Green, and he guided the RedHawks to a touchdown on his first possession to give Miami a 7-3 lead with 12:02 left in the first quarter.
The touchdown was Miami’s first of the season that has been scored in the first quarter and the RedHawks’ first points in the first quarter since the season opener. Opponents had scored the last 57 points in the first period.
The drive covered 60 yards and was capped by Andre Bratton’s 6-yard touchdown run. Belton completed one short pass, but much of the yardage came from Thomas Merriweather, who carried five times for 29 yards.
