Miami 20, Kent State 13

Miami suffered a rash of injuries to several key players, but gutted out a tough 20-13 win over Kent State at Dix Stadium Saturday.

Daniel Raudabaugh filled in for injured Miami QB Mike Kokal, throwing 8 of 12 for 186 yards and the go-ahead score. The defense added two crucial interceptions pinned in their own territory, and fifth year senior Austin Sykes, who began the year as a third string tailback, chipped in 74 yards on 18 carries.

Miami (1-0 MAC East, 2-0 MAC, 3-3 overall) built a 7-point lead on the first drive of the second half, then held on to win late, knocking Kent State QB Julian Edelman out of bounds on fourth down inside the 1 on Kent State’s final offensive play with under two minutes to go.

With about a minute to play in the first quarter, Miami’s Kokal was forced from the pocket on a 3^rd and 12 from the Kent State 15. The senior QB made one of most athletic plays of the day, juking and jiving defenders before going down at the 1. Immediately after hitting the ground, Kokal grabbed his right ankle and came off limping. The Redhawks’ Nathan Parshegian would kick a 21 yard field goal to give Miami a 10-7 lead.

Kokal continued to play, but after planting his back foot awkwardly on a cross-field throw, came off pointing to his knee, and in went Raudabaugh on the next drive.

“I just go in there, try to look those guys in the eye,” Raudabaugh said. “Maybe I’ll crack a joke or something, you know, to keep everyone on their toes.”

On his first series in the game, Raudabaugh looked lost, making an ill-advised throw that should have been intercepted by a Kent defensive back. Coming out of the locker room, however, Raudabaugh and the Miami offense looked sharp, ripping off a 7 play, 71 yard drive to begin the second half and take the lead for good. Raudabaugh capped the drive with a 11yard touchdown toss to Jake O’Connell.

For Kent State (1-2 MAC East, 1-2 MAC, 3-3 overall), the story was once again excessive penalties and an inability to turn yards in to points. The Golden Flashes lost for the second time in three weeks while outgaining their opponents by 50 yards or more, but red zone turnovers and back breaking penalties did them in.

On two separate occasions, Kent State QB Julian Edelman threw balls high up for grabs, only to have them intercepted by Miami DBs Robbie Wilson and Wendell Brunson. The second pick by Brunson was particularly painful, coming in the end zone just two plays after the Kent State defense had recovered a Kokal fumble at the Miami 28.

Penalty woes plagued the Golden Flashes as well. Kent’s final drive was a nutshell of how harmful penalties were for them all day. After a spectacular run by Edelman brought Kent State inside the Miami red zone, trailing 20-13 with under three minutes to play, a holding penalty on first down and an intentional grounding call on second down gave Kent 2^nd and goal from the 32.

After a nifty pass to RB Eugene Jarvis set up 3^rd and goal from the 11, Edelman was unable to elude pressure and took a sack, forcing 4^th and goal from 17. Scrambling from the pocket on the fourth down play, Edelman opted to run. Needing all 17, Edelman was able to elude a few Miami defenders, but came up just short of the end zone.

The Kent State QB finished with 22 carries for 93 yards, and 19-33 passing for 260 yards. Jarvis, the nation’s third leading rusher entering the contest, was held to 82 yards on just 19 carries.

Jarvis got the scoring started with a three yard run, capping the game’s first drive less than four minutes in to the contest. Miami answered with a 1-yard TD run from Sykes with 7:26 remaining the first period. The squads traded field goals twice, once to keep the game tied at 10-10 after the early scoring, and again later to maintain Miami’s 7-point second half margin.

Miami gets Bowling Green next week at Yager Stadium in a battle of MAC East unbeatens. Kent State travels to Ohio Stadium to face the undefeated, 4^th ranked Buckeyes.