Miami reeled off 23 unanswered points in the third quarter on the way to handing Ohio a 40-20 loss in its Mid-American Conference opener. For the second straight game, the Ohio (1-2 Overall, 0-1 MAC) offense struggled gaining just 9 yards on the ground. Miami (2-2, 1-0) dented a previously stingy Bobcat defense for 414 yards of total offense.

Ohio missed an opportunity to draw first blood after recovering a Ryne Robinson fumbled punt return on the RedHawk 26. The Bobcats drive stalled at the Miami 14 but Brooks Rossman was unable to connect on a 31-yard field goal. The RedHawks would capitalize after recovering a punt on the Ohio 27 that hit a Bobcat blocker in the back. That led to a 39-yard field goal  and  a 3-0 RedHawk lead. Miami would make it 10-0 just before half when Mike Smith capped a 60-yard drive with a 10-yard TD run.

Ohio took the second half kickoff  and  went 83 yards for a touchdown capped off by a 39-yard pass to Kalvin McRae. But Miami answered right back less than two minutes later when Josh Betts hit Mike Smith with a 38-yard scoring pass to put the RedHawks back up 17-7. On its next possession, Ohio was forced to punt to Miami?s Ryne Robinson who returned it 74 yards for a score that made it 24-7. An errant snap over the head of Hawk would result in a safety for Miami. The RedHawks took the ensuing free kick  and  drove 68 yards in 11 plays ending with a Luke Clemens 2-yard run to go up 33-7.

The Bobcats tried to rally in the 4th quarter as Ryan Hawk scored on a 1-yard run to cut the deficit to 33-14. On the Bobcats next offensive series. Hawk connected with Scott Mayle for a 24-yard touchdown with 5:27 left. The Bobcats failed on a two-point conversion attempt  and  trailed 33-20. The Bobcat comeback attempt ended when the RedHawks recovered an Ohio onside kick. Miami made the final margin 40-20 when, on 4th-and-10 with 37 seconds left, Betts found Martin Nance for 23 yards  and  a TD.

For the game, Hawk was 23-for-39 passing with 253 yards  and  two TD's but was sacked six times. Kalvin McRae rushed 21 times for 65 yards while Chris Jackson tied a school record with 12 receptions. Ohio returns to Peden Stadium as it plays host to the 0-3 Buffalo Bulls Saturday at 7 PM.