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Saturday, October 31, 2009
Report card: Toledo at Miami
REPORT CARD Toledo at Miami
Pass offense
A
Zac Dysert, working with a very successful offensive game plan, confounded the Rockets with his all-passing, all-the-time (almost) attack, using a lot of screens and slants early. “Their offense had a great game plan,” Toledo safety Barry Church said. “Miami was hitting us with short passes and slants and killing our zone.” Miami coach Michael Haywood said that plan, with the help of offensive coordinator Peter Vaas, was worked out Friday night. “We wanted more of an attacking offense than a field position offense,” he said. According to Zac Dysert, who completed 31-of-51 passes for 344 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions, he found out about the new plan “(Saturday) morning, actually, at our meeting. Vaas told Dysert and the offense to play as if they were trailing 17-0, which happened to be the score after one quarter last week against Northern Illinois. The RedHawks dominated the rest of that game. “It paid off,” Dysert said, “so I’m not going to argue with it.”
Run offense
B
The RedHawks didn’t run the ball much, but was pretty effective when they did. Dysert scrambled for 60 yards and two touchdowns and Thomas Merriweather had hit best day, running eight times for 44 yards and catching four passes for 31 yards.
Pass defense
A
The RedHawks faced three different Toledo quarterbacks. First it was Aaron Opelt. Then Austin Dantin. Then Opelt again. Then Alex Pettee. The confusion alone might have whipped a lesser unit, but Miami made the plays when they were needed. Anthony Kokal and Jerrell Wedge and Wes Williams all came up big. The secondary was busy, giving up a lot of yards to one of the top receiving combos in the nation, but in the end it was a winning effort.
Run defense
C-plus
Toledo’s Adonis Thomas ran for 107 yards and the Rockets amassed 216 yards on the ground, but the RedHawks gave up those yards grudgingly, for the most part.
Special teams
A
Trevor Cook kicked a school-record long field goal of 55 yards, so his miss (just barely) from 46 yards can be forgiven. Jim Broadway punted for the first time and although his average was only 28.2 yards, he did pin the Rockets inside their 20-yard line three times. Jamal Rogers had some good kickoff returns. And there were no major blunders.
Intangibles
A
The official attendance was 8,757, and although the actual number of fans who showed up was much smaller than that, they seemed to provide a lot of energy and electricity. They went trick or treating in a way and, for their own patience and endurance, got a big treat. Just like the RedHawks themselves. “In this organization you have to have faith — in yourself, with your teammates and with the organization,” Haywood said. “You have to believe.”
— Pete Conrad
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At long last, Miami celebrates victory
By Pete Conrad
The longest losing streak is school history is over.
The Miami RedHawks held on to defeat the Toledo Rockets 31-24 today, Oct. 31 at Yager Stadium to snap a 13-game losing streak.
The Rockets appeared to be an extra-point attempt from tying the game after tight end Danny Noble caught what looked like a 9-yard touchdown pass with 1:01 remaining, but a replay showed that Miami’s Anthony Kokal knocked the ball loose before Noble crossed the goal line.
The ball hit the pylon and the officials ruled that it was a touchback, not a touchdown. Miami got the ball on the 20-yard line.
The victory was the first in the head coaching career of Michael Haywood, who calmly walked across the field to shake hands with Toledo coach Tim Beckman after the clock ran out.
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After three quarters, Miami leads 31-24
By Pete Conrad
The Miami RedHawks will take a 31-24 lead over the Toledo Rockets into the fourth quarter today, Oct. 31 at Yager Stadium.
Toledo true freshman Eric Page scored on a 15-yard touchdown run on a reverse with 31.5 seconds left in the third quarter. Page also scored on a 14-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter.
The RedHawks have lost a program-record 13 straight games and Michael Haywood is looking for his first victory as Miami’s first-year coach.
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Dysert TD gives Miami 31-17 lead
By Pete Conrad
Zac Dysert ran 23 yards for a touchdown to give the MiamI RedHawks a 31-17 lead over the Toledo Rockets with 3:47 left in the third quarter today, Oct. 31 at Yager Stadium.
Toledo had closed the gap with a 14-yard touchdown pass from Aaron Opelt, who began the third quarter as the Rockets’ quarterback, to freshman sensation Eric Page.
Miami’s Trevor Cook narrowly missed a 46-yard field goal attempt, and Toledo’s Alex Steigerald then booted a 26-yard field goal to slice Miami’s lead to seven points, 24-17, with 7:09 left in the third quarter.
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Miami leads Toledo 24-7 at half
By Pete Conrad
Junior Trevor Cook kicked a school-record 55-yard field goal with 37.3 seconds left in the second quarter to give the winless Miami RedHawks a 24-7 halftime lead over the Toledo Rockets today, Oct. 31 at Yager Stadium.
The previous record for longest Miami field goal was held by Chad Seitz, who booted a 54-yarder in 1995. Cook’s kick was only the ninth field goal of 50 yards or longer in program history.
Miami redshirt freshman Zac Dysert threw for a touchdown pass and ran for another in the second period. True freshman linebacker Wes Williams returned an interception 20 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter for the RedHawks, who are looking to break a 13-game losing streak.
Toledo appeared to be on the move late in the first half following a 39-yard pass from freshman quarterback Austin Dantin to wideout Stephen Williams to the Miami 41-yard line, but a 5-yard tackle for loss by DeAndre Gilmore and a 6-yard quarterback sack by Jerrell Wedge forced Toledo to punt.
Wedge finished the half with three sacks.
Dysert has completed 21-of-37 passes for 215 yards.
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Dysert helps give Miami 21-7 lead over Toledo
By Pete Conrad
Quarterback Zac Dysert threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Andy Cruse with 13:14 left in the second quarter and scored on a 3-yard touchdown run with 7:04 remaining in the half to give the Miami RedHawks a 21-7 lead over the Toledo Rockets today, Oct. 31 at Yager Stadium.
Dysert completed 6-of-7 passes to five different receivers on the second drive, and the only incompletion was a dropped pass.
After the Cruse touchdown Toledo had driven to the Miami 30-yard line, but freshman quarterback Austin Dantin, who replaced senior starter Aaron Opelt, was sacked by linebacker Jerrell Wedge and the Rockets were forced to punt.
Miami is trying to snap a program-record 13-game losing streak and give Michael Haywood his first victory as a collegiate head coach.
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Miami, Toledo tied after first quarter
By Pete Conrad
Toledo’s DaJuane Collins scored on a 1-yard touchdown run with 44.9 seconds left in the first quarter, and the Rockets and Miami RedHawks are tied 7-7 going into the second quarter today, Oct. 31 at Yager Stadium.
Miami scored first on a 20-yard interception return by true freshman Wes Williams.
The RedHawks are looking for their first victory at Yager Stadium since Sept. 13, 2008, when they defeated Charleston Southern 38-27.
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Williams interception returns puts Miami on top
By Pete Conrad
True Freshman linebacker Wes Williams intercepted a pass from Toledo’s Tim Opelt and returned it 20 yards for a touchdown to give the winless Miami RedHawks a 7-0 lead over the Rockets with 10:55 remaining in the first quarter today, Oct. 31 at Yager Stadium.
It was the first Miami interception return for a touchdown since Nov. 5, 2005, when Robbie Wilson returned an interception 37 yards in the RedHawks’ 54-13 win at home against Buffalo.
