The rookie continues to impress.

True freshman Jamire Westbrook collected 105 yards on 17 carries Saturday and helped Miami University’s football team total 216 yards on the ground in a 27-16 triumph over Massachusetts at Yager Stadium.

“First of all, my line opened up everything for me,” Westbrook said. “My receivers blocked outside whenever I bounced it outside. (My confidence has) gotten a lot better since the Ohio State game. Every rep counts as I continue to move forward.”

It was the first 100-yard effort by an MU running back since Justin Semmes hit triple figures on Nov. 3, 2011, against Akron.

Westbrook’s previous best performance came last Saturday at Boise State, where he gained 28 yards on eight carries.

Asked if he still felt like a freshman, the Kings High School graduate smiled. “That feeling’s long gone,” he said. “Got to feel like an upperclassman now.”

Passing Ben: Redshirt senior quarterback Zac Dysert converted 12-of-22 passes and became Miami’s all-time leader in completions with 855. Ben Roethlisberger had 854 in three seasons (2001-03).

“I did not know that,” Dysert said after the game. “It’s an awesome feeling, I guess, now that I know.”

Dysert also ran 12 times for 76 yards and a touchdown, stinging the Minutemen several times on draw plays. UMass coach Charley Molnar wasn’t surprised.

“I’ve watched this guy since he was a junior in high school,” Molnar said. “He can make something happen with his feet. I was saying it all week. I was telling our players, telling our coaches, telling anybody who would listen. All those reps and all the games he’s played in, he’s so confident. He never took a hard hit. He never really accumulated a lot of pounding.”

Dawan goes deep: Dawan Scott had his best receiving game of the season, catching three passes for 92 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He hauled in a 49-yard TD rainbow from Dysert to start the scoring early in the second stanza.

“It was a route that I had to beat the defender,” Scott said. “I trust Dysert to throw the ball up there, and I just had to run down and catch it. This could be a starting point for me.”

Miami played without two of its receivers, Nick Harwell and David Frazier, due to leg injuries.

Respecting the runner: UMass running back Michael Cox showed plenty of ability with his speed and power. He scored two touchdowns and rang up a career-high 188 yards on 30 carries.

“He’s a very good running back, and we knew that coming into the game,” said Miami end Wes Williams, who compiled a career-high 10 tackles. “He runs hard. He runs with his pads down. He gave us a little bit of a hard time today.”

RedHawks coach Don Treadwell said he expected Cox and the Minutemen to be formidable opponents.

“It took about five of us at one time just to bring him down,” Treadwell said. “They’ve got a team that plays hard and very physical. We respect that.”

RedHawk notes: Cornerback Dayonne Nunley picked off a Mike Wegzyn pass in the end zone in the fourth quarter. Nunley now has 10 career interceptions, moving him into a tie for eighth place in Miami history with Milt Bowen (1999-2001), Sheldon White (1984-86) and Bob Smith (1965-67).

Defensive tackle Austin Brown did not play because of a back injury. His replacement, Mwanza Wamulumba, had seven total tackles, two tackles for loss and one sack.

Zac Murphy punted three times for a 47.3-yard average. He uncorked a season-long 61-yarder in the last period.