The true freshman is turning out to be truly special for Miami University’s football team.

Rookie place-kicker Kaleb Patterson converted three field goals Saturday, including the 31-yarder with 1:24 left that gave the RedHawks a 23-20 triumph over 23rd-ranked Ohio at Yager Stadium.

“Just kick it down the uprights, just do what I do,” Patterson said of his mind-set on the last field goal. “They’re saying, ‘We trust you enough to put you on the field and to kick this at the end, and we’re not going to try anything extra.’ I feel honored more than anything.”

Patterson also converted from 40 and 32 yards away and was 2-for-2 on conversions. He’s now 11-of-13 on field goals and has made his last seven.

On the verge: Miami quarterback Zac Dysert threw for 311 yards and, barring injury, should become the school’s all-time passing leader next weekend at Buffalo.

He has 10,755 career yards. Ben Roethlisberger has 10,829.

Dysert connected with Nick Harwell for a 54-yard touchdown. The redshirt senior also got picked off by Nathan Carpenter in the end zone just before halftime.

“You always have to stay positive in a game like that,” Dysert said. “I just can’t say enough about my guys. I’m so proud of our team, the strides we’ve made, the struggles we’ve been through and how we fought through it.”

Harwell snagged eight balls for 138 yards. In three career games against Ohio, he has 33 catches for 520 yards.

“Nobody on our team has beaten OU,” Harwell said. “It was great. I was so happy, I didn’t know how to celebrate.”

Bend but not break: Miami got outgained 464-424 in yardage, but came up with numerous big plays against the Bobcats. Jason Semmes collected two of the RedHawks’ seven sacks — they had six sacks in the first seven games of the season.

“It’s lovely to go back in coverage and see the quarterback go down,” said MU cornerback Dayonne Nunley, who had 11 tackles and two pass breakups. “It’s just like a sigh of relief. It’s like, ‘Yes,’ and get off the field. We got our offense the ball back. That was huge today.”

Ohio managed just two touchdowns, a 3-yard run by quarterback Tyler Tettleton and a 5-yard run by Beau Blankenship. Tettleton was 23-of-38 for 302 yards, and Matt Weller kicked 45- and 38-yard field goals.

“(The points) matter,” Miami coach Don Treadwell said. “If you force teams, much like they did us, into field goals, you’re going to feel pretty good about getting your team off the field.”

Solid running: The RedHawks collected 113 yards on the ground behind Jamire Westbrook (16 carries, 65 yards) and Spencer Treadwell (nine carries, 42 yards).

“Those two young running backs have kind of been the guys we’ve been moving forward with,” Don Treadwell said. “Westbrook was healthy, which makes a difference. I’ve got to give a lot of credit to the offensive line. There were times when they were challenged and they just really needed to step up, and they did.”

Notebook: Saturday marked Miami’s first win over a ranked team since their Dec. 3, 2010 victory over Northern Illinois in the Mid-American Conference title game. MU is 8-21 against ranked opponents since 1980, including 2-3 at home.

Dawan Scott had four catches for 94 yards for the RedHawks, and Andy Cruse caught five passes for 24 yards. It was the 20th consecutive time that Cruse has made two or more receptions in a game.

Miami has received the opening kickoff in every game this season. It has scored points on its last four opening drives.

Chase Cochran (two catches, 60 yards) of Lebanon High School and Bakari Bussey (two catches, 11 yards) of Lakota West contributed to OU’s aerial attack.