Sports

OXFORD — The Miami University football team hopes it can utilize the big play more often this fall in its hunt for a second straight Mid-American Conference East Division title.

The RedHawks weren't too encouraged, though, by what happened during their annual spring game at Yager Stadium on Friday night, April 25.

The battle between the Red team (the offense) and the White (the defense) really was no battle.

"It's the same thing that happened to us last year," said head coach Shane Montgomery. "We didn't come up with many big plays, and it's hard to sustain long drives time after time."

The offense did not score a touchdown until the final four minutes of the fourth quarter and was outscored 77-42 through a system in which points were awarded for various accomplishments, such as first downs and turnovers.

The only touchdown of the game was scored with 3 minutes, 31 seconds remaining when sophomore wide receiver Armand Robinson caught a 26-yard touchdown pass from redshirt freshman quarterback Clay Belton of Northmont High School.

"I feel we can play better on offense," said Robinson, who also caught a 12-yard TD pass from junior Daniel Raudabaugh, a catch that was called back because of an illegal block. "We definitely have to come together as a team, and I think we will in the fall."

Belton completed 19-of-31 passes for 193 yards and threw an interception. Raudabaugh was 15-of-21 for 78 yards and also was intercepted.

Sophomore tailback Thomas Merriweather rushed 11 times for 57 yards, including a 31-yard burst, the longest play of the game.

Chris Givens led the receivers with eight catches for 71 yards. Linebacker Alex Kaufman led Miami with 12 total tackles, and Chris Shula added eight, six of them solos.

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