The individual numbers didn't come through for this recap. The one box-score search turned up the game page but no player lines, so this page can't say what Heavner threw for or whether Maleek Huggins got loose again after his 122-yard game against Central Michigan. Here's what the line score does show. Miami scored 7 in the 2nd, 7 in the 3rd and 20 in the 4th, and Ohio got shut out over the last 30 minutes. A backup-QB offense that falls behind 17-7 and then scores 27 straight points is not an offense that lost the ball game with turnovers.
Ohio's first half was the version that got it to 7-2. It scored a touchdown in the 1st quarter and put up 10 more in the 2nd, and the defense held Miami to 1 score before halftime. Going into the break, the game was following the Bobcats' plan: build a lead and dare a short-handed offense to come back. The trouble was that Ohio had won 3 of its last 5 by 8 points or fewer, so even a 10-point lead was more of a cushion than this team usually has.
The 3rd quarter decided the game. Miami's touchdown cut it to 17-14, and Ohio's offense went quiet. Ohio's defense came in having held 4 of its last 5 opponents to 20 or fewer, then gave up 27 in a single half. By the time the 4th quarter was over, the RedHawks had scored more in that quarter alone than Ohio scored all night. A 45-degree, clear night with a 5 mph wind gave neither side an excuse.
One storyline never got its chance. Ohio was without kicker Will Hryszko, and the preview flagged that for the kind of 1-score finish both teams had been living in. This game was never close enough late for a missing kicker to matter. Ohio lost by 17, and the problem was the offense after halftime.
The standings changed too. Ohio is now 7-3 and 5-1 in the MAC, its 5-game winning streak is over, and Miami at 4-2 in conference play is now 1 game behind instead of 2. The RedHawks have dealt with injuries at quarterback, receiver and tight end all year. On a Tuesday night in Oxford, against the only unbeaten team left in their conference, they outscored Ohio 27-0 after halftime.
