April 17, 2004

Box Score

OXFORD, Ohio-Mere months after finishing the 2003 campaign ranked second nationally in scoring offense, Miami University's first-string offense took to the field with a new quarterback but showed no signs of slowing down in a 38-7 Red team victory in the annual spring football game. Sophomore Josh Betts (Vandalia, Ohio/Butler) threw for 273 yards and three touchdowns in an impressive performance.

"In a game like this, inevitably there are going to be some good plays and bad plays, but I really liked the competition we saw," head coach Terry Hoeppner said. "Once again, we showed everyone that we are a fast, athletic team. There is a lot of work to be done before Game No. 1, but I like where we are right now."

Junior running back Adam Ciborowski (Brookfield, Wis./Brookfield) set the tone on the opening play for the Red team, busting off a 41-yard run that would culminate four plays later in a six-yard touchdown run by freshman Brandon Murphy (Strongsville, Ohio/Strongsville). After forcing the White team to punt on its first possession, the Red squad took the ball at its own 10-yard line and expanded its lead to 14-0 with a 90-yard scoring strike from Betts to redshirt freshman R.J. Corbin.

With freshman quarterback Mike Kokal (Warren, Ohio/Warren G. Harding) at the helm, the White team found the endzone on its first possession of the second half. Kokal found fellow freshman Patrick O'Bryan (Beavercreek, Ohio/Carroll) on a 42-yard pass down to the seven-yard line, and freshman Akim Lannaman (Lake Park, Fla./Suncoast) rumbled into the enzone on the next play. An opportunity to tie the game was halted later in the quarter when a White team fumble at midfield was recovered by Red team linebacker Danny Rehage (Brookville, Ind./East Central).

It was all Red from there, as Betts completed key back-to-back passes to Martin Nance (Maryland Heights, Mo./Pattonville), including a 16-yard strike on a 4th-and-10 play, and set up a two-yard TD plunge by Ciborowski that gave the Red a 21-7 halftime edge.

Betts struck twice in the second half, completing a four-yard TD to Tyler Vogel (Coldwater, Ohio/Coldwater) in the third quarter and a 22-yard touchdown bullet to Ryne Robinson (Toledo, Ohio/Central Catholic) in the fourth quarter. Sophomore kicker Todd Soderquist (College Grove, Tenn./Battle Ground Academy) added a 47-yard field goal in the fourth quarter and was good on 7-of-7 PATs.

"I don't like to give too much to praise to a quarterback this early, but Josh made some great throws and showed a lot of confidence," Hoeppner said. "He put the offense in position to make plays."

Betts finished 14-of-24 for 273 yards and three touchdowns, completing passes to eight different receivers. Nance led the way with three receptions for 38 yards , while Robinson hauled in two passes for 35 yards. Ciborowski led all ground gainers with 70 yards rushing on nine carries, while Murphy added 31 yards on 10 carries.

Kokal completed 13-of-26 passes for the White team, totaling 173 yards through the air. Sophomore wide receiver Josh Williams led all receivers with five catches for 56 yards, while O'Bryan hauled in four receptions for a game-high 93 yards. Lannaman finished with 56 yards on 11 carries, while fellow freshman Cory Jones (Ocean Springs, MS/Florence) totaled 42 yards on seven carries.

Defensively, the Red team was paced by redshirt freshman Frank Wiwo, who totaled eight stops, an interception and a pass deflection from his corner back position. Freshmen Craig Compton (Cincinnati, Ohio/St. Xavier), Jerome Bennett (Soutfield, Mich./Southfield) and Seth Painter (Sandusky, Ohio/Perkins) each totaled two quarterback sacks for the Red, which sacked the White quarterbacks seven times.

Leading the White team, which featured the first-string defense, was junior defensive lineman Will Rueff (Louisville, Ky./Trinity), who made six tackles, including four for losses, and two quarterback sacks. Freshman Joey Card (Canton, Ohio/Glenoak) added five tackles. Grayshirt freshman Clayton Mullins (Fairborn, Ohio/Fairborn), who started for the first-team defense, totaled four stops in his first Red-White game.

"Clayton Mullins did a great job this spring," Hoeppner said. "He just goes out there and makes plays, and he plays faster than we thought. Clayton was a pleasant surprise this spring and has taken every advantage of his opportunity."

With the completion of the spring game, Miami's focus now shifts to preparations for the 2004 campaign.

"I can't wait to put the whole team together and get them pointed in the same direction," Hoeppner said. "We had a good spring, now we need to have a good summer and be ready for camp in August."

Printer-friendly format	Email this article