Nov. 5, 2009

PHOTO GALLERY

Final Stats |  Notes

PHILADELPHIA - The Miami University football team rallied from an 18-point, fourth-quarter deficit to take the lead with 2:36 remaining, but the Temple Owls booted an 18-yard field goal with three seconds left on the clock to steal a 34-32 victory Thursday night at Lincoln Financial Field. The RedHawks fell to 1-9 on the year and 1-5 in the Mid-American Conference, while the MAC East-leading Owls won their seventh-straight game to move to 7-2 overall and 5-0 in the MAC.

Junior running back Thomas Merriweather (Florissant, Mo.) capped Miami's comeback with a 2-yard run that put the 'Hawks on top, 32-31, but a short kickoff gave Temple the ball at its 36-yard line after recovering its own fumble and the Owls drove all the way down to the Miami 1-yard line, where Brandon McManus kicked the game-winner for Temple.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Zac Dysert (Ada, Ohio) threw for a career-best 426 yards and three touchdowns with one interception on 31-of-51 passing for the RedHawks, marking the second-highest total for passing yards in the MAC this year and the fourth most in Miami history (all behind Ben Roethlisberger). Redshirt junior wide receiver Armand Robinson (Reynoldsburg, Ohio) hauled in 10 catches, tying a career high, for a game-high 118 yards, his fourth 100-yard game this year, and a pair of touchdowns. Senior wideout Brayden Coombs (Cincinnati, Ohio) also had a career night with six catches for 79 yards. Temple freshman running back Bernard Pierce ran for 178 yards on 40 carries with three scores to lead the Owls on offense. For the game, Miami outgained Temple, 478 yards to 367.

After Miami went three-and-out on its opening possession, the Owls earned good field position at the Miami 33-yard line when Delano Green returned redshirt freshman Jim Broadway's (Roswell, Ga.) punt for 30 yards. Temple needed just six plays to grab the lead as Pierce plunged into the end zone from a yard out for a 7-0 lead.

The RedHawks answered with a 20-yard field goal by redshirt junior Trevor Cook (Sioux Falls, S.D.) on the ensuing possession, which was set up by 25- and 24-yard completions from Dysert to Robinson. Miami drove 77 yards down the Temple 3-yard line, but was unable to punch it in, making it 7-3.

The Owls' Kevin Kroboth intercepted Dysert at their own 49-yard line with 5:04 left in the first quarter and eventually scored on a 1-yard run by quarterback Vaughn Charlton. Temple had the ball first-and-goal at the Miami 3-yard line and the RedHawks stopped the Owls three times, but Temple faked a field goal as Charlton, the holder, took the snap and ran in for the score to make it 14-3.

The Owls made it 21-3 when Pierce walked into the end zone from seven yards out midway through the second quarter, but Miami scored 10 unanswered points to close the half and get within one possession. A 43-yard pass to junior wideout Jamal Rogers (Fort Myers, Fla.) set up the RedHawks' first touchdown, as Dysert capped a six-play, 76-yard drive, all of which came through the air, with an 11-yard strike to Robinson to make it 21-10. Redshirt sophomore linebacker Jerrell Wedge (Upper Marlboro, Md.) then recovered a fumble with 1:26 left in the half at the Temple 21-yard line that turned into a Cook 26-yard field goal, making the Owls' advantage 21-13 at halftme.

Miami attempted just eight runs in the first half, while Dysert completed 17-of-30 passes for 214 yards with a touchdown and a pick and Robinson had six catches for 68 yards. Pierce had 59 rushing yards on 15 carries in the opening half while Temple had a total of 103 rushing yards. Quarterback Chester Stewart was 4-for-7 for 98 yards through the air for the Owls.

A McManus 42-yard field goal on Temple's opening drive of the second half made it 24-13 and the Owls made it 31-13 on their next possession when Pierce found the end zone for the third time, this time from 14 yards out.

Early in the fourth quarter, Miami gambled on fourth-and-four and Dysert found freshman tight end Steve Marck (Newtown, Pa.) wide open in the flat, as he scampered 24 yards for his first-career touchdown to make it 31-20 with Cook's PAT. After forcing a Temple punt on the next possession, the 'Hawks marched 62 yards, capping the drive when Dysert found Robinson for a 14-yard touchdown reception, his second of the game. Dysert was stopped short on the two-point conversion, however, keeping Miami within five at 31-26.

The RedHawks again forced Temple to punt at midfield and again Miami was able to drive down the field on 13 plays, covering 84 yards that ended with Merriweather's go-ahead score, but once more the two-point conversion failed, allowing the Owls to drive down the field and kick the game-winning field goal.

With its final road game behind them, Miami returns to Yager Stadium to close out the 2009 season with two home games. The RedHawks host Bowling Green, Thursday, Nov. 12, before welcoming Buffalo Wednesday, Nov. 18, for the season finale. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. ET for both contests.

--MURedHawks.com--

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