Week 13: Miami (OH) at Ohio

The RedHawks have clinched the Mid-American Conference’s East Division title, making one of the most significant comebacks in league history after going 2-10 last year, with a 2-6 MAC mark.

But even with the division crown in the bag, and a date in the Dec. 1 MAC Championship Game against West Division champ Central Michigan all set, Miami won’t be on cruise control this week. The RedHawks have a long-running rivalry with Ohio’s Bobcats to get their attention before they can start thinking about the title game at Detroit’s Ford Field.

Miami clinched the East crown the hard way, clawing out a 31-28 win over Buffalo two weeks ago, and then getting a defensive touchdown in a 7-0 win over Akron a week ago. That last win showed Miami coach Shane Montgomery just how far his team has come.
 
“I told our guys in the locker room that, last year, that is a game that we do not win,” Montgomery said. “It was not pretty. It was pretty by the defense, but it was not pretty by the offense. I am really proud of our football team, because the way things were going, we could have hung our heads. Our team believes in each other, and just keeps fighting."

The RedHawks will need that resolve to come away with a win against Ohio, a team with nothing to play for but a lot to prove. Ohio was the team most of the pre-season prognosticators chose to lead the way in the MAC East this season, but after winning their first two games, the Bobcats lost four in a row and staggered into the meat of the MAC schedule.

After rebounding to win three of their next four games and pull even at 5-5, Ohio lost a 48-37 slugfest with Akron the last time out, meaning the Bobcats need a victory over Miami to avoid their second losing season in three years under former Nebraska coach Frank Solich.

The Bobcats have demonstrated adequate offensive firepower, with tailback Kalvin McRae gaining a 20th career 100-yard rushing game against the Zips, while quarterback Brad Bower passed for a career-high three touchdowns and 239 yards in that game.

If this boils down to a tight contest where it might take a field goal to win it in the closing moments, Ohio has to like its chances. Transfer Michael Braunstein nailed three more field goals against Akron, and now has 18 for the season, with seven of those coming from beyond 40 yards.

Miami by 3