DETROIT (AP) — Rashad Amos ran for two touchdowns, Graham Nicholson kicked three field goals and Miami (Ohio) beat No. 23 Toledo 23-14 in the Mid-American Conference championship game on Saturday.
The RedHawks (11-2) last won the MAC title in 2019 when they beat Central Michigan. It is the first time since 2003 that Miami has won 11 games in a season.
The Rockets (11-2) were trying to become the first Toledo team to win 12 straight games since 1971.
After a 40-yard field goal by Nicholson early in the third quarter, Dequan Finn gave Toledo its only lead of the game with a 3-yard run. Nicholson put Miami ahead for good, 16-14, early in the fourth quarter when he racked up another 40 yards, and Amos sealed the win when he ran 10 yards for a touchdown with 2:41 left.
“The entire game the defense was exceptional and the special teams took their field positions all day,” Miami coach Chuck Martin said. “Even that last drive, we did enough offensively to be where we wanted to be.”
It’s the second MAC title for Martin and 17th all-time for the RedHawks, who were playing without starting quarterback Brett Gabbert. He suffered a season-ending right leg injury in Miami’s loss to Toledo on October 21. Gabbert’s replacement, Avion Smith, had 109 yards passing and 99 yards rushing on Saturday and tied the final score with his 50-yard run with nearly three minutes to go. Leave.
“Right after Brett went down, it was a huge loss,” Smith said. “You prepare for moments to play but not under conditions like this. It was tough for us as a team. So I’m lucky to get it done.
“This is very special. We definitely got it done for him (Gabbert).
Miami took a 10-0 lead on a 1-yard run by Amos that was set up by a targeting call against Kel Eldridge, who hit Smith on third-and-13 from the Toledo 16 with 1:25 remaining in the first quarter.
Toledo scored with 9 seconds left in the first half on a 13-yard Finn pass to Anthony Torres. The pair also connected on the two-point conversion to pull the Rockets to two points.
“The rhythm of the game never got going,” Toledo coach Jason Kandel said. “We’re going to get ahead of the sticks. We’re going to get an expensive penalty to put us back. When you’re behind the sticks and you’re in a long yardage situation, enjoy better defense.”
The line ends
Nicholson, who has made a field goal in all 13 games this season, saw his streak of 25 consecutive field goals end when his 48-yard attempt went wide left with 5:58 remaining in the third quarter. This was the first time the MAC Special Teams Player of the Year had been absent all season. Nicholson is a finalist for the Lou Groza Award, which honors the nation’s best player.
Bon slowed down
Miami’s defense held Toledo’s Benny Boone in check for most of the game. He finished with a 41-yard run. The junior now has 1,400 yards and moved into a tie for ninth on Toledo’s single-season rushing list with Bryant Kuback. Boone came in averaging 113 yards per game.
Special special teams
Miami’s special teams were among the best in the country this year. In addition to Nicholson’s strong day, Austin Ertl blocked two field goals and Alec Bevelheimer averaged 46.8 yards on six punts.
“I thought it definitely affected the game,” Kandel said. “This is a very good special teams unit we played today. They’re going to pressure you.”
the next
The Rockets and RedHawks find out their destinations on Sunday. The MAC has six teams qualifying for the tournament, but the conference champion does not automatically qualify for a specific bowl.
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