Fortunately, for Ricketts and the RedHawks, it could not have ended much better.
Miami scored 24 unanswered second-half points to stun Army 38-14 Saturday.
"It's hard to believe we came in and beat them like this," Miami coach Randy Walker said. "They're tough at home."
Ricketts was the key. The senior from Springfield, Ohio, completed 20-of-31 for 270 yards and two touchdowns. The interception turned out to be his only mistake.
"The key is how you respond," Walker said. "He's a tough kid. He really picked it up."
MU trailed 7-0 and 14-7. But a 3-yard TD by Travis Prentice with 2:50 left in the first half shifted the momentum.
Once Miami figured things out, the talent factor carried the RedHawks.
"We feel that we have some real good athletes outside," Ricketts said. "As long as the protection is good, our guys can play with anyone."
Jay Hall, the junior wideout from Walnut Hills, was the best example of that. He caught six balls for 122 yards. His 52-yard TD hookup with Ricketts less than two minutes into the fourth quarter broke the game open.
Ricketts became MU's all-time leader in attempts (690), completions (371) and total offense (4,651).
The RedHawks' defense, after a shaky first half, figured out Army's wishbone offense. Army (1-3) went into the game averaging 431.3 rushing yards per game, tops in the nation. But Miami (3-1) held the ground attack to just 261 yards, including 91 in the second half.
"Our defense was the key," Walker said. "If we can get teams in third-and-long, it gives us a chance to get our speed on the field." Army beat Miami 27-7 at Oxford last year. This year, Army's wishbone was not as much of a mystery.
"We had the bye week," linebacker JoJuan Armour said. "So we had extra time to practice against the plays they run."
Now, maybe people will take notice of Miami.
"We were on Armed Forces Radio," Walker said. "The New York Times and New York Daily News were here.
"It's a big, big win."
Miami 7 7 10 14 - 38
Army 7 7 0 0 - 14
First Quarter
Army-Hewitt 1 run (Olsen kick), 4:51
Mia-Gaylor 14 pass from Ricketts (Scott kick), :21
Second Quarter
Army-Goff 4 run (Olsen kick), 9:55
Mia-Prentice 3 run (Scott kick), 2:50
Third Quarter
Mia-Prentice 1 run (Scott kick), 8:29
Mia-FG Scott 29, :00
Fourth Quarter
Mia-Hall 52 pass from Ricketts (Scott kick), 13:19
Mia-Monk 9 run (Scott kick), 6:51
A-39,294.
RUSHING-Miami, Prentice 13-58, Smith 8-35, Monk 6-31, Ricketts 7-29, Hall 2-1. Army, Hewitt 10-59, Williams 14-48, Amey 9-40, Goff 19-33, Richardson 1-28, Lalumondier 4-27, Ferri 5-24, Miller 1-2.
PASSING-Miami, Ricketts 20-31-1-270. Army, Goff 3-14-0-23.
RECEIVING-Miami, Hall 6-122, Gaylor 4-66, Monk 3-27, Vaughn 2-16, Prentice 2-11, Lubin 2-7, S.Johnson 1-21. Army, Miller 1-10, Jett 1-8, Richardson 1-5.
Previous game reports
MIAMI 49, AKRON 20 September 14, 1997
BOWLING GREEN 28, MIAMI 21 September 7, 1997
MIAMI 27, BALL STATE 10 August 31, 1997
