KENT, Ohio - Sam Ricketts became the first player in Miami history to gain 5,000 yards of total offense and Travis Prentice rushed for three touchdowns as the RedHawks routed Kent 62-26 Saturday.
Just Miami
Miami's upset of then-14th-ranked Virginia Tech last week has earned the RedHawks some national respect.
They got it Saturday on ESPN Gameday, a nationally syndicated radio show. ESPN host Doug Brown reminded co-host Mel Kiper Jr. that the show had a new policy on the Miamis - of Ohio and Florida. From now on, Brown said, "when we refer to Miami, it's Ohio, not Florida. It's now Miami comma Florida."
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The victory sets up a showdown with Marshall next week at Oxford. The RedHawks are 5-1, 3-1 Mid-American East. They can move into a tie with Marshall (5-1, 3-0) with a win.
Miami, which scored touchdowns off a blocked punt and fake field goal in its upset of then-No. 14 Virginia Tech last week, relied on its offense Saturday.
Ricketts completed 22-of-30 passes for a career best 313 yards and two touchdowns, both in the second quarter. He now has a school best 5,167 yards of total offense.
Prentice, a sophomore, rushed 27 times for 146 yards. It was the fourth time in his career he scored three times in a game.
Kent (1-5, 1-3) fell behind 14-0 in the first quarter following Prentice's first two scores, runs of 23 and 3 yards.
Quarterback Jose Davis, who set MAC records last week with 551 yards passing and six touchdowns in a 59-43 loss to Central Florida, was limited to 114 yards and just one touchdown in the first half as Miami built a 28-7 lead.
Kent cut the lead to 31-15 with 9:25 left in the third quarter on a Davis 12-yard scoring pass to Eugene Baker. But DeMarrio Jones returned the ensuing kickoff 88 yards for a Miami score.
"It was one of those scary nights," said Miami coach Randy Walker.
Miami 14 14 17 17 - 62
Kent 0 7 8 11 - 26
First Quarter
Mia-Prentice 23 run (Scott kick), 12:35
Mia-Prentice 3 run (Scott kick), :34
Second Quarter
Mia-Buxton 11 pass from Ricketts (Scott kick), 6:53
KSU-Britt 9 pass from Davis (Romano kick), 5:22
Mia-Hal 15 pass from Ricketts (Scott kick), 1:07
Third Quarter
Mia-FG Scott 22, 11:01
KSU-Baker 12 pass from Davis (Gaston pass from Davis), 9:25
Mia-Jones 88 kickoff return (Scott kick), 9:09
Mia-Prentice 2 run (Scott kick), 2:33 Fourth Quarter
Mia-FG Scott 27, 12:45
Mia-Jones 24 interception return (Scott kick), 11:41
KSU-FG Romano 48, 9:38
KSU-Gaston 1 run, (Gavadza pass from Davis), 4:51
Mia-Smith 3 run (Tymitz kick), 1:17
A-9,410.
Mia KSU
First downs 30 17
Rushes-yards 45-222 22-52
Passing 327 292
Comp-Att-Int 24-32-1 19-42-2
Return Yards 262 194
Punts-Avg. 1-44.0 6-33.2
Fumbles-Lost 0-0 0-0
Penalties-Yards 11-115 6-50
Possession 35:15 24:45
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING-Miami, Prentice 27-146, Smith 8-60, Adkins 4-13, Monk 2-13, Hall 1-(minus-1), Ricketts 3-(minus-9). Kent, Gates 15-46, Chatman 2-25, Gaston 1-1. Davios 4-(minus-20).
PASSING-Miami, Ricketts 22-30-1-313, Schacke 2-2-0-14. Kent, Davis 19-42-2-292
RECEIVING-Miami, Hall 5-56, Buxton 4-66, Johnson 2-48, Monk 2-42, Lubin 2-32, Adkins 2-25, Vaughn 2-25, Gaylor 2-12, Washington 1-9, Prentice 1-7, Sexton 1-5. Kent, Baker 9-130, Young 4-57, Britt 3-40, Gavadza 2-54, Paul 1-11.
Previous game reports
MIAMI 24, VIRGINIA TECH 17 Oct. 5, 1997
MIAMI 38, ARMY 14 Sept. 28, 1997
MIAMI 49, AKRON 20 Sept. 14, 1997
BOWLING GREEN 28, MIAMI 21 Sept. 7, 1997
MIAMI 27, BALL STATE 10 Aug. 31, 1997
