Sunday, September 10, 2000
Miami 34, Eastern Michigan 17
Tillitz runs back 2 punts for TDs
By
The Cincinnati Enquirer
YPSILANTI, Mich. — Miami hadn't returned a punt for a touchdown in 283 games. Saturday, RedHawks sophomore Eddie Tillitz did it twice.
Tillitz scored on returns of 53 and 82 yards to lift Miami to a 34-17 victory at Eastern Michigan, giving the RedHawks a 2-0 record entering next week's visit to Ohio State.
With 162 return yards, Tillitz broke the 50-year-old Mid-American Conference record of 153 set by Ohio's Dave Phillips in 1950.
Tillitz, a wide receiver, also led Miami with four catches for 99 yards.
“I don't know what to say. Records are made to be broken, but I wasn't thinking about that during the game,” Tillitz said. “It's nice to think about afterwards, though. Right now, my only thought is on the Buckeyes.”
Miami hadn't scored on a punt return since Oct. 19, 1974, when John McVay did it against Bowling Green.
RedHawks coach Terry Hoeppner was aware of the dubious streak, and he and new special teams coach Ron Johnson had the RedHawks work on punt returns as early as spring practice. Most teams don't bother with them until the fall.
Tillitz had plenty of room to run on his first return, with a low line-drive kick allowing him a relatively easy 53-yard score in the first quarter.
His second one was a little tougher, since the Eastern Michigan punter began kicking away from him after the first return.
The kick sailed over his head and bounced off the turf. Tillitz picked it up, saw open field and took off, getting a key block from Jacob Yavasile. They turned the scramble into an 82-yard TD that put Miami up 27-10 in the third quarter.
“Once you get by that initial wave, you have to finish it off. You can't get lackadaisical,” Tillitz said. “I was just lucky to have an extra blocker out there to get the punter.”
Tillitz also caught a 53-yard pass from quarterback Mike Bath in the first quarter that set up Cal Murray's 2-yard touchdown run, giving Miami a 14-0 lead. Steve Little carried the rushing load in the second half, with 77 yards on 13 carries, including a 29-yard touchdown. The Redhawks defense dominated the second half.
Next up for Miami: Ohio State at the Horseshoe next Saturday.
“I've been avoiding saying those words for a long time,” Hoeppner said. “There's been a lot of interest from our fans in that game, but I haven't heard any of our players say it until we said it today after the game.”
Miami ....... 14 3 10 7—34
E Michigan ....... 0 10 0 7—17
First Quarter
MIA—Tillitz 53 punt return (Brumbergs kick), 10:07
MIA—Murray 2 run (Brumbergs kick), 8:07
Second Quarter
EMU—FG Starnes 27, 6:18
EMU—Kelly 3 pass from Church (Starnes kick), 4:02
MIA—FG Brumbergs 32, 0:00
Third Quarter
MIA—FG Brumbergs 25, 5:09
MIA—Tillitz 82 punt return (Brumbergs kick), 1:55
Fourth Quarter
MIA—Little 29 run (Brumbergs kick), 10:46
EMU—White 1 run (Starnes kick), 7:56
A—10,023.
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING—Miami, Little 13-77, Murray 15-48, Goodman 8-28.
E Michigan, White 21-63, Watson 5-62, Church 6-10.
PASSING—Miami, Bath 13-29-1 232. E Michigan, Church 23-43-1 228.
RECEIVING—Miami, Tillitz 4-99, Johnson 3-76, Sullivan 2-27, Buxton 2-13. E Michigan, Stevens 6-85, Christian 5-75, Walter 3-29, Kelly 3-3.
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