By Mark Schmetzer
Enquirer contributor

OXFORD - If focus is going to be a problem for the Miami RedHawks football team, this would be the week.

The 4-1 RedHawks will take a four-game winning streak into their Mid-American Conference game against the winless University of Buffalo Bulls at 2 p.m. today at Yager Stadium in Oxford. Miami will try to score 40 or more points in a fifth consecutive game for the first time in the history of the program.

The Bulls will try to snap a 16-game losing streak that dates to a 34-11 victory at Rutgers in the second game of last season.

Despite the apparent mismatch, Miami coach Terry Hoeppner said he doesn't expect his RedHawks to overlook Buffalo.

Hoeppner thinks this Miami team is as focused as any in his 18 years in Oxford.

"They came out after the Cincinnati game (a 42-37 win) and practiced like we lost that game," Hoeppner said. "You can state your goals, but the nature of the team is revealed in how they prepare."

"We're very excited," fifth-year senior tailback Cal Murray said. "We have a lot of big games still to play. We're getting closer and closer to our goal. This team is playing as a team. We're in control of our destiny. We're having fun playing this year."

Part of the reason is the way Miami's offense is rolling. During the four-game winning streak, the RedHawks offense has cranked out an average 519.8 total yards a game. Fourth-year junior quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has averaged 357.3 passing yards a game, and third-year sophomore wide receiver Martin Nance has averaged 110.8 receiving yards a game and 19.3 a catch.

"They've got one of the premier quarterbacks in the conference - if not the country," UB coach Jim Hofher said. "He's playing very well. He's a Heisman Trophy candidate and he's playing like one.

"We go to Miami with a tremendous challenge ahead of us. Miami's offense is outstanding - it's very comprehensive and complete. Miami's defense is also playing extremely well, although it isn't noticed as much as their offense."

Miami's defense has allowed an average of 69.8 yards rushing per game over the last four games. The RedHawks still are prone to giving up big plays, but that's not why sophomore cornerback Darrell Hunter missed much of last Saturday's 45-20 win over Akron at Yager Stadium. He was sidelined with a minor injury he'd suffered in practice. He's expected to return today.

The UB defense also is showing signs of improvement. The Bulls' 19-10 loss at Central Florida last Saturday was their first game of the season in which they held an opponent to fewer than 20 points.

"Our defense is growing as a team," Bulls sophomore defensive tackle Rob Schroeder said. "We're learning from our mistakes. We're just trying to play good football and outhit the other team. If we limit our mistakes, that increases our opportunities to stop our opponents."

Hoeppner said Buffalo is better than its results suggest.

"The fact is they do have an experienced, hungry football team. You talk about an aggressive defense - they make you execute. They take the effort to you."

Today's game is Miami's third in a row at home. It's also the last Saturday home game of the season.

Miami vs. Buffalo

Kickoff: 2 p.m., Yager Stadium (25,183), Oxford.

Records: Miami (4-1, 1-0 Mid-American Conference), Buffalo (0-6, 0-2).

Radio: WMOH-AM (1450).

Series: Miami leads 5-0-0.

Line: Miami by 36.

What to watch: Local products Matt Knueven, a junior wide receiver from La Salle, and Bryan Cummings, a sophomore outside linebacker from Madeira, start for the Bulls.

Buffalo	Team stats	Miami
259.9	Offense avg.	476.6
168.2	Avg. by rush	137.8
91.7	Avg. by pass	338.8
494.3	Defense avg.	394.2
263.5	Avg. by rush	102.2
230.8	Avg. by pass	247.0
11.7	Avg. points for	35.0
35.5	Avg. pts. agt.	22.6