By Mark Schmetzer
Enquirer contributor

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The Redhawks (3-3 overall, 2-1 Mid-American Conference) play at Buffalo (1-5, 1-3) at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at UB Stadium. Miami football

OXFORD - After watching quarterback Josh Betts get sacked 16 times in Miami's first five games, compared to the 19 sacks of RedHawks quarterbacks in 14 games last season, the coaches decided some changes needed to be made.

They weren't just cosmetic, either. Junior Todd Londot, a second-team all-Mid-American Conference center last season and member of the Rimington Award preseason watch list this year, started at right tackle in Saturday's win over Kent State. He replaced redshirt freshman Charlie Norden, who split time at left guard with another redshirt freshman, Steve Meister.

Senior Dave Rehker moved from left guard to center, his first start there since the middle of the 2002 season. The only players at their usual positions were left tackle Mark Kracium and right guard Nate Bunce.

Londot had started 27 of Miami's last 31 games at center, including the last 23 before Saturday, but the moves paid off. Betts was sacked just twice, and he was judged by the officials to have fumbled on one of them.

"The line protected well," coach Terry Hoeppner said.

Said Betts: "We just need time, and the offensive line gave us time today."

Miami's defense was happy to see the last of Kent State quarterback Josh Cribbs.

The slippery Golden Flash quarterback went 23-for-34 for 295 yards and three touchdowns in the KSU loss to Miami on Saturday. He also carried the ball 20 times for 73 yards. He threw all three of his scoring passes in the first half while going 18-for-25 for 223 yards before the RedHawks finally were able to contain him.

In four career games against Miami, Cribbs scored six touchdowns and averaged 98 yards rushing. He threw for five more touchdowns while averaging 17.5 completions, 31 attempts, and 228 yards per game.

"Josh Cribbs is probably the best talent I've seen since I've been here," said junior defensive end Marcus Johnson, who added three sacks to the team-high 4 1/2 he took into the game.

"You know you're not going to shut him down, but you hope your defensive tackles can plug things up in the middle and we can come off the edge. You can't let him sit back there and make plays. You have to hit him and get him down."

NOTES: Junior kicker Todd Soderquist's 43-yard field goal in the fourth quarter is the longest of his career. ... Korey Kirkpatrick's 68-yard return of the second-half kickoff was the longest for Miami since Demario Jones returned a kick 72 yards in 1998. ... Senior wideout Michael Larkin has caught at least one pass in 43 consecutive games. The MAC record of 46 was set by Toledo's Mel Long Jr. (1997-2000).