By Mark Schmetzer
Enquirer staff writers

OXFORD - Talk about a plan working out. Miami's sluggish rushing attack got the wakeup call it needed Saturday night in the form of the University of Central Florida defense, the worst against the run in the Mid-American Conference.

The RedHawks capitalized by hammering out a season-high 206 yards and four touchdowns on the ground in a 43-7 Homecoming victory at Yager Stadium.

Sixth-year senior Luke Clemens gained 79 yards and scored two touchdowns on 19 carries, and redshirt freshman Brandon Murphy added 75 yards and his first two career touchdowns on nine carries.

"That was something we wanted to come out and do," Clemens said. "We knew on paper that they weren't doing very well against the run. It helped out everything."

Said coach Terry Hoeppner: "We had to work for it. They have an athletic defense. We had to get the measure of their defense first. They were bringing their safeties up, and we thought it would just be a matter of time before we broke one. We just kept pounding that rock."

Miami also set a season-high with 494 yards of total offense. Quarterback Josh Betts threw for 288 yards while going 24-of-40 with one touchdown.

The defense turned in its best effort of the season by limiting the Golden Knights to 160 yards of total offense. "We played a more simplified defense," middle linebacker Derek Rehage said. "We played fast and aggressive. We weren't thinking as much."

The RedHawks (5-3, 4-1), who are off until their ESPN2 game against West Division co-leader Toledo on Nov. 2, remain tied with Akron in the East Division, a half-game behind Marshall. The Thundering Herd easily knocked off Buffalo 48-14 Saturday.

Miami needed a quarter to get the offense in gear. Michael Larkin's leaping 42-yard reception on a post pattern early in the second quarter set up Jared Parseghian's 36-yard field goal that gave the RedHawks a 3-0 lead.

On Miami's next possession, Larkin ran a precise 11-yard route on third-and-10 to keep alive a drive that Clemens wrapped up with a one-yard plunge.

Larkin didn't participate in the next possession, a nine-play, 68-yard drive that ended with Clemens scoring on an eight-yard option run to give Miami a 17-0 halftime lead.

Miami added a fourth consecutive scoring possession when Todd Soderquist made a 33-yard field goal on the first drive of the second half. The Golden Knights (0-7, 0-3) converted Ryne Robinson's fumbled punt return with a 31-yard touchdown run by quarterback Steven Moffett, but Miami tacked on a team safety by forcing Moffett into an intentional grounding penalty from UCF's end zone in the fourth.