cadillacnews
OXFORD, Ohio (AP) — In his first collegiate appearance, true freshman quarterback Drew Bellisari engineered a stunning turnaround for Miami (Ohio), guiding the RedHawks to 34 consecutive points after they had spotted Ohio a 17-point lead, ultimately securing a 34-17 victory on Tuesday night and halting the Bobcats' six-game win streak.
Freshman kicker Brady Stidham tied the game at 17-all with a 36-yard field goal just 44 seconds into the fourth quarter, then drilled a 25-yarder with 3:55 remaining to give Miami the lead for good. The decisive sequence began when Nick Poulos fumbled on fourth down, and Malcolm McCain recovered. On the very next play, D'Shawntae Jones broke free for a 48-yard touchdown run to seal the win. Poulos then threw his first interception of the season, which Amariyun Knighten returned 58 yards for a touchdown to cap the scoring. McCain paced the RedHawks' defense with 11 tackles.
Ohio (7-3, 5-1 Mid-American Conference) had built a 17-0 advantage late in the second quarter behind Poulos' 8-yard touchdown pass to Riley Neer, a 1-yard scoring plunge by Duncan Brune, and Brack Peacock's short field goal. Miami (6-4, 4-2) struggled to generate offense until Bellisari entered late in the second quarter in relief of an injured Caleb Heavner—the third RedHawks quarterback to go down this season.
Bellisari's first pass was a 13-yard completion to Braylon Isom, and the duo connected again for a 17-yard gain to set up first-and-goal. After a false start pushed Miami back 5 yards, the RedHawks scored on a trick play—a 15-yard toss from wide receiver Scoop Smith to Maleek Huggins—to cut the deficit to 17-7 at halftime. Bellisari then directed an eight-play, 69-yard drive in the third quarter, capped by Jones' 1-yard touchdown run, the only score of the period, bringing Miami within 17-14.
Bellisari finished the night completing 8 of 15 passes for 99 yards and added 64 rushing yards on three attempts. Jones tallied 115 yards on 18 carries. For Ohio, Poulos threw for 193 yards on 20-of-39 passing and rushed for 68 yards on 17 carries.
Key Analysis
Bellisari's poise off the bench proved pivotal for a Miami team that has been decimated at quarterback. His dual-threat ability—both through the air and on the ground—sparked an offense that had been stagnant, while the defense clamped down on Ohio's attack after the first quarter. The RedHawks' ability to capitalize on turnovers, including the fumble recovery and interception return for a touchdown, underscored their resilience. The win keeps Miami's bowl hopes alive and snaps Ohio's momentum in conference play.
Next up, Ohio hosts Ball State on Tuesday, while Miami (Ohio) travels to Kent State on Tuesday.
Originally reported by cadillacnews.