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Sports TwitterRedHawks should be healthy for title game
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
OXFORD — The Miami RedHawks should be in relatively good health when they take on the Central Michigan Chippewas Saturday in the Mid-American Conference Championship Game.
Junior tight end Jake O'Connell (foot injury), true freshman wide receiver Chris Givens (foot) and senior tailback Austin Sykes (ankle) all should be ready to play at Ford Field, Miami head coach Shane Montgomery said.
Extras
O'Connell was injured in the second quarter of Miami's 38-29 loss at Ohio last Saturday, Givens was hurt in the third quarter of that game, and Sykes never got into the game after aggravating his the previous week.
Senior center Steve Meister also should be OK, Montgomery said. Meister had missed a couple series against the Bobcats and then, "came back and played through a not-very-serious injury," Montgomery said.
Red-shirt freshman tailback Jamal Miller was held out of the Ohio game after being "banged up in the previous weeks," Montgomery added, "and true freshman tailback Thomas Merriweather, who missed much of the Ohio game with a back problem, "hopefully will be back."
Raudabaugh still the man
Although sophomore Daniel Raudabaugh has thrown five interceptions and only one touchdown pass in the last two games, Montgomery doesn't appear to have lost faith in his young quarterback.
"He played pretty well in the first half (at Ohio)," Montgomery said. "They blitzed the safeties a lot. He missed one or two opportunities, but in the first half I thought he played well.
"He did make two crucial mistakes early in the second half," he said of the interceptions which were turned into touchdowns by the Bobcats. The first pass, Montgomery said, was tipped when Raudabaugh tried to get rid of the ball in a hurry. The second interception was forced, he said.
"He did a good job of hanging in there," Montgomery said. "He took some shots."
Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2197 or pconrad@coxohio.com.
