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Stumbleuponredhawks football
Miami injuries may keep Golden Flashes guessing
Tailback position up for grabs, with Merriweather questionable and two more waiting in the wings.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
OXFORD — The Miami University football team, which had an unsettled situation at quarterback last week, now finds the same predicament at tailback.
But it could be the Kent State Golden Flashes who suffer the most.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Clay Belton is scheduled to make his second straight start at quarterback in the RedHawks' contest against Kent State on Saturday, Oct. 25, at Yager Stadium.
So who will line up behind Belton? Nobody knows yet.
Sophomore Thomas Merriweather has seen the bulk of the action at tailback this season, but an ankle injury makes him questionable.
If Merriweather can't make it, the RedHawks still have junior tailback Andre Bratton, who seems to be gaining a head of steam, and the newest sensation in the Mid-American Conference, true freshman J.R. Taylor.
"If they're all three healthy, I think we'll use all three," Miami coach Shane Montgomery said Tuesday, Oct. 21, at his weekly press conference.
"Thomas has had a good year and was really running the ball well on the first drive (at Bowling Green)," he pointed out.
Merriweather has rushed for a team-leading 482 yards and four touchdowns. His five carries for 29 yards helped set up Bratton's 6-yard touchdown run on Miami's opening drive last week at Bowling Green, but Merriweather injured his ankle on the fifth carry.
Bratton, who missed most of 2007 with a knee injury, "has been getting better and better each game," according to Montgomery.
It was Taylor, though, who shocked both RedHawks and Falcons with 127 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries.
He had come off the bench that day with two career carries.
"He's got a burst," Montomery said. "And he has no fear when he runs. He has a violent running style. He runs down field, he runs over people.
"All three deserve to play," he added.
Merriweather's status for Saturday is questionable, and he has company. Offensive linemen Bob Gulley (elbow) and Dave DiFranco (ankle), defensive tackle D.J. Svabik (ankle) and nose tackle Martin Channels (knee) also are questionable. All are expected to be limited in practice this week.
"Injury-wise, I'm not sure we'll know a lot until later in the week," Montgomery said.
Two RedHawks who are probable are cornerback Brandon Stephens (knee) and defensive tackle Sean Redwine (ankle).
Junior free safety Jordan Gafford (stress fracture in his left shin) hasn't played since Sept. 13 and might sit out the rest of the season.
