Loss damages Miami's MAC, bowl chances

Next game

OXFORD — The Miami RedHawks’ hopes of returning to the Mid-American Championship Game and earning a second straight bowl berth took a major hit with their 24-21 loss at Temple on Wednesday.

Miami needs victories in its last two regular-season games — Wednesday night at home against Western Michigan and the following Tuesday at Ohio — to become bowl eligible and to have any shot at playing in Detroit on Dec. 2.

It’s a long shot. In order to play for the MAC title, the RedHawks also need Temple to lose at home to Kent State the day after Thanksgiving.

“The senior group has hung in there and battled all year long,” Miami coach Don Treadwell said. “They have really connected with this staff and we want to send them out on a good note.”

The RedHawks played three strong quarters against the Owls on Tuesday. Their downfall was the second period, when they were outscored 14-0 and quarterback Zac Dysert was sacked five times.

“Our offensive staff came up with a scheme to give Zac more time in the second half,” Treadwell said.

Miami drew close late in the fourth quarter thanks in part to a blunder by Temple’s All-MAC defensive end, Adrian Robinson, who jumped offside when the RedHawks were lined up in punt formation on fourth-and-5.

His penalty gave Miami a first down and Dysert later threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Nick Harwell. The play accomplished two things: It pulled the RedHawks to within three points of the Owls, and it enabled Harwell to break the school single-game record for both receptions (15) and receiving yardage (229).

Unfortunately for the RedHawks, neither Dysert nor Harwell were able to get their hands on the ball again.

The scary thing about Harwell is that he a sophomore who’s still getting better.

“Nick Harwell continues to improve in each and every game,” Treadwell said, “especially in running his routes.”

Contact this reporter at (513) 720-2197 or Pete.Conrad@coxinc.com.