Murphy, RedHawks run over Ball State
'Hawks open season with last-minute 14-13 MAC victory over BSU Cards
Mike Zoller
Issue date: 8/31/07 Section: Sports
Miami University rallied behind a 57-yard punt return from Eugene Harris, and with under two minutes to go in the game, gave the ball to running back Brandon Murphy who went six yards into the end zone for his second touchdown of the night, knocking off Ball State 14-13 in the season opener.
"It was a tremendous football game," Head Coach Shane Montgomery said. "They (have) a very good football team and they were a very good one at the end of the year."
After having several attempts in the red zone to take the lead late in the game, quarterback Mike Kokal threw an interception, his second of the game, and it looked like all was lost for the RedHawks.
"Mainly we just had to stay positive," Murphy said. "Our defense played great all game. The defense made a stop and we had a chance to stay in the game."
The RedHawk defense held strong and forced a punt from Ball State, setting up the game-winning touchdown.
"We needed to win this game early in the season and get some confidence," Montgomery said. "We didn't do that last season."
In what was suppose to be an offensive game with two of the best air attacks in the Mid-American Conference, the game saw just 10 points scored in the first half, and just 17 more in the second.
A healthy Murphy proved early on that he was 100 percent and ready to roll, breaking off a 59-yard run early in the first quarter putting the RedHawks in the red zone.
However, place-kicker Trevor Cook could not convert a short field goal, and Miami got zero points off the big run-the first of several failed red zone visits for the RedHawks.
Ball State struck first with a 20-yard field goal in the first quarter to take a 3-0 lead.
Miami was unable to put up points in the first quarter, as the passing attack led by Kokal wasn't firing on all cylinders.
Luckily for the RedHawks, the defense led by Jerrid Gaines and Clayton Mullins held Ball State off the scoreboard, keeping the 'Hawks in the game.
"It was a tremendous football game," Head Coach Shane Montgomery said. "They (have) a very good football team and they were a very good one at the end of the year."
After having several attempts in the red zone to take the lead late in the game, quarterback Mike Kokal threw an interception, his second of the game, and it looked like all was lost for the RedHawks.
"Mainly we just had to stay positive," Murphy said. "Our defense played great all game. The defense made a stop and we had a chance to stay in the game."
The RedHawk defense held strong and forced a punt from Ball State, setting up the game-winning touchdown.
"We needed to win this game early in the season and get some confidence," Montgomery said. "We didn't do that last season."
In what was suppose to be an offensive game with two of the best air attacks in the Mid-American Conference, the game saw just 10 points scored in the first half, and just 17 more in the second.
A healthy Murphy proved early on that he was 100 percent and ready to roll, breaking off a 59-yard run early in the first quarter putting the RedHawks in the red zone.
However, place-kicker Trevor Cook could not convert a short field goal, and Miami got zero points off the big run-the first of several failed red zone visits for the RedHawks.
Ball State struck first with a 20-yard field goal in the first quarter to take a 3-0 lead.
Miami was unable to put up points in the first quarter, as the passing attack led by Kokal wasn't firing on all cylinders.
Luckily for the RedHawks, the defense led by Jerrid Gaines and Clayton Mullins held Ball State off the scoreboard, keeping the 'Hawks in the game.
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