Miami Redhawks Athletics
Miami (OH) showed flashes of progress but couldn’t keep pace with Rutgers down the stretch, falling 45-17 Saturday afternoon at SHI Stadium. The loss drops the RedHawks to 0-2 on the young season, while the Scarlet Knights improve to 2-0.
Quarterback Dequan Finn led the way for Miami (OH), accounting for 336 total yards. He threw for 251 yards and added 85 more on the ground, including a five-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. Wide receivers Keith Reynolds (120 yards) and Kam Perry (108) both topped the 100-yard mark, the first time two RedHawks accomplished the feat in the same game since 2021.
Despite the offensive highlights, Rutgers pulled away by scoring the game’s final 21 points, with Ian Strong catching two touchdown passes to pace the Scarlet Knights.
How It Happened
Rutgers struck first with an 11-play, 75-yard drive capped by a Strong touchdown grab, but Miami (OH) responded immediately. A 62-yard strike to Perry set up a one-yard scoring plunge from redshirt freshman D’Shawntae Jones, his first career carry, to tie the game at 7-7.
After a Scarlet Knight field goal, a costly interception deep in Rutgers territory flipped momentum. Bo Mascoe’s return set up a short touchdown, and Rutgers extended its lead to 24-7 before halftime. Miami (OH)’s Dom Dzioban drilled a 40-yard field goal in the final seconds of the half to keep the RedHawks within striking distance.
Miami (OH) carried that energy into the third quarter. On the first offensive play of the half, Finn connected with Reynolds for 69 yards before finishing the drive himself with a touchdown run, trimming the deficit to 24-17. But Rutgers answered with a Strong touchdown reception and never looked back, sealing the game with two more scores in the fourth.
RedHawk Highlights
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Kam Perry: Career-high 108 yards on four catches, including a 62-yard reception that set up Miami’s first touchdown.
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Keith Reynolds: Seven receptions for 120 yards, with more than half of his yardage coming after the catch.
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Jackson Kuwatch: Team-high 11 tackles and his first career sack.
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Dom Dzioban: Connected on a 40-yard field goal, the eighth of his career from that distance.
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D’Shawntae Jones: One-yard rushing touchdown on his first career carry.
From the Sidelines
“Offensively, we did some better things—made some big plays with two 100-yard receivers,” head coach Chuck Martin said. “We’ve got a lot of work, but I like our group. I like that we fight and stick together. We made plenty of plays the last two weeks, but not enough. We got better this week, and we’re going to keep improving.”
Up Next
Miami (OH) will have a bye week before returning home to host UNLV in the 2025 home opener on Saturday, Sept. 20 at Yager Stadium.
About the Author
Dalton Tinklenberg is the Founder and Media Director of The Scouting Depot, where he leads comprehensive coverage of college and professional football. He is an active member of some of the most respected organizations in sports journalism, including the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA), Maxwell Football Club, Online News Association (ONA), National Football Foundation (NFF), and the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE).
Before launching The Scouting Depot, Dalton worked with Blue HQ Media, where he covered major sporting events such as the Indianapolis 500, the College Football Playoff, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.
Through his professional affiliations and on-the-ground experience, Dalton combines deep knowledge of the game with recognized standards of storytelling, editorial excellence, and authenticity in sports coverage.
