DETROIT, MI — While it was cold and chilly outside, the Miami RedHawks and Central Michigan Chippewas heated things up inside of Ford Field to the tune of a 26-21 thriller for Miami (OH) in the 2019 Marathon MAC Championship Game.
In front of a predominantly pro-CMU crowd of 22,427 that was playing only 2 hours from campus, Miami quickly seized the early momentum thanks to a 97-yard kick return by Maurice Thomas to start the game. Miami would take the lead on a one-yard touchdown run by running back Jaylon Bester.
The Chippewas would answer thanks to a 21-yard touchdown run by backup quarterback Tommy Lazzaro to tie the game at 7-7 in the second quarter. After a 41-yard field goal from RedHawks kick Sam Sloman—the first of his four field goals en route to being named Special Teams MVP of the game—helped give Miami the lead back at 10-7, Central Michigan would retake the lead at 14-10 with 30 seconds left, thanks to a 11-yard touchdown catch by Tyrone Scott.
Miami would take the lead for good at Ford Field thanks to a 31-yard touchdown pass from Brett Gabbert to Offensive MVP in wide receiver Jack Sorenson, who finished the game with eight catches for 132 yards receiving.
Miami would extend their lead to 23-14 on field goals of 33 and 48 yards from Sloman. CMU would get as close as 23-21 with 1:24 left on a 4-yard touchdown run from Lazzaro, his second of the game, before Sloman would ice the game for good for the RedHawks on a 42-yarder with 28 seconds left.
In winning the Marathon MAC Championship Game, the RedHawks claimed their first conference title since 2010 and 22nd overall in school history dating back to their days in the Ohio Athletic and Buckeye Conference. Following their win, the RedHawks accepted an invite to play the Ragin’ Cajuns of Louisiana on Jan. 6th down in Mobile, Alabama