OXFORD — Miami senior offensive lineman Kolby Borders said he sees a difference in the Miami RedHawks’ scheme when they’ve got the ball.
The rushing attack has been playing more of a viable role in the last couple weeks.
“Kind of just our attack of everything,” Borders said of what has changed to incorporate a productive running scheme.
“We’ve been kind of running more into run boxes, which means lighter boxes and that means linebackers in there. So, we’re just kind of putting ourselves in better situations, I think.”
Borders and the red-hot RedHawks — winners of four straight — host the Kent State Golden Flashes on Wednesday in a MACtion weeknight showdown at 7 p.m. at Yager Stadium.
Here are five things to know heading into Wednesday’s game:
1. Run, Mozee, run
Helping with the recent offensive output has been senior running back Keyon Mozee.
Mozee had just 60 combined rushing yards in the first three games. Since then, Mozee has posted five 100-yard performances. Miami (5-4, 4-1 Mid-American Conference) is 5-0 this season when Mozee goes for 100-plus yards.
2. About Kent State
Kent State is 0-9 on the season and is coming off a 41-0 loss to Ohio.
“Those who have been around know it’s week to week in this league,” Miami coach Chuck Martin said. “Again, you can look bad one week and obviously they did not have a great game against OU. It was probably one of their worst games of the year, by far.
“But they also lost to Ball State 37-35. We beat Ball State 27-21,” Martin added. “I know their coach (Kenni Burns). He’s a good guy. He’s taken over a different situation. They lost everybody when he took over. They had taken over a team that was pretty good, but no one was there when he got there.
“People might say, ‘Hey, I feel for you.’ If anybody can empathize for them, it’s me. I know what he’s going through.”
Offensively, the Golden Flashes average 15.1 points per game and have seen four different quarterbacks throw passes this year.
Defensively, Josh Baka leads the team with 66 tackles and four pass breakups.
3. The last meeting
Brett Gabbert threw for 216 yards and one touchdown, and the Miami defense held Kent State to 206 yards of offense as the RedHawks downed the Golden Flashes 23-3 back on Sept. 30, 2023.
4. The series
The RedHawks lead the all-time series 52-18 over Kent State and have won four of the last five meetings dating back to 2018.
Miami last lost at home to KSU on Nov. 10, 2012, in a 48-32 contest.
Gabbert has thrown for 799 yards and six touchdowns in three career starts against the Flashes.
Senior linebacker Matt Salopek has made 30 tackles, four tackles for loss and two sacks in his career against KSU.
5. Honoring history
Miami will wear special helmets and jerseys against Kent State as Miami and the Myaamia Tribe continue to foster a great relationship.
Over the past several years at Miami University, the athletics department has developed a strong partnership with the Myaamia Center — another outcome of more than a 50-year relationship between the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma and Miami University.
The partnership began with education within Miami athletics and grew as they began to use the Myaamia Heritage Logo (MHL), a design released in 2017 that visually represents the relationship between the Miami Tribe and Miami University.
