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Neither the final score nor the final stats will demonstrate how well the visiting RedHawks played at times, particularly on defense. Florida had managed 25 yards of offense heading into the final quarter, but the Gators nonetheless led 21-9. All 21 points came during a stretch of 5:11 during the second quarter. Two of the touchdowns followed Florida interceptions. The third TD followed a RedHawk punt team miscue.

“The thing that has plagued us since we have been here is turning the ball over on offense,” MU Head Coach Michael Haywood (now in his second year at the helm) said. “They were just bad decisions that we made as an offensive unit.”

Miami owned a 3-0 lead in the second quarter when Janoris Jenkins stepped into a passing lane for an interception and then ran 70 yards for the touchdown.

When the RedHawks were unable to move the ball on their next possession, they lined up to punt from their own 21-yard line. One possession earlier, a fake punt pass by Ryan Kennedy to Kentrick Bruton was good for 17 yards and a first down to keep the scoring drive alive. When an end appeared to be uncovered on this punt situation, an audible was called and Kennedy once again attempted to gain the first down with a pass.

But as the ball was hiked, a Florida linebacker dropped into coverage and broke up the pass. “We threw a fake punt that never should have been thrown,” Haywood said.

The Gators took over on downs and scored five plays later when John Brantley hit Omarius Hines on a 10-yard TD strike. Caleb Sturgis’ PAT kick made it 14-3 in favor of the hosts.

Just three plays into MU’s next possession, Ahmad Black pulled in another Dysert interception and returned it to the Miami three-yard line. To make matters worse for the visitors, RedHawks running back Thomas Merriweather, who was buried by a Florida player during the runback, was assessed a game-misconduct penalty (and ejected) as he retaliated after the play.

It was one of two particularly costly penalties that Haywood said resulted from “undisciplined” play. The other was an unsportsmanlike call against Armand Robinson when Miami was inside the Florida one-yard line late in the game with a chance to close the deficit to one score. Instead, MU settled for another field goal to make it 21-12.

Miami senior kicker Trevor Cook, who converted 7-of-12 field goals in 2009, nailed all four attempts against the Gators to account for all the RedHawks scoring. Each of the four kicks was between 31 and 33 yards.

“Trevor Cook has really gotten better because of the competition (at that position),” Haywood said. “He’s just doing an outstanding job in practice, and it showed here today.”

Miami’s defense was also another bright spot, stymieing Florida’s offense when it was stymieing itself. The Gators had trouble executing shotgun snaps to Brantley for much of the game. They were credited with eight fumbles and lost three.

Brantley, a 6-3, 221-pounder stepping into the position held by Tim Tebow in recent years, eventually connected on 17-of-25 for 113 yards and two TDs. In addition to his second quarter scoring strike to Hines, Brantley made a late TD toss (with 1:21 left) when a 4th-and-21 pass deflected into the arms of junior wideout Chris Rainey.

Dysert, meanwhile, completed 25-of-44 passes for 191 of Miami’s 212 total yards in offense. He was sacked twice, and his four interceptions were returned for a total of 106 yards.

“There were a couple times when we were shaky in the pocket and got a little emotiona,l and we threw the ball up for grabs,” Haywood said. “Those are the things we have to correct.”

Eight RedHawks caught passes in the contest, with Robinson leading the way. He had 11 receptions for 111 yards.

As was the case last year, Miami had trouble rushing the ball. The RedHawks gained just four net yards on the ground.

“We have to do a better job of running the football. We didn’t get much out of our running attack today,” Haywood said.

Neither was Florida through much of the contest. Junior speedster Jeffrey Demps, however, found a seam and bolted through it on the way to a 72-yard scoring run with 12:31 remaining. That ended Miami’s nine-point run and gave the Gators some breathing room at 27-12 after the PAT.

Although they converted just four of 15 third downs, the RedHawks posted 16 first downs to Florida’s 12 and held the ball for 34:44 compared to the hosts 25:16. When the game ended, both teams had 212 yards of net offense.

“I think the defense really played hard. We gave up a couple big runs and a couple big pass plays, but overall I think defense really played dangerous and relentless for 60 minutes today. We also created some turnovers on defense.”

NOTES: MU - Unlike last year’s grueling schedule, the 2010 slate brings Miami home early. The RedHawks host Eastern Michigan Saturday at Yager Stadium. Both teams may be looking forward to the encounter. The Eagles, who dropped a heartbreaker, 31-27, to Army Saturday, were 0-12 in Head Coach Ron English’s first year (2009). The RedHawks are coming off a one-win season in Haywood’s first campaign.  MU – Haywood said Miami was definitely going for the touchdown on fourth down and less than a yard near the Florida goal line early in the fourth quarter. An unsportsmanlike penalty flag against Miami pushed the ball back and the RedHawks had to settle for a field goal. “We were going for it. The play was already called,” Haywood said.