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UMass took the lead with 40 seconds left. Miami (Ohio) had other plans.

UMass took the lead with 40 seconds left. Miami (Ohio) had other plans.

Dom Dzioban hit a 43-yard line drive field goal in overtime as Miami (Ohio) defeated UMass 23-20 on Saturday in Oxford, Ohio.

Fueled by a double-option running game with quarterback Taisun Phommachanh and running back CJ Hester, the Minutemen (1-4) scored 10 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to take a 20-17 lead thanks to Jacob Lurie’s 23-yard field Goal with 40 seconds remaining.

But Miami (1-3) mounted a six-play, 47-yard drive, setting up a 46-yard field goal by Dzioban with four seconds left. Dzioban’s kick went through the posts and sent the game into overtime.

UMass got the ball first in overtime after Miami opted for a delay. Twice the Minutemen appeared to have a first down – Jacobie Keeney-James was tackled inside the 1-yard line on a back-shoulder catch – only to have both eliminated by a penalty, leaving UMass on the 26th minute Places 4 and 11. Lurie’s 44-yard attempt had the distance but sailed wide right.

The Redhawks failed to gain any yards on their overtime possession, but Dzioban did get his second kick of the game.

Keeney-James caught UMass’ first touchdown, a 64-yard bomb from Phammachanh late in the first quarter that tied the game at 7-7. Both teams traded field goals in the second quarter, with Lurie scoring from 45 yards for a 10-7 lead before Dzioban tied it with a 37-yarder.

The Redhawks took the lead late in the third quarter with a 7-yard touchdown pass from Brett Gabbert, brother of former NFL quarterback Blaine Gabbert, to Javon Tracy. That 17-10 lead held until Hester scored a 1-yard touchdown with 8:11 to play.


Henry Dinh-Price can be reached at [email protected].