Miami conquers Holy Cross 45-7 in home opener
Miami released their inhibitions offensively in a game that was never close.
A week after facing embarrassment at the hands of the Pitt Panthers, the Miami RedHawks (1-1) took it out on the Holy Cross Crusaders (0-3, 0-2 Patriot League), piling up a 42-0 lead into the halftime break before winning comfortably by a final score of 45-7.
The RedHawks posted 473 yards of offense and five touchdowns on the Crusaders in the contest, while also picking up a special teams score thanks to a 23-yard scoop-and-score by Leo Columbi.
Miami quarterback David McComb had four total touchdowns on the night, opening the contest with a three-yard rushing touchdown before airing it out for passing touchdowns on three of the next five possessions. He finished a perfect 13-of-13 on the night for 234 yards and four total touchdowns.
D'Shawntae Jones led the Miami rushing attack with 47 yards and a touchdown, while Lynel Billups-Williams, Christian Ross and Damarion Witten all hauled in receving scores.
Defensively, the unit had four tackles-for-loss and a sack. Malcolm McCain led the RedHawks with five tackles and a solo TFL. Kellan McLaughlin handled his only field goal effectively, kicking it in from 24 yards out.
Holy Cross was held to just 40 yards rushing and 181 yards total on the night, with Lincoln Fisher hauling in a 15-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter from David Lynch to break the shutout.
Lynch finished with 141 yards on 13-of-25 passing. Datrell Jones led the runners with 18 yards on three carries; Joseph Williams had eight carries for 17 yards. Sircharles Gordon led Holy Cross passcatchers with 54 yards on three receptions.
Will Miller led HC with eight tackles and a half-TFL. The defense had two TFLs and one pass break-up as a unit.
Miami now looks forward to a neutral-site game with blood rival Cincinnati at TQL Stadium in downtown Cincy. As of publication, it is the final scheduled game in the Victory Bell rivalry, one of the NCAA's oldest continuous rivalries. Kickoff is scheduled for next Saturday at 3:30 p.m. Eastern time.
Holy Cross, now 0-3, goes back home to Worcester, Massachusetts to host nationally-ranked Yale. Kickoff is scheduled for next Saturday at 2 p.m. Eastern time.
