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UNO Football Suffers Setback in Overtime

Box Score

Oct. 17, 2009

Written by Michael Wagenheim (UNO Athletics) Saturday 17 October, 2009 11:00PM

NEW ORLEANS- The University of New Orleans football team came close time after time, but were unable to put away Miami (OH) University, who came from behind to take a 27-21 overtime win at Tad Gormley Stadium on Saturday night.  

Special teams miscues and a dropped pass that would have won the game at the end of regulation sunk UNO, as the Redhawks' Damon Buente ran for a 19-yard touchdown in the extra period to keep Miami (4-1/4-0 MCFC) ahead of the Privateers (3-2/1-1 MCFC) in the Midwestern Club Football Conference standings.  

Miami took a first quarter lead on Lance Frank's two-yard touchdown pass to Travis Clark with 7:15 on the clock. The score was set up when UNO punter Paul Sacco was ruled to have gone down on his right knee to scoop up a low snap, giving Miami possession at the UNO 5-yard line. John Affourtit added the extra point.  

Less than a minute later, New Orleans struck, as Chris Brady (Southern Miss/Holy Cross) tossed a 55-yard touchdown pass to Josh Giambelluca (John Ehret). Adam Bayer's (Brother Martin) point after tied the game at 7-7 with 6:20 left in the opening quarter.  

After several punts back and forth, UNO linebacker Andrew Dinett (Rummel) forced a Miami fumble and pounced on it, giving UNO possession at the Miami 43-yard line. Six plays later, Brady chucked a 28-yard pass to wide receiver Akeem Davis (McDonogh 35) for a touchdown. Bayer's extra point made it 14-7 in favor of UNO with 10:15 left in the second quarter.  

The Privateers were in prime position to score again after Redhawk punter Noah Hill shanked one out of bounds at his own 13-yard line. UNO was unable to convert, and Bayer had a 29-yard field goal attempt blocked. The Privateers would retain their seven-point lead at the half.  

On their opening possession of the second half, UNO marched 82 yards in 16 plays, chopping 7:56 off the clock as running back Josh Preston (Mesquite) ran in from the 3-yard line for a touchdown. With the extra point, UNO led 21-7 with 3:45 remaining in the third quarter.  

However, after forcing Miami into a three-and-out, UNO misplayed a punt back into their own end zone, where MU's Taisuke Miyamae recovered it for a touchdown. After Affourtit's point after, the UNO lead was at 21-14 with 2:08 showing on the third quarter clock.  

A low snap on a UNO punt forced punter Paul Sacco (De La Salle) to scramble, resulting in a turnover on downs with about 10:00 left in regulation. Miami was again forced to punt after three plays, but UNO couldn't move the ball and Sacco had his next punt deflected, giving Miami the ball at UNO's 25-yard line. Miami again failed to convert, but UNO elected to go for a 4th and 1 from their own 29-yard line with 3:31 remaining and were stopped short.  

Miami quarterback Campbell Stemper connected with Clark for an 11-yard touchdown with just 46 seconds remaining. The point after tied the game at 21-21. UNO's Preston did carry the ball for 35 yards on the next possession, setting UNO up at MU's 35-yard line with 4 seconds left. But Brady's pass to an open Davis was dropped in the end zone, forcing overtime.  

In the extra period, UNO failed to record a first down. Miami took over and, on a 3rd and 4 from the 19-yard line, handed the ball to Buente, who ran up the middle and bounced off several would-be tacklers on his way to paydirt.  

Brady finished the game 18-of-36 with 223 yards, along with two touchdowns and an interception. Preston ran the ball 20 times for 87 yards, with fullback Robert Jones (Ednar Karr) rushing nine times for 32 yards. Davis hauled in four catches, totaling 86 yards. Giambelluca racked up 92 yards on six receptions.  

The loss cost UNO first place in the MCFC. The Privateers will next visit Texas-Arlington, who the Privateers defeated 13-3 on opening weekend in New Orleans. Kickoff is set for next Saturday at 3 p.m. in Arlington.