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Orlando, Fl – The rain started two hours before the 3:30 pm EST kickoff at FBC Mortgage Stadium in Orlando, Florida for the Avocados from Mexico Cure Bowl. The Mid-American Conference Champion Miami of Ohio RedHawks battled the SunBelt runners-up, Appalachian State Mountaineers. Every single yard was hard-fought as the Mountaineers beat the RedHawks, 13-9.
To open the contest, the Redhawks showed some of what made them the seventh-best defense in points allowed under head coach Chuck Martin. Appalachian State’s quarterback, Joey Aguilar’s first pass of the game was intercepted by Yahsyn McKee on the Mountaineers’ 41 yard-line. App State managed to hold the Hawks to three points on a 34-yard Graham Nicholson field goal after the game’s first turnover.
After the 13-9 win at the @curebowl, @appstate_fb’s Nick Ross talked about the defense’s impact in a contest where both teams combined for 11 fumbles and an inch of rain in the time it was played. #GoApp #CureBowl Powered by @3ptcnvrsn pic.twitter.com/3mtuuzypK7
— Kyle Nash (@TheSoTG) December 17, 2023
Aguilar and company immediately redeemed themselves by completing a 52-yard pass to Kaedin Robinson. Michael Hughe booted in a short 29-yard field goal to complete the drive and tie the game up. Despite an entire inch of rain falling on the field during the game, Robinson would still finish with nine catches for 118 yards.
The torrential downpour was a constant looming factor. It was no wonder the game would finish with 11 total fumbles from both sides. For every Mountaineer drop or mishandling of the football, Apps State would gash the RedHawks for a big play when a would-be tackler would lose their grip. After the first quarter ended in a 3-3 tie, Hughes booted in another 22-yard kick to make it 6-3 in the second quarter.
The weather struck twice for ‘Hawks’ running back Rashad Amos. He muffed two handoffs in the second quarter that were recovered by Nick Ross and Santana Hopper of App State. However, the Mountaineers turned the ball over on downs in the RedHawks red zone on both opportunities leaving the score 6-3 at halftime.
During the 13-9 loss at the @CureBowl, @MiamiOHFootball’s Rasheed Amos ran for 180 yards to turn break the 1,000 yard mark for the season. #RiseUpRedHawks #CureBowl Powered by @3ptCnvrsn pic.twitter.com/kupGvmbJNX
— Kyle Nash (@TheSoTG) December 17, 2023
The first touchdown was finally scored on a nine-yard run in the third quarter by Aguilar to extend the lead, 13-3 and secure him Player of the Game honors. Aguilar would finish the game completing 18 of his 32 passes for 211 yards, a rushing touchdown and an interception.
Later in the quarter, the RedHawks’ Matt Salopek recovered a Kanye Roberts fumble that Miami OH turned into a 23-yard touchdown run by Amos. After a failed PAT, the Mountaineers still led heading into the final quarter, 13-9. However, both teams failed to score in the remaining 15 minutes.
Amos finished the contest with 33 carries for 180 yards, the game’s final touchdown, and two fumbles. His performance completed a 1,000-yard rushing season and left him scoring in 10 of Miami OH’s past 11 games.
Not to be outdone, the Mountaineers’ Anderson Castle made his impact on the ground as well delivering 119 yards on 20 carries.
Both coaches will return to work to hit the recruiting trail during this busy time of year for the college football season.
