Little brother has grown up– almost. The Miami RedHawks gave the Ohio State Buckeyes everything they could handle Saturday before OSU pulled away late to win, 27-16. The win improved OSU to 3-0 on the year, but it was far from pretty.The Bucks showed the signs of a high powered offense by amassing 467 total yards but struggled to get the ball into the end zone. Penalties hampered OSU for the third week in a row, but the Bucks were able to escape behind two touchdowns by Jonathan Wells, a costly Miami penalty and three fourth quarter interceptions to preserve a victory before a record crowd of 96,721.”It’s good to win a football game,” said Ohio State coach John Cooper. “I think we beat a real sound, well coached football team. I could get up here and alibi about the way we played, moan and complain and all that stuff. But rather, I want to give Miami credit.”Miami coach Terry Hoeppner said his RedHawks took no joy in merely keeping the game close.”I am very disappointed we did not win this football game,” he said. “We expected to win this game, so I don’t want to hear anything about any moral victories. That’s not what we do.”Derek Combs rushed 21 times for 142 yards and Jonathan Wells carried the ball 17 times for 113 yards to lead the Bucks. Steve Bellisari was effective through the air at times, but only completed 13 of 30 passes for 194 yards and one touchdown.With the score tied 3-3 late in the second quarter, thanks to 49-yard field goals by both teams, the RedHawks shocked the crowd by sustaining an eight-play, 85-yard drive that resulted in a touchdown. Miami quarterback Mike Bath found Sly Johnson on a flag pass for 26 yards and Miami went ahead 10-3 with 2:25 left on the clock.It did not take long for Ohio State to respond as they drove 65 yards in 35 seconds to even the score. A 35-yard bullet from Bellisari to Chad Cacchio completed the drive. Cacchio has only four catches on the year but has scored a team-high three touchdowns through the air.Boos resonated from Ohio Stadium at half-time as the Bucks left the field tied with Miami. Both coaches were frustrated with the play of the first half. Cooper said he was disappointed the Bucks hurt themselves with devastating and at times stupid penalties. Hoeppner said Miami failed to execute their game plan. “I really felt we should have been up two touchdowns at the half,” Hoeppner said. “It’s a game that we let get away from us regardless of the opponent. We knew they were going to come back in the second half and they got some points on us early.”Ken-Yon Rambo opened the second half by returning the kickoff 30 yards before he was shoved out of bounds. When the RedHawks were called for a personal foul on the play, for hitting Rambo late, and the Bucks started the possesion on their own 45 to start the second half. Despite the great field possession, the ensuing 10-play drive ended in a Dan Stultz 28-yard field goal. This time the Bucks were ahead for good.On OSU’s next possession Jonathan Wells scampered 19 yards for a touchdown, capping off a 58-yard drive. Wells added his second score after OSU accepted a roughing the kicker penalty, giving the Bucks a fresh set of downs from the 2. On second-and-goal Wells outran the Miami defense and blazed passed the pylon for the Bucks’ final touchdown.”I knew we were going to have to get to that pylon,” Wells said. “That’s all I was looking at. I wasn’t looking at anything inside. I just wanted to use my speed and get it to the pylon.”The RedHawks refused to give up, primarily because of Bath and his ability to make plays. He attacked OSU’s secondary, completing 21 of 48 passes and throwing for 2 touchdowns. Bath rushed 11 times for 105 yards, 40 of them coming on one play. He rushed over his right end, broke for the sideline and had the endzone in his sights, but strong safety Mike Doss caught Bath by the shoelaces, bringing the Miami quarterback down at the 2. Miami failed to get six on their next three plays, as Doss made a nice open-field tackle on Bath to deny the RedHawks on third down, and OSU dodged a bullet when kicker Andy Brumbergs’ field goal attempt was wide left.”I don’t know if I have seen a more courageous performance by a football player than what Bath did today,” Cooper said. “He did a great job running the offense, a great job of running with the ball.”However the play of Bath was not enough to prevent the Bucks from winning the game and head into conference play with a perfect record.Ohio State opens the Big Ten season against coach Joe Paterno and his Penn State squad next week. Kickoff is set for noon Saturday at Ohio Stadium, and the game will be televised nationally by ABC.