Miami holds Central Michigan to three points in 52-3 win

Central Michigan struck first with a field goal, but Miami scored the next 52 points in a 52-3 win Saturday at Hard Rock Stadium. Darian Mensah threw three touchdown passes and ran for another as the Hurricanes took a 35-3 lead into halftime. Miami’s defense held the Chippewas without another point and forced three turnovers. The Hurricanes improved to 4-0; Central Michigan fell to 2-2.

Caden VanHuis put Central Michigan ahead with a 49-yard field goal in the first quarter. Miami answered on Javian Mallory’s four-yard touchdown run, then accelerated in the second quarter. Mensah threw scoring passes of 11 yards to Daylyn Upshaw, eight yards to Malachi Toney and 13 yards to Cooper Barkate. His five-yard touchdown run with six seconds left before halftime capped a 28-point quarter. The early 3-0 Central Michigan lead had become a 32-point deficit.

The second half brought another defensive highlight for Miami. Jamal Meriweather recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown in the third quarter. Jake Weinberg added a 33-yard field goal early in the fourth, and Chris Wheatley-Humphrey broke a 35-yard scoring run to complete the total. The Hurricanes scored in every quarter and kept Central Michigan from building on its opening possession.

The final ESPN game record credits Mensah with 23 completions on 27 attempts, 338 passing yards and three touchdown throws. Toney caught six passes for 120 yards and a touchdown. Wheatley-Humphrey ran 11 times for 104 yards and one score. Miami finished with 572 total yards, including 201 rushing yards, and 31 first downs. It did not commit a turnover.

Central Michigan was held to 158 yards and 10 first downs. Its 21 rushing yards underscore how little room the offense found on the ground. The Chippewas went six of 14 on third down, but those conversions did not turn into another scoring drive. They committed three turnovers, compared with none for Miami. The wide gap in yards and giveaways matched the final margin.

The Miami game-day report placed the matchup at Hard Rock Stadium, and the team preview noted it was Miami’s first Saturday game of the season after three weeknight openers. That schedule context gives the result a clear setting. The decisive on-field facts are the unanswered 52 points, Miami’s error-free ball security and a defense that allowed only VanHuis’s early field goal. No unsupported coaching reaction is attributed here. Miami also converted six of nine third downs, keeping its offense on the field when early possessions might otherwise have stalled.