Sometimes statistics don't tell the whole story of a football game, but in Miami's 45-21 victory over of the Bobcats Saturday, they did.

On a cold, damp day at Peden Stadium, a near-capacity crowd witnessed pure domination.

The Bobcats found themselves on the short end of nearly every statistical category. The RedHawks had 23 more first downs, 204 more yards passing, 149 more yards rushing, one less turnover and five less punts than the Bobcats.

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Miami's Travis Prentice managed to allude the Bobcat defense throughout the game, running for 277 yards and two touchdowns.

Miami's two leading offensive stars, quarterback Sam Ricketts and running back Travis Prentice, rolled over an out-manned Ohio defense. Prentice gained 227 yards on 41 carries, while Ricketts completed 16 of 28 passes for 254 yards.

"We've just got to put it behind us," nose guard Geno Walsh said.

The game didn't have a large bearing on Mid-American Conference playoff implications. Marshall beat Bowling Green 28-0 in Huntington, W.Va., which sets up this Saturday's Ohio-Marshall game as the game that will decide the MAC East Champion.

And throughout, the Bobcats might have had that in mind.

The RedHawks' first two drives ended in a missed field goal and an interception, but the Bobcat offense responded with a combined minus six yards on its first two drives.

From then on, it was a game of catch-up for Ohio.

Ricketts hit receiver Trevor Gaylor for a 24-yard touchdown pass shortly before the end of the first quarter, and 57 seconds into the second quarter, Prentice broke through several Ohio tackles for a 25-yard touchdown run.

"When they run and throw effectively, you really get into a roll the dice defense," Ohio coach Jim Grobe said. "You try to be tough on the run game and they throw the football on you. You can run the dime defense, then they'll run at you, so there's no real way to stop them."

The Bobcats drove 83 yards on their next drive, as backup fullback Joe Fondale scored his first career touchdown on a six-yard run.

Then linebacker Tom Smith intercepted Ricketts on Miami's next possession and returned it to the one-yard line. Ohio quarterback Kareem Wilson tied the game at 14-14 with the one-yard dive.

Miami's offense wouldn't allow the game to get any closer. Ricketts had three touchdown passes in the second half, and Prentice broke the MAC single-season rushing touchdown record in the fourth quarter with his 21st of the season and second of the game to put it out of reach.

"Travis Prentice is as good as any kid in the country. You get him inside the 10, he finds a way," Miami coach Randy Walker said. "I can't be prouder of our kids. We beat an awfully good football team. This is as good as I've ever felt after a victory."

While the Miami offense had its way with Ohio's defense, the Bobcat option offense struggled as well. Ohio's leading rusher on the day was Kaheem Maxwell, who had only one carry for 61 yards. Two weeks after not even attempting a pass, the Bobcats were forced to throw the ball 11 times Saturday to help jump start a sputtering offense.