Central State (Ohio) used a balanced offensive attack and a relentless defensive effort to defeat Miles 48–20, pulling away for a decisive victory behind four touchdown passes from quarterback Jackson Wasik and three rushing touchdowns.
The Marauders totaled 426 yards of offense, including 269 passing yards and 157 rushing yards, while forcing two fumbles and recording six sacks. Miles finished with 353 total yards but struggled to keep pace with Central State’s explosive scoring attack.
Central State scored 14 points in the first quarter, added 13 in the second, and extended its advantage in the second half to secure the 28-point win.
Wasik Leads Central State’s Offensive Surge
Wasik delivered the game’s standout performance, completing 16 of 23 passes for 269 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. He also contributed 41 rushing yards and a touchdown on seven carries.
The Central State quarterback connected with four different receivers for touchdowns, including Damon Griffin Jr., Tyler Wright, Avantae Burt and Nicholas Smith Jr.
Griffin Jr. led the Marauders with five receptions for 79 yards and a touchdown. Burt added two catches for 66 yards, including a 48-yard touchdown reception late in the third quarter that pushed Central State’s lead to 34–13.
Smith Jr. finished with two receptions for 50 yards and a touchdown, while Wright hauled in a five-yard scoring pass in the second quarter.
On the ground, Isaiah Thompson paced Central State with 83 yards on 15 carries. Jahmar Richardson scored twice on short rushing touchdowns, adding to the Marauders’ three rushing scores.
Central State’s Defense Delivers Six Sacks
The Marauders’ defense played a significant role in the victory, recording six sacks for 30 yards lost and forcing Miles into two lost fumbles.
Joe Hudson led the defensive effort with 13 total tackles, four tackles for loss, three sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Harrison Bradley added seven tackles, half a sack and a forced fumble.
Travion Searcy also intercepted a pass, helping Central State limit Miles to 210 passing yards and no passing touchdowns.
Miles quarterback Brinley Vandiver completed 11 of 18 passes for 106 yards and an interception. Anthony Mix completed seven of 11 attempts for 104 yards, while also rushing for two touchdowns.
Miles Fights Back, but Central State Maintains Control
Miles opened the scoring with Rourke Davis’ 24-yard field goal, but Central State responded with a six-yard touchdown pass from Wasik to Griffin Jr. and a 14-yard touchdown run by Wasik to take a 14–3 lead after the first quarter.
The Marauders extended their advantage to 27–3 in the second quarter with a touchdown pass to Wright and Richardson’s first rushing score. Mix’s one-yard touchdown run just before halftime cut the deficit to 27–10.
Davis added a 37-yard field goal in the third quarter to bring Miles within 14 points. However, Wasik answered with the 48-yard touchdown strike to Burt, restoring Central State’s three-score cushion at 34–13.
Richardson scored his second rushing touchdown early in the fourth quarter. Mix responded with an eight-yard touchdown run to make it 41–20, but Wasik’s 16-yard touchdown pass to Smith Jr. sealed the 48–20 victory with 3:50 remaining.
Team Statistics
Team Statistics
| Statistic | CSU | M C |
|---|---|---|
| FIRST DOWNS | ||
| Total | 23 | 17 |
| Rushing | 10 | 8 |
| Passing | 11 | 8 |
| Penalty | 2 | 1 |
| RUSHING | ||
| Total (Net) | 157 | 143 |
| Attempts | 32 | 43 |
| Avg. Per Rush | 4.9 | 3.3 |
| Rushing TDs | 3 | 2 |
| Yds. Gained | 186 | 177 |
| Yds. Lost | 29 | 34 |
| PASSING | ||
| Total (Net) | 269 | 210 |
| Comp.-Att.-Int. | 16-23-1 | 18–29-1 |
| Avg. / Att. | 11.7 | 7.2 |
| Avg. / Comp. | 16.8 | 11.7 |
| TDs | 4 | 0 |
| TOTAL OFFENSE | ||
| Yards | 426 | 353 |
| Plays | 55 | 72 |
| Avg. / Play | 7.7 | 4.9 |
| Fumbles – Lost | 0-0 | 2–2 |
| Penalties – Yds. | 6–45 | 4-17 |
| PUNTING | ||
| Punts – Yds. | 2-62 | 3–129 |
| Avg. / Punt | 31 | 43 |
| Inside 20 | 1 | 1 |
| 50+ Yds. | 0 | 1 |
| Touchbacks | 0 | 1 |
| Fair Catch | 0 | 0 |
| KICKOFFS | ||
| Total – Yds. | 8–502 | 5-278 |
| Avg. Yds. / Kickoff | 62.8 | 55.6 |
| Touchbacks | 3 | 0 |
| RETURNS | ||
| Punt: Total – Yds. – TDs | 1–30-0 | 0-0-0 |
| Punt: Avg. / Return | 30.0 | NaN |
| Kickoff: Total – Yds. – TDs | 4-124-0 | 5-107-0 |
| Kickoff: Avg. / Return | 31.0 | 21.4 |
| INT: Total – Yds. – TDs | 1-0-0 | 1-26-0 |
| Fumble: Total – Yds. – TDs | 1-0-0 | 0-0-0 |
| MISCELLANEOUS | ||
| Misc. Yards | 0 | 0 |
| Poss. Time | 25:44 | 34:16 |
| 3rd. Down Conv. | 4 of 7 | 7 of 18 |
| 4th. Down Conversions | 1 of 1 | 2 of 2 |
| Red-Zone: Scores – Chances | 6–6 | 4-5 |
| Sacks: Total – Yds. | 6–30 | 1-18 |
| PAT: Total – Made | 6–7 | 2-2 |
| Field Goals: Total – Made | 0-0 | 2–2 |
Despite possessing the ball for more than 34 minutes, Miles could not overcome Central State’s efficiency. The Marauders averaged 7.7 yards per play, converted all six of their red-zone scoring opportunities and capitalized on Miles’ two lost fumbles.
What the Win Means
Central State improved to 5–3 overall and 5–1 in SIAC play, strengthening its position in the conference race. Miles fell to 3–5 overall and 3–3 in conference action.
The victory showcased Central State’s ability to win in multiple ways: Wasik’s four touchdown passes powered the passing game, the rushing attack produced three scores, and a six-sack defensive performance helped keep Miles from mounting a sustained comeback.
