OXFORD – Ohio’s offense struggled as Miami rolled to a 30-20 victory in the 100th edition of the Battle of the Bricks on Saturday at Yeager Stadium.

The RedHawks built a 16-0 halftime lead and took a 30-6 advantage into the fourth quarter. The Bobcats finished with just 291 yards of offense and nearly half of those came in the last period after the game was decided.

Ohio’s own defense kept it close for a while. It held Miami (3-4, 2-1 Mid-American Conference) to a Dom Dzioban 28-yard field goal in the first quarter, but the offense did not pick up a first down on its first four possessions.

Eventually that led to a relatively short field for the RedHawks, and they capitalized with the game’s first touchdown on a Brett Gabbert 14-yard touchdown pass to Reggie Virgil with 8:18 left before halftime.

The Bobcats (4-3, 2-1 MAC) followed their first three first downs, moving to the Miami 32-yard line, but Parker Navarro was intercepted by Raion Strader, who returned the ball into Ohio territory. The RedHawks used up most of the remaining time in the half on a drive that ended with Gabbert throwing an 8-yard scoring pass to Javon Tracy. The extra point failed, leaving it at 16-0.

Finally, Ohio got on the scoreboard on the opening drive of the second half. Anthony Tyus III scored on a 1-yard run, but a two-point conversion pass failed, keeping Miami ahead by two scores.

The Bobcats got the ball back with a chance to get closer, but they quickly punted to begin a disaster two minutes to end the quarter. Keyon Mozee went 58 yards on the first play from scrimmage following that, and on the first play after Navarro was intercepted by Matt Salopek, Gabbert threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to Cade McDonald to make it 30-6.

Backup quarterback Nick Poulos led a pair of touchdown drives in the fourth quarter for Ohio. Nolan McCormick scored on a 1-yard run with 5:58 left in the game, and then, with just six seconds left, Poulos added an 11-yard rushing touchdown.

Navarro was just 13-of-22 passing for 88 yards and two interceptions and ran 11 times for 38 yards. Poulos went 9-of-21 passing for 93 yards and ran seven times for 29 yards. Ohio got little production from its running backs, who combined for 43 yards on 15 carries.

Rodney Harris II made seven catches for 82 yards, while Chase Hendricks had five receptions for 50 yards.

Gabbert was 14-of-21 passing for 178 yards and three touchdowns. Mozee ran 16 times for 111 yards. McDonald had five catches for 84 yards.

Ohio has its final home Saturday game when it hosts Buffalo at noon Saturday at Peden Stadium on CBS Sports Network.