Miami (OH) Redhawks Related Links: Team Page Schedule Stats

Iowa St. Cyclones Related Links: Team Page Schedule Stats

SHREVEPORT, Louisiana (Ticker) -- Stevie Hicks and Bret Meyer ruined Terry Hoeppner's final game at Miami of Ohio.

Hicks ran for a career-high 159 yards and a touchdown and quarterback Meyer added 122 yards on the ground as Iowa State edged Miami of Ohio, 17-13, in the Independence Bowl. On December 17, Hoeppner agreed to fill the coaching vacancy at Indiana. Before this one, RedHawks athletic director Brad Bates announced that offensive coordinator Shane Montgomery will be the team's coach next season.

Miami (8-5), the Mid-American Conference East Division champion, held a 13-10 lead before a 23-yard run from Meyer - the game's Offensive MVP - set up a one-yard TD rush by fullback Ryan Kock with 13:01 remaining.

After multiple fruitless drives by both teams, the RedHawks stuffed Meyer on a 4th-and-1 run at their own 35 with 1:23 remaining. But three plays later, Miami quarterback Josh Betts was intercepted by cornerback Ellis Hobbs, allowing Iowa State to run out the clock.

Miami had won 23 straight games when leading after three quarters.

The RedHawks trailed, 10-0, before Betts connected with Luke Clemens on a 28-yard TD pass with 25 seconds left in the first half. Miami took the lead, 13-10, on a two-yard run by Mike Smith with 8:12 remaining in the third quarter, but Jared Parseghian had his extra-point attempt blocked.

Miami senior Michael Larkin, who had been stabbed earlier in the month, had an eight-yard reception in the fourth quarter to finish his career with an NCAA-record 50 straight games with a catch.

Hoeppner, who had been at Miami since 1986, went 48-25 in six seasons as the team's coach.

Iowa State, which limited its regular-season opponents to 146 rushing yards per game, held Miami to 60. The Cyclones gained 295 yards on the ground.

"We had a real good plan to run the ball," Cyclones coach Dan McCarney said. "Our offensive line did a good job up front - they sustained their blocks the whole game were just extremely physical overall - they were really able to allow our backs to produce some tremendous runs."

Betts completed 20-of-44 passes for 240 yards with one TD and one interception, while Meyer was 10-of-28 for 114 yards.

"We just wanted to do whatever it took for us to win this game," Meyer said. "Our backs stayed patient and waited for the line to make their blocks, and our guys up front opened things up. We wanted to get their linebackers to flow one way while we went the other way. I can't say how well our offensive line played tonight."

Iowa State (7-5) won just its second bowl game in school history.