On a day where the offense missed on several opportunities to make big plays, the defense as able to pick up the slack in Miles' 16-7 Homecoming win over Central State Saturday at Sloan-Alumni Stadium. The win was the third straight for the first place Golden Bears (3-2, 3-0 SIAC), who have now won all five meetings at home against the Marauders (1-4, 1-3).

Lashon Young picked off two more passes to give him a SIAC-high four interceptions, Miles had seven tackles for loss and CSU had just 183 yards of total offense - just 82 of them coming after the first quarter. Miles forced five three-and-outs and both interceptions occurred on on third-down passes. This was the first time Miles had given up less than 200 yards in offense since allowing just 129 yards to Benedict in a 20-3 loss in 2022. The previous time it happened in a win was against this same Central State program in 2021, when the Marauders had only 128 yard in a 55-4 defeat.

Central State had very little issue moving the ball in the opening quarter but did not have much to show for it. An issue on a punt turned into a penalty on the Golden Bears and set CSU up at the Miles 12. Two plays - and three missed tackles later - Javarus Leach was in the end zone for a 7-yard touchdown run that gave the Marauders a 7-0 advantage. CSU was poised to increase that lead on its next drive but a botched snap on a field goal attempt thwarted a scoring drive and Miles took advantage.

Playing without SIAC leading rusher Jonero Scott, Miles turned to a committee of running backs to fill the void. Javonta Leatherwood took immediate advantage, bursting through the line for a 54-yard run late in the first quarter to flip the field. As the second quarter began, the sophomore tailback finished the drive with a 4-yard scoring jaunt to tie the score. He finished the game with 126 yards rushing on 15 carries as the Golden Bears racked up 220 yards on the ground.

Roderick Smith booted a 35-yard field goal with 5:49 left in the first half that gave the Golden Bears a 10-7 halftime advantage. But the passing game was unable to get untracked for a good portion of the game. Dropped passes were a big concern but missed receivers who had gotten open became an issue as well. Miles would change quarterbacks to start the second half and Khalil Anglin would throw his first touchdown pass of the season on the opening drive - a 12-yard toss to Jaih Andrews (four catches, 38 yards), who powered his way through a mass of CSU defenders for the final three yards into the end zone.

While the offense was unable to build on the lead, the defense made sure Central State was not going to make that an issue. The Marauders did not run an offensive play on the Miles side of the field in the second half until there was less than a minute to play in the game. That drive finished with a game-ending sack my Matthew Yofondo - one of three on the game for the Golden Bears.

Jeremiah Hudson-Davis had a game-high 11 tackles (eight solo) and a sack, Keith Green had 10 tackles, and Zion Sharpe had six tackles (including a tackle for loss) to pace the defensive attack for the Golden Bears, who host Albany State next Saturday. Kickoff is slated for 2 p.m.