Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Miami scores last 30 points, beats Virginia
NO. 3 MIAMI 44, VIRGINIA 28
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The undefeated season was slipping away, and so was any realistic chance Miami had of getting into the College Football Playoff and competing for a national championship.
That is, until seven seconds changed everything.
Just like that, a 14-point deficit was gone — and perfection remains within the Hurricanes’ reach.
Malik Rosier threw three touchdown passes and ran for another score, and No. 3 Miami pulled off its biggest comeback in five years by holding off Virginia 44-28 on Saturday to extend the nation’s longest winning streak to 15 games.
“It’s amazing, this train we’re riding right now,” linebacker Shaquille Quarterman said. “We just want to keep it going.”
Jaquan Johnson had an interception return for a touchdown for Miami (10-0, 7-0), which scored the game’s last 30 points. The Hurricanes twice climbed out of two-touchdown-deep holes, snapped a 15- game losing streak in games where it faced deficits of 14 points or more and finished off their first 7-0 home regular-season record since 1988.
“This team believes,” offensive lineman KC McDermott said. “This team believes in our goal and the way we’re going to attack it.”
Kurt Benkert was brilliant for Virginia (6-5, 3-4), completing 28 of 37 passes for 384 yards and 4 touchdowns.
The game started at noon, and it wasn’t until 2:21 p.m. that Benkert took aim at a receiver and missed. He started 18 for 19 for 288 yards and 4 touchdowns in a little over a half, the only incompletion in that span being an intentional one — he threw the ball away to avoid what would have been a sack by Miami’s Chad Thomas.
Benkert’s 20th throw wasn’t incomplete, technically. It was just to the wrong team.
Johnson’s fourth interception of the season became a 30-yard return for a score. It was Miami’s second touchdown in seven seconds after Lawrence Cager hauled in a 9-yard scoring pass from Rosier, a 28-14 Virginia lead was gone — and the Hurricanes left no doubt the rest of the way. Rosier and Travis Homer had touchdown runs in the final 4:03 to close it out for Miami.
“I like the way my team played,” Virginia Coach Bronco Mendenhall said. “We were well prepared, played hard. We had plenty of chances to stage the upset. Came up short.”
In other Top 25 games on Saturday, Baker Mayfield threw for 257 yards and three touchdowns as Oklahoma (10-1, 7-1) defeated Kansas (1-10, 0-8) 41-3 in Lawrence, Kan. … Kelly Bryant threw for 230 yards and three touchdowns and was out of the game before halftime for No. 2 Clemson (10-1) in a 61-3 victory over visiting Citadel (5-6). … Alex Hornibrook threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to A.J. Taylor in third quarter to break open a defensive slugfest, and Kendric Pryor scored on an end-around to help No. 5 Wisconsin (11-0, 8-0) defeat No. 24 Michigan (8-3, 5-3) 24-10 in Madison, Wis. … No. 9 Ohio State (9-2, 7-1) scored on its first six possessions — including J.T. Barrett’s 100th career touchdown pass — and the Buckeyes wrapped up the Big Ten East title with a 52-14 victory over Illinois (2-9, 0-9). … Brandon Wimbush threw for 164 yards and two touchdowns and ran for a score as No. 8 Notre Dame (9-2) rallied in the rain and wind to beat visiting Navy (64) 24-17. … Byron Pringle caught three touchdown passes and returned a kickoff for another score to help Kansas State
(6-5, 4-4) stun No. 13 Oklahoma State
( 8- 3, 5- 3) 45- 40 in Stillwater, Okla. … True freshman quarterback Shawn Robinson ran for 84 yards and threw a key second-half touchdown in his first career start to help No. 12 TCU stay in contention for a spot in the Big 12 championship game with a 27-3 victory over host Texas Tech. While Robinson was only 6-of-17 passing for 85 yards, his 12-yard TD to Jalen Reagor came late in the third quarter as the Horned Frogs (92, 6-2) took a 17-3 lead. The Red Raiders (5-6, 2-6) got their only score on their opening drive of the game. … Saquon Barkley broke No. 10 Penn State’s career touchdown record with three scores and had 208 of 224 total yards in the first half for the Nittany Lions (9-2, 6-2) in a 56-44 victory over visiting Nebraska
(4-7, 3-5). … McKenzie Milton threw four touchdown passes and ran for a score and No. 15 Central Florida (10-0, 7-0) defeated Temple (5-6, 3-4) 45-19. …Darrell Henderson rushed for 147 yards, including two long touchdowns, and Riley Ferguson threw for 320 yards and two scores to help No. 21 Memphis
(9-1, 6-1) wrap up the American Athletic Conference West Division championship with a 66-45 victory over SMU (6-4, 3-4). … LJ Scott ran for 147 yards and a touchdown to lead No. 17 Michigan
State (8-3, 6-2) to a snowy 17-7 victory over visiting Maryland (4-7, 2-6).