South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Sunday)
Big gains for short-handed ’Canes
UM wins in thriller despite being without 13 players
BLACKSBURG, VA. — Another weekend, another exhilarating come-from-behind ACC road win for the Miami Hurricanes settled in the final minutes — despite the team having double-digit players unavailable.
Quarterback D’Eriq King connected with Mark Pope for the winning touchdown strike with under six minutes to play and the defense, after struggling early, held late in a
25-24 victory for No. 9 Miami on Saturday at Lane Stadium. The Hurricanes won despite being without 13 players due to COVID-19 concerns, many on the offensive line and defensive front.
“The resilience of this team week in and week out is special,” said UM coach Manny Diaz, who revealed after the game that the Hurricanes were on the brink of being unable to play. “Some of the things that we encountered this week and some of the things that we had to overcome this week just to get here, just to play, and the attitude that our guys kept, the way that they wanted to go play, I’m so proud of them.
“They, week in and week out, with all the adversity that they have to face, find a way to make it. They play for each other so hard.”
Miami (7-1, 6-1 ACC) won its fourth straight game and got another crucial conference victory on the road after winning a thriller at North Carolina State last week. Virginia Tech fell to 4-4, 4-3 in the ACC.
King was 24 of 38 for
255 yards, including the late touchdown to Pope, and added a rushing score. His top target was junior wideout Dee Wiggins, who rebounded from a costly early drop to go for eight receptions and 106 yards.
Virginia Tech quarterback Hendon Hooker was 18 of
28 for 207 yards and added
53-yard rushing touchdown. Running back Jalen Holston added two touchdowns for the Hokies to make up for lead back Khalil Herbert, an American Heritage grad, being limited with a hamstring injury.
Without two starters on its offensive line, Miami surrendered six sacks to Virginia Tech, many on crucial third downs. UM also had six sacks of its own, with defensive end Jaelan Phillips providing 2 and striker Gilbert Frierson two.
The Hurricanes took their only lead when King found Pope, who finished with four receptions for 50 yards, over the middle for the 36-yard touchdown with 5:59 to play. They failed on the ensuing 2-point conversion attempt, trying to turn a one-point lead to a three-point cushion.
“I just saw everybody blitzing, King looked at me, gave me a signal and made it happen,” Pope said. “It actually felt great putting the team on my back for a moment like that. [Michael] Harley did it the last time [at N.C. State].”
Added King: “I knew Pope was going to win [on his route], and he did. He did a great job getting to the end zone.”
Cornerback Te’Cory Couch, who got his first start on Saturday and was dominant on the nickel blitz throughout the game, came up with an interception on the following play from scrimmage.
“My guy ran a post, so I was kind of shocked that [Hooker] threw it,” Couch said, “but when I saw him throw it, I just tried to make a play on the ball.”
Miami went three-andout on two ensuing possessions, not burning much time after Couch’s takeaway and giving the Hokies two more opportunities to win.
On Virginia Tech’s first chance that followed, after Bradley Jennings Jr. nearly intercepted a pass in Hokies territory, Hooker slipped to the ground on a third-and-15, forcing Virginia Tech to punt.
The Hokies’ last drive saw them go from their own 4-yard line to around midfield but ended as they tried a final play with three laterals as time expired and Kaleb Smith was tackled near the UM sideline by Phillips and Gurvan Hall.
Trailing 24-13 deep into the third quarter, the Hurricanes scored on a Cam’Ron Harris 6-yard rushing touchdown up the middle. Harris finished with 63 yards on 14 carries.
They tried for a 2-point conversion to get within 3, but an odd play in which King threw to offensive tackle Zion Nelson, who wasn’t even reported as eligible, came up short. The Hokies led, 24-19, going into the fourth quarter.
Virginia Tech extended a one-point halftime lead with an 11-play, 74-yard drive on its first offensive series of the second half. Holston carried Miami defenders on a 19-yard rush to the 1-yard line before punching it in on the following play for his second touchdown, giving the Hokies a 21-13 lead. They added a Brian Johnson
38-yard field goal later in the third quarter.
Down 14-3 in the second quarter, Miami cut its deficit to 14-13 at halftime.
The Hurricanes got a much-needed touchdown from King on a 10-yard run that pulled UM within
14-10 with 5:11 left in the second quarter. On the play before, King connected with Wiggins for a 20-yard gain on a corner route to the UM sideline. Wiggins impressively came down with it between the Hokies’ cornerback and safety on that side, making up for an earlier drop that could have resulted in a touchdown over the middle. Jose Borregales booted a 40-yard field with four seconds left before halftime to make it 14-13.
Virginia Tech scored first Saturday on a 53-yard touchdown run from Hooker. It followed a pass interference called on Miami cornerback Al Blades Jr. that quickly advanced the Hokies near midfield on a drive that started on their own 13-yard line, following a 58-yard punt from Lou Hedley.
After slipping up early, the Hurricanes defense was able to contain Hooker.
“I got to give all the credit to Hendon Hooker. I think he’s a great quarterback,” said Phillips, who finished with eight tackles, 4 for loss, and 2 sacks. “In the first half, had a couple mistakes — I know I had a couple mistakes — but then just honing in, really just sticking to the game plan and just kind of taking a deep breath and relaxing and playing ‘Canes football like we know how.”
Miami got three of those points back on a 42-yard field goal from Borregales before the end of the first quarter and trailed 7-3 after one.
UM missed an opportunity for points on its opening drive. Lining up for what would have been a 47-yard field goal for the reliable Borregales, the Hurricanes instead tried a fake. Needing three yards, Borregales came up with just two on the run, resulting in a turnover on downs.
Virginia Tech scored again when an 8-yard Holston touchdown run capped a seven-play, 80-yard drive that put the Hokies up, 14-3, in the middle of the second quarter before UM finished the half with 10 unanswered points.
Key players unavailable for the Hurricanes included linebacker Zach McCloud, defensive tackle Jared Harrison-Hunte, left tackle John Campbell, left guard Jakai Clark and additional defensive linemen that provide depth when available, including end Jahfari Harvey, a rotational player up front.
Among players they returned was star tight end Brevin Jordan, who had two catches for 22 yards.
Miami returns home to host Georgia Tech next Saturday. The Yellow Jackets’ game against Pittsburgh this week was postponed as both teams were dealing with COVID-19 issues.