Corn Elder returns to the site of ‘The Return.’
DURHAM, N.C. — Around him, his former Miami teammates went through warmups. Behind him, a sizable contingent of Hurricanes fans cheered his presence. And as he stood on the same sideline that two years ago erupted in pure joy when he scored one of the most improbable touchdowns in program history, Corn Elder smiled broadly.
“When I first walked into the stadium, it brought back all the memories,” said Elder, now with the Carolina Panthers. I can remember the play from start to finish. Definitely a lot of memories here.”
Elder may have called it ‘the play,’ but it has become known as “The Return” in Miami lore. It played out last time the Hurricanes came to Durham when in the game’s final seconds, Elder scored on a 75-yard kickoff return that was only possible because the Hurricanes kept the ball alive with the help of eight laterals.
The play wasn’t without controversy, with the ACC suspending the officiating crew that let the touchdown stand despite questions about whether Mark Walton’s knee touched the ground before one of the laterals and whether there was a penalty on the play.
UItimately, though, the touchdown was upheld. And Miami — coming off an emotional week that included the worst loss in program history, the midseason firing of former coach Al Golden and the team rallying around a grieving Artie Burns, who lost his mother days before the game — notched a 30-27 upset of then-No. 22 Duke.
Six of the 11 players that were on the field for that play are still on Miami’s roster, including Walton, safety Jaquan Johnson, safety Sheldrick Redwine, tight end Chris Herndon, receiver Lawrence Cager and linebacker Charles Perry.
As to how fans in North Carolina have received the player who scored on that memorable play? Elder says most have been kind.
“A lot of people talk about the play,” Elder laughed. “They hate that it happened, but they still enjoy watching it and everything.”
Elder wasn’t the only former Hurricane at Friday night’s game.
Quarterback Brad Kaaya — who was sidelined in that 2015 game with a concussion — was at Wallace Wade, too. Kaaya also is with the Panthers this season.
Harris suspended
Just before kickoff, Miami announced it was suspending receiver Dayall Harris for three games, starting Friday against the Blue Devils. The school said Harris had violated an unspecified team rule.
Harris, a redshirt junior, is slated to miss next week’s game at Florida State and the Oct. 14 game against Georgia Tech.
He has two catches for 16 yards this season, including a 10-yard touchdown in last week’s 52-30 win over Toledo.
Richards returns
Receiver Ahmmon Richards, who missed the first two games of the season with a hamstring injury, returned to action Friday against the Blue Devils.
Richards had 934 receiving yards last season, breaking Michael Irvin’s 31-year-old freshman receiving record and earning Freshman All-American honors.
He had two catches for 57 yards in the first half against the Blue Devils.
Carolina kid comes up big
Earlier this week, Braxton Berrios — a Raleigh native — joked he was having a hard time coming up with enough tickets for all the friends and family members that wanted to be at Friday’s game.
The receiver put on a show early for those that managed to make it to Wallace Wade.
Berrios scored the game’s opening touchdown on a 27-yard pass from Malik Rosier and had another big play — a 25-yard catch in the second quarter — that helped set up a Miami field goal.