Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
QB leads Hurricanes to bowl victory.
Hurricanes’ bowl win is the first in 10 years
ORLANDO — Finally, that maddening streak has come to an end.
California, Wisconsin, Notre Dame, Louisville, South Carolina and Washington State all inflicted their own varying degrees of misery on Miami, handing the storied program six consecutive postseason losses.
But on Wednesday night in Orlando, the Hurricanes weren’t about to let West Virginia do the same.
And so, behind another solid game from quarterback Brad Kaaya and a dominant performance from the defense, the Hurricanes bested their old Big East rival 31-14 in the Russell Athletic Bowl at Camping World Stadium.
The victory was Miami’s first in a bowl game since they edged Nevada 21-20 in the MPC Computers Bowl in 2006, back when many of the current Hurricanes were still in elementary school.
That’s why it was no surprise so many of those Hurricanes and most of the 48,625
fans in Camping World Stadium celebrated at game’s end when the victory was secured and first-year coach Mark Richt was doused with the traditional postgame Gatorade bath that comes with a big win.
“It's awesome. You know, I'm really hoping we can end up in the top 25. I know it's up the voters. We played a great football team and played them well. I'm hoping we can finish there, too,” Richt told ESPN immediately after the game ended. “Bottom line is these guys played their tails off for us and for each other and we're real proud of them.”
Now, some of the biggest questions facing Miami will be whether some of the night’s biggest playmakers will be back next season as the Hurricanes go into a year with momentum for once.
Kaaya, who entered the game generating plenty of buzz as a potential high pick in next year’s draft, is widely expected to bypass his senior year. The same applies for tight end David Njoku. Running back Joe Yearby, meanwhile, posted his intention to leave Miami early on social media when the regular season ended, then deleted his post and hasn’t addressed his future since.
Kaaya said on the television broadcast he expects he’ll make his decision in the coming days.
“Right now I've got some soul searching to do,” Kaaya told ESPN.
If they did play their final game as Hurricanes, the trio did their best to make it count.
Kaaya, who was 24 of 34 for 282 yards and four touchdowns, was named the game’s most valuable player. Njoku, meanwhile, barreled his way into the end zone on a dazzling touchdown in the third quarter that showed every bit of the athleticism and power that has had NFL scouts paying attention to his progress this season. And Yearby, largely relegated to a back-up role this season, got a few key touches late.
As dominant as the Hurricanes (9-4) were late, though, it looked early as if they’d be haunted by some of the offensive woes that stymied them during a midseason, four-game losing streak that knocked them out of the race for the ACC’s Coastal Division crown and kept them from their oftstated goal of playing for the conference title.
During the first quarter, the Hurricanes struggled to run the ball, rushing for just 5 yards. Kaaya, who came into the game as Miami’s all-time leading passer, completed just four passes for 14 yards. And the Hurricanes failed to convert on all four of their first-quarter third-down conversion attempts.
Fortunately for Miami, the Hurricanes’ defense was far more effective early.
The unit held West Virginia to a lone touchdown – a 6-yard run by Kennedy McKoy in the first quarter – and kept the Hurricanes in the game until Kaaya and the offense found their rhythm.
And when Miami’s offense finally came to life, it looked every bit as dangerous as Mountaineers (10-3) coach Dana Holgorsen said it could be in the days leading up to Wednesday night’s matchup.
After five consecutive three-and-outs and a punt from midfield, Kaaya connected with freshman AllAmerican receiver Ahmmon Richards on a 51-yard pass that ignited a Miami scoring barrage.
The Hurricanes scored on their next five possessions, the Richards touchdown followed four minutes later by Kaaya hitting Malcolm Lewis on a 3-yard scoring pass, then connecting with Braxton Berrios for a 26-yard touchdown just before the half.
As the Hurricanes went into their locker room, they took with them a 21-7 lead and an improved stat line from Kaaya, who finished the half having completed 14-of-22 passes for 186 yards and three touchdowns.
Then came Njoku’s 23-yard catch and a 30-yard field goal from Michael Badgley to cap the night.
The defense, meanwhile, held West Virginia to a season-low 95 rushing yards, while chasing down quarterback Skyler Howard throughout the night.
Howard was held to just 134 passing yards and was sacked four times.