Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Slow start in trap game
Hurricanes overcome rust for big win over Toledo
MIAMI GARDENS — Three weeks ago, the Miami Hurricanes took the field for their season opener knowing they faced questions.
Though Miami won that game, Hurricane Irma threatened South Florida days later, and threw the Hurricanes season into disarray, forcing the cancellation of one game and the postponement of another.
And on Saturday afternoon, when No. 14 Miami returned to the field for the first time in 21 games, a high-flying, highscoring Toledo team arrived at Hard Rock Stadium hoping to capitalize not only on some of Miami’s issues, but the extended layoff that, at times, made the Hurricanes look rusty.
after enduring some early scares that included their star running back dealing with an ankle injury and an experienced opposing quarterback targeting their inexperienced secondary, the Hurricanes bounced back, found their rhythm and rallied for an emotional 52-30 win over the Rockets.
“That was enough drama for three weeks of football,” Hurricanes coach Mark Richt said. “I’m very impressed with what Toledo did tonight as a football team. We all know the score doesn’t indicate what really happened in that game or how close it was. … Mostly, I’m thankful for the victory. I’m usually that way anyway, but this one in particular, just a little bit more than normal. We’ve been through a lot and it has been an emotional roller coaster for a lot of us.”
It was Miami’s first game since the Sept. 2 opener against Bethune-Cookman and entering the day, both Hurricanes players and coaches stressed they wanted to play well for a community that dealt with extended power outages, damaged homes and business and weeks of Irma-induced turmoil.
Throughout much of the first half, though, the Hurricanes (2-0) looked as sluggish as one might have imagined they would after their layoff.
Though the Hurricanes built a 10-0 first quarter lead on the strength of a 44-yard Mark Walton touchdown and a 19-yard Michael Badgley field goal, Toledo quarterback Logan Woodside — a senior already generating NFL buzz — picked apart Miami’s defense throughout the second quarter.
Woodside, who entered the game coming off a sixtouchdown performance against Tulsa last week, completed 13 of 26 for 213 yards before halftime, his 37-yard touchdown to Jon’Vea Johnson with 3:30 left in the first half giving Toier ledo a 13-10 lead.
The Rockets, who converted on 10 of 14 thirddown opportunities in the first half, extended that lead just before halftime with Jameson Vest connecting on a 32-yard field goal, his third of the day.
Most of the second quarter was an exercise in frustration for Miami, which allowed 16 unanswered points and struggled offensively after Walton left the game with an ankle injury.
But with the Hurricanes reeling, Miami defensive coordinator Manny Diaz had a simple message for his players, writing on the board in the locker room Miami would win the game.
His words provided a spark and proved prophetic.
Walton, who had 137 rushing yards before he was hurt, returned late in the third quarter, but during his second-half absence, backup running back Travis Homer put the Hurricanes back on top for good, his 12-yard touchdown with 5:36 left in the quarter capping an eight-play, 91-yard drive.
It was in that quarter, too, that quarterback Malik RosBut began connecting consistently with his receivers.
Rosier was 8 of 14 in the quarter for 189 yards, his 10-yard touchdown pass to Dayall Harris just before the end of the third putting Miami ahead 24-16 after the extra point.
Rosier then connected with both Braxton Berrios and Chris Herndon on touchdown passes that pushed Miami’s lead to 38-16 in the fourth quarter.
Rosier finished 27 of 36 for 333 yards with three touchdowns, and despite his injury, Walton had a career-high 204 yards on 11 carries. Berrios finished with five catches for 105 yards, his first 100-yard game in his Miami career.
“Composure. I would say that was the biggest thing,” Rosier said. “We took the lead at first, they wound up taking it back and like I was telling the receivers, the big thing is you guys have to win outside. The first half, they really had us. … But those guys did a great job in the second half. The offense started clicking, the guys started doing a great job of creating separation and making the balls easier for me to throw and for me, it was just being humble and being patient and waiting for the opportunity to make plays.”
But Toledo — who rallied from a 21-point deficit against Tulsa last week — made a late push.
First, Diontae Johnson caught a 6-yard pass from Woodside early in the quarter and later, the Rockets pulled within one possession midway through the fourth after Rosier’s errant throw was picked off by Rockets safety Jordan Williams deep in Miami territory.
One play later, Woodside hit Johnson again, this time on an 8-yard touchdown that cut Miami’s lead to 38-30 with 7:37 left.
Rosier, though, bounced back on the next drive, leading a 5-play, 75-yard drive that culminated when he scampered through the Toledo (3-1) defense for a 23-yard touchdown run that put Miami back on top by two touchdowns.