Hurricanes find late rushing success

CORAL GABLES — After being able to run the ball successfully in their wins over Virginia Tech and Notre Dame, the Miami Hurricanes struggled with the rushing attack Saturday against Virginia. The Cavaliers, who entered the game allowing opponents an average of 4.5 yards per carry, held Miami and running back in check for the better part of three quarters before UM started finding some success on the ground.

One reason Miami — which finished with 148 rushing yards — was finally able to break through? Hurricanes coach said Miami shifted its focus, trying to get yards outside on some of its stretch plays. The other big reason the running game finally got going? Homer’s determination.

The sophomore had just five yards at the half but finished with 96 yards, including a late 19-yard touchdown run. But it was Homer’s 6-yard carry before

go-ahead field goal in the third quarter that most impressed his coach.

“Sometimes you just have to get those tough yards, that tough 1-yard run, 2-yard run, 3-yard run and then you know, normally, throughout the course of a game, a crease will hit and then you get a little momentum and you can break a tackle and make a big play,” Richt said. “I thought his best run of the game was the run prior to the field goal. We were in long field-goal range and we ran the ball on third down and long and didn’t really have much running room, but he broke some tackles and that determination, one of those determined runs. He was able to get us in better field goal range and we were able to take the lead.”

No. 3 Miami at Pittsburgh, Friday, ABC, noon

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