Hurricanes halt 4-game losing streak by rolling over host Hokies
BLACKSBURG, VA. – As they navigated through the misery of losses at Virginia, at Boston College, against Duke and last week at Georgia Tech, the Hurricanes saw their dream of defending their Coastal Division crown disappear and their hopes of playing for an ACC title die.
But they insisted, over and over, that their season wasn’t over and that they hadn’t quit on each other, their coaches or their fans.
On a chilly Saturday afternoon in Blacksburg, they proved they hadn’t.
Miami, which arrived at Virginia Tech in dire need of a victory to not only secure bowl eligibility but also to avoid its first five-game losing streak since 1977, was a force, capitalizing on turnovers, strong quarterback play and field position to beat the struggling Hokies 38-14.
The win marked Miami’s first victory since its 28-27 win over rival Florida State on Oct. 6 and the Hurricanes’ first road win over a Power-5 opponent since Oct. 28, 2017, when Miami beat North Carolina 24-19 in Chapel Hill.
And as the minutes ticked off in the fourth quarter, there was no doubt the Hurricanes felt some of the pressure they’ve felt over the course of the last month slide from their shoulders.
Big plays were celebrated on the sideline. Players danced. And after Cam Davis caught a 16-yard touchdown pass from N’Kosi Perry in the final minute of the third quarter that pushed Miami’s lead to 24 points, many of the Virginia Tech faithful at Lane Stadium began heading to the exits.
“The guys just kept waking up every morning, showing up, going to work and kept doing what we asked them to do,” Hurricanes coach Mark Richt said. “Just proud of our staff and our players for how they handled it.”
Added defensive end Joe Jackson who had 2.5 tackles for a loss Saturday: “It’s no secret our spirits were down a little bit. You fight so hard and all of our games have been so close, then losing. This win, we won in a big way. It wasn’t close. … Both sides of the ball played pretty well, special teams as well. It was a big win. We needed this for the team.”
As much as the Hurricanes (6-5, 3-4) reveled in the win, though, the afternoon didn’t start well for them.
Miami was without freshman quarterback Jarren Williams and linebacker Michael Pinckney, both of whom were suspended Saturday after violating undisclosed team rules. While it’s unlikely Williams would have played, there’s no doubt the Hurricanes felt the absence of Pinckney, who has been one of their top defenders all season.
On its first possession, Virginia Tech needed just five plays to go 56 yards, the drive capped by a 15-yard flare pass from Ryan Willis to Dalton Keene.
Miami answered on its ensuing drive with a 33-yard field goal from Bubba Baxa, but it wasn’t until the opening minutes of the second quarter that the Hurricanes took their first lead.
And it came in a way the Hurricanes and their fans have loved — with the reemergence of Miami’s famed Turnover Chain. Linebacker Shaq Quarterman had the opportunity to wear the big piece of gold jewelry after he picked off a Willis pass deep inside Virginia Tech territory and returned it inside the Hokies’ 5-yard line.
One play later, Perry connected with Darrell Langham on a 3-yard touchdown pass that put the Hurricanes ahead 10-3.
Virginia Tech (4-6, 3-4) would regain the lead one drive later after Tre Turner capped a 10-play, 75-yard drive with a 20-yard touchdown run, but just before halftime Miami answered with its own big possession.
This time, Perry — who made his third road start of the season and came in looking to build on a solid effort against Georgia Tech — engineered a 10-play, 71-yard drive that ended when he plunged into the end zone on a 1-yard run.
On that drive, Perry connected on a 13-yard pass play to tight end Will Mallory, an 11-yard pass play to receiver Jeff Thomas and rushed for a 13-yard gain himself.
The redshirt freshman, who has alternated starts with veteran Malik Rosier throughout the season, finished the day 21 of 34 for 171 yards and two touchdowns.
He wasn’t the only young Hurricane to put together a big performance.
Davis, who scored the first touchdown of his Miami career last week, returned to the end zone, this time on a 42-yard run. He finished with seven carries for a game-high 77 yards and his touchdown catch.
Now, the Hurricanes will turn their focus to avenging last year’s loss at Pittsburgh. Last November, the Panthers ended Miami’s 15-game win streak and knocked the Hurricanes from the No. 2 spot in the College Football Playoff rankings.