Storm troopers

Van Dyke benched as Middle Tennessee State upsets Hurricanes

MIAMI GARDENS — Before heading to the locker room at halftime, Mario Cristobal told the radio station WQAM that the Hurricanes had played “as bad as we can play.” He may have been underselling Miami’s performance.

Up against a Middle Tennessee State squad that entered the game as 26.5-point underdogs, the Hurricanes let a bad start turn into an abysmal game. They fell behind 10-0, which became 17-3, which turned into 24-3.

Although the team briefly showed more life after the UM staff benched Tyler Van Dyke for Jake Garcia, it wasn’t enough to save the Hurricanes from a 45-31 defeat.

The Hurricanes plummet to 2-2 before their bye week, and they begin ACC play against North Carolina on Oct. 8.

The game started poorly for Miami and only got worse. Van Dyke threw an interception on the Hurricanes’ first offensive play of the game, but the UM defense held MTSU to a field goal. On Miami’s next offensive drive, Van Dyke had another pass intercepted. Blue Raiders defensive lineman Zaylin Wood returned that pick for a score.

The Hurricanes had a third turnover on their next drive when Jaylan Knighton fumbled, but Miami’s defense got the ball back on a Kamren Kinchens interception (his second of the season).

Miami’s defense had trouble stopping Middle Tennessee State’s Air Raid offense throughout the game. Blue Raiders quarterback Chase Cunningham tossed a 71-yard score to DJ England-Chisholm to put the Blue Raiders up 17-3 in the first quarter. On their next drive, Cunningham threw an 89-yard pass to Jaylin Lane that got MTSU to the Miami 5-yard line. The Blue Raiders scored on quarterback keeper four plays

WILFREDO LEE/AP Middle Tennessee linebacker Jalen Rayam rushes Miami quarterback Tyler Van Dyke as he passes during the first half Saturday in Miami Gardens.