South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Sunday)
Hurricanes’ offense struggles
Miami, coming off of big win last week, loses 16-13 to Virginia.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — It had all the potential to be a troubling night for the Hurricanes.
Miami was coming off an emotionally charged comeback win over its biggest rival. Hurricanes redshirt freshman quarterback N’Kosi Perry was set to make his first start in a hostile environment, a place where Miami hasn’t necessarily had success since joining the ACC.
Upset-minded Virginia, meanwhile, had had an extra week to prepare, time to rest and draw up wrinkles the Hurricanes hadn’t seen.
And so, ahead of Saturday’s game, Miami coach Mark Richt warned that the 16th-ranked Hurricanes would likely face a tough challenge against the Cavaliers. But the coach probably didn’t figure things would go this badly.
Miami’s offense was inefficient, its line unable to help either of the Hurricanes two quarterbacks and while Virginia committed three turnovers of its own, the Cavaliers did just enough to notch a 16-13 win at Scott Stadium that set off a wild celebration from a frenzied crowd that has now seen its Cavaliers beat Miami five times in Charlottesville.
The Hurricanes, who rallied from a 20-point deficit last week against Florida State, found themselves in comeback mode yet again Saturday, but this time, even a late 11-yard touchdown run from Malik Rosier couldn’t save them.
After Rosier’s touchdown pulled the Hurricanes within a field goal with 3:04 left, Miami lined up for an onsides kick that Virginia recovered.
And though Miami’s defense made a key stop that would have likely held Virginia to just a field goal and given the Hurricanes offense time to work, Miami defensive tackle Tito Odenigbo was whistled for a personal foul, extending Virginia’s drive.
That pushed the Cavaliers inside the Miami 10 and worse, allowed Virginia to take more time off the clock. And after Virginia
kicked that inevitable field goal, Miami was whistled for roughing the kicker — meaning Virginia’s offense stayed on the field and ran out the clock.
It was, for the Hurricanes, an ugly finish to a night where little went right.
Miami’s offense struggled all night and couldn’t rebound from a brutal start.
After some struggles on the offensive line last week against Florida State, the Hurricanes made changes to that unit early, shifting Hayden Mahoney from right guard to left guard, moving Navaughn Donaldson from right tackle to right guard and giving freshman DJ Scaife his first start, at right tackle.
None of that seemed to
help though, with Miami
(5-2, 2-1 ACC) managing just 39 yards of total offense and no first downs in the first quarter. Perry, meanwhile, connected on just three of his first six passes and threw two interceptions. Ultimately, Miami fell behind 10-0 after the Cavaliers capitalized on that second pick deep inside Hurricanes territory when Jordan Ellis scored on a 7-yard run.
It was, after that, that Richt decided to make a quarterback change, benching Perry — who was making the first road start of his young career — and giving Rosier, a vetrean, the chance to play.
Rosier, who lost the starting job after Perry dazzled in Miami’s win over FIU on Sept. 22, didn’t necessarily fare much better, going
2-of-7 for 30 yards in the second quarter. He was,
however, under center for the Hurricanes’ first two scoring drives, both of which ended with Bubba Baxa field goals.
The freshman hit first from 47 yards to pull Miami within a touchdown with
7:15 left in the half, then from 28 yards four minutes later to cut Virginia’s lead to
10-6.
But on the final drive of the second half, the Cavaliers (4-2, 2-1) notched another field goal, giving Virginia a 13-6 halftime lead.
And while Rosier did add that touchdown, it came much too late for the Hurricanes. Rosier finished the day 12-of-23 for 170 yards and an interception. Travis Homer added eight carries for 95 yards, but none of it was enough.