Defense gets wake-up call from Bethune-Cookman
CORAL GABLES — For the better part of the offseason, the Hurricanes’ defense has been the subject of plenty of hype.
Experts across college football believe it to be the unit that carries Miami to its first division title. There are expectations that multiple talented playmakers could leave school early and head to the NFL. The defensive front has been lauded as one of the best in the Atlantic Coast Conference and beyond.
And on its first drive, that defense allowed Bethune-Cookman to march down the field, take more than seven minutes off the clock and connect on a 36-yard field goal that gave the Wildcats a brief lead.
The Wildcats finished with 350 yards and converted on 8-of-17 thirddown opportunities. They only got in the end zone once in Miami’s eventual 41-13 win, but their offensive showing was enough to remind the Hurricanes’ defense that there is work to do.
“The fact that they did put up points against us brings us back down to earth, you know since [during] the offseason, the media and everybody was saying how great this defense is,” said Hurricanes linebacker Shaq Quarterman, who had a team-high eight tackles. “Well, we have to realize that it’s up to us to make the shutout. We have to go out there and do it, so them putting up points was good in that regard. But we can’t have that against anybody.”
Miami’s next test will come at Arkansas State, where the Hurricanes will face a Red Wolves team that was 8-5 last year, beat Central Florida in the AutoNation Cure Bowl and averaged 379 yards per game.
“[Bethune] executed well, I thought,” Hurricanes coach Mark Richt said. “I know our defense probably is not going to be 100 percent thrilled when they put the tape on. They’ll be, hopefully, using that to motivate themselves to play a bit better.”
Welcome to ‘The U’
The Hurricanes anticipated playing multiple freshmen on Saturday, with three — right guard Navaughn Donaldson, receiver Mike Harley and punter Zach Feagles — even projected to start. In all, 16 freshmen saw action in the opener and several of them made significant plays.
Harley had an 18-yard catch, Feagles averaged 49 yards on two punts, Donaldson and fellow offensive lineman Corey Gaynor helped the Hurricanes total 550 yards, and Amari Carter finished third among Miami defenders with four tackles.
“We did play a lot of people, both sides of the ball. A lot, which was good. We needed to. That was the plan mostly because of the temperature and elements out there. We just can’t let the starters stay in there,” Richt said. “I thought we did a good job of subbing. Not everybody played perfect, but a lot of people got to play.”
Walton dinged
Hurricanes running back Mark Walton, expected to be one of the top contributors for Miami this season, went into the locker room just before halftime with athletic trainer Vinny Scavo, but returned to action in the second half. Miami’s flagship radio station WQAM reported during its broadcast that Walton was treated for a bruise to the knee. Later, though, the running back said the injury wasn’t serious.
“It was just a little tweak. I still feel great,” said Walton, who had a game-high 148 yards. “There is no ice on me, so that’s a good sign and I got back in the game, so that was the best part about it.”