» Canes: We have to play better,
Far from dominant performance, but win streak now 11.
MIAMI GARDENS — It was another heart-stopping finish for the Hurricanes, who emerged with a 27-19 win over Syracuse after a sweaty fourth quarter.
The Hurricanes went up 20-6 with 17 minutes to go, but the Orange scored the next 13 points to pull within one with 5:23 remaining.
Travis Homer’s 33-yard touchdown run gave Miami permission to breathe, for the first time in several minutes, and extended UM’s perfect start.
Our five takeaways:
1. All goals still on the table
Miami went into the game looking to extend the second-longest winning streak in the nation — 10 games — and hoped to secure its first 4-0 start in ACC play since joining the league in 2004.
They did both, and moved to 6-0 (4-0 ACC) entering next week’s game at struggling North Carolina (1-7, 0-5). Miami has its hardest games ahead, like Nov. 4 against Virginia Tech at Hard Rock Stadium, which could be the de facto Coastal title game.
“That’s not the final goal,” Homer said.
“We’ve still got a long way to go,” quarterback Malik Rosier added.
But for all its rough patches Saturday, UM remains the only unbeaten team in the ACC. This, despite nearly blowing it against the Orange (4-4, 2-2). Virginia Tech, which blew out UNC 59-7 Saturday, improved to 6-1 (2-1).
“Everybody’s doubting us right now,” linebacker Michael Pinckney said. “We’ve got a chip on our shoulder.”
2. Ground game out of gas
No matter how well it did through the air — this is a theme that applied on defense, as well — Miami couldn’t get much going on the ground.
A week after Homer rushed for a career-high 170 yards in his first career start, the former Oxbridge Academy star gained 45 yards on his first 16 carries. Rosier had the same, on nine carries. No one else took a carry for Miami.
Homer’s 33-yard touchdown run put the game away, and was the result of an expert cut block from left tackle and former Palm Beach Central star Kc McDermott. Homer finished with 95 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries, and added four catches for 27 yards.
The Hurricanes had opportunities to move the ball through the air, and did. Chris Herndon caught a career-high 10 passes for 96 yards and a touchdown. Ahmmon Richards (see below) and Jeff Thomas (48-yard touchdown, the first of his career) had highlight grabs.
Rosier finished 26 of 43 for 344 yards, a career high, and two touchdowns. He did not throw an interception.
“I feel comfortable,” Rosier said. “The coaches do a great job of preparing me for every snap.”
3. Defense stifling, stumbled
Orange quarterback Eric Dungey opened 1 for 10 for 12 yards and three interceptions, under ridiculous pressure from Miami’s pass-rush. His top receiver, Steve Ishmael, was the only option who was beating his man in coverage.
Dungey came into the game with four interceptions this season, and hadn’t thrown one in his previous two games. In three years as a starter, he had never thrown more than two picks in a game.
He closed 13 of 41 for 137 yards, with no touchdowns and four interceptions. It was arguably the worst game of his career.
But Miami’s run defense posted its worst numbers of the season. Dungey went for 100 yards on 20 carries, including a 33-yarder that set up the Orange’s 53-yard field goal that pulled them within a point. Dontae Strickland, finding massive holes up front and gaps in the second level, gained 105 yards on 14 carries.
4. Richards returns
Richards missed three of Miami’s first five games, and sat out last week against Georgia Tech, as the Hurricanes exercised caution with his balky hamstring.
The former Wellington High star looked good Saturday, though he’s still a bit rusty.
Also, he admitted, “a little too excited.”
Indeed. He caught six passes for 99 yards, including a 31-yarder and a 26-yarder. He also made a catch and hurdled a defender who was 5-foot-10 and standing. Yes, really. Richards, 6-foot-2, leaped over safety Rodney Williams and landed on his feet.
But drops sullied his day. Richards’ head was down on the sideline after he muffed a potential touchdown in the second quarter (UM settled for a field goal to make it 13-0). His teammates came to talk to him and settle him down. Richards dropped another potential score, and another pass after that.
“Four,” Richards said, correcting a reporter who asked about his three drops. Another one did not count because of a penalty. He can’t remember dropping more than two in a game before. He also admitted he’s “sore. First game, first 60-minute game, in a while.”
Richards has been in and out of practices, so his hands aren’t a worry. But Miami could have used those touchdowns. That would have made it a blowout, and put to bed any talk that Miami is a top-10 paper tiger.
After this week, the Cardiac Canes will have plenty of doubters.
5. The field needs work
The sod at Hard Rock Stadium, replaced late last week, was in poor shape for the second week in a row, and it played into the strategy for both sides.
UM kicker Michael Badgley slipped on two kickoffs, including one in the third quarter that went out of bounds. His counterpart, Syracuse’s Cole Murphy, made a 48-yard field goal in the first half despite falling. The two finished a combined 6 for 6, so kudos to them. Receivers were slipping and falling all over the place.
Richards, who had a bad hamstring coming in, admitted the conditions were “in the back of my mind.”