Hurricanes Drain the Swamp

Miami head coach Mario Cristobal’s third year at the helm could not have gotten off to a better start. On Saturday, August 31st, the #19 Canes traveled to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, known as “The Swamp,” and put an old-fashioned beat-down on the Florida Gators. The final score was 41-17. Miami dominated Florida in every phase of the game.

Cristobal opened his postgame remarks saying, "I thought our guys came out right away and created momentum, seized momentum, and when it seemed like Florida was going to get some of it back, the response was awesome. After the interception [Miami’s Cam Ward was picked off on 2nd and 9 from the UM 15 with only 2:31 left in the 1st quarter] we came up with a big stop and forced a field goal, and it just felt like every time they had an opportunity to respond, Miami did. From a 99-yard drive, or a 96-yard drive, to converting some really critical downs. A lot of special guys made a lot of special plays.”

Miami won the coin toss and deferred. The Gators managed one first down on their first possession before punting to the Miami 16. It was extremely loud at the Swamp when the Cane's offense took over. Miami went 84 yards on 11 plays that culminated with ninth-year redshirt senior TE Cam McCormick taking a short pass into the end zone for a 7-0 lead that Miami never surrendered. The home crowd was somewhat quieter after the Miami score. Florida managed a field goal off the aforementioned interception, and the first quarter ended with Miami's seven points to Florida's three.

The Canes drove to the Florida four on the opening second-quarter drive. Andy Borregales kicked a 23-yard FG for a 10-3 lead. Florida went for it on 4th and 5th from the UM 42, and the Graham Mertz pass was incomplete. Miami responded immediately with a 4-play, 58-yard drive that ended with sophomore RB Mark Fletcher running left for 10 yards, and a touchdown. Miami was then up 17-3, and the home crowd was quieter still.

The teams traded three and outs before the Gator's outstanding RB Montrell Johnson Jr. took a first down handoff at the UF 29, and blazed down the left sideline for a 71-yard touchdown. With 3:21 left in the first half, it was Miami 17-Florida 10, and the crowd was back in the game in a big way. Again, Miami responded. Four rushes by senior RB Damien Martinez and two completions by Cam Ward brought the Canes to the UF 24. On second and 10, Ward hit WR Xavier Restrepo up the middle and X took it in for a TD. Miami 24- Florida 10, and the Florida faithful had a pretty good idea of how this would end.

Florida took a sack, then a knee, and it was halftime. Miami received the second-half kickoff and the game was essentially over just eight and a half minutes later. The Canes went 75 yards on six plays. Ward completed four passes that were bookended by two one-yard rushes by Mark Fletcher Jr., the latter of which was for his second TD of the afternoon, and a 31-10 Miami lead. The Swamp was like a church, and empty seats started to appear with every tick of the clock.

Florida’s first second-half drive went backwards and they punted 61 yards to the Miami 14. UM dug out of the hole with a first down, 23-yard pass from Ward to Elijah Arroyo. Eight plays later, Ward hit senior WR Jacolby George for a 23-yard score and a 38-10 lead. The Swamp was funeral quiet and nearly half-empty with 6:08 left in the third. Mertz led a 51-yard drive that was ended when Miami safety Mishael “Meesh” Powell intercepted a 2nd 11 pass by Mertz from the UM 24 and returned it to the UF 28 with 0:25 to go in the third.

Miami made a FG and Florida scored a TD in the final quarter that was played without (in my best guess) 75,000 of the 90,000 who attended. There were more Miami supporters than Gator fans as the clock approached 0:00 and the scoreboard read "Final: Miami 41-UF 17."

Some individual statistics- Cam Ward has 385 passing yards and 36 rushing, with 421 total yards. 26 completions in 35 attempts with one interception. Damien Martinez had 65 yards on 15 carries. Mark Fletcher toted the rock seven times for 23 and two TDs. Xavier Restrepo caught seven of eight targets for 112 and a TD. Miami star DE Rueben Bain was injured on the first play and did not return. He’s expected to be back soon. His teammates stepped up. Tyler Baron, Elijah Alston, Ahmad Moten, Kiko Mauigoa, and Wesley Bissainthe were especially impressive upfront. Jaden Harris, Jadais Richard, Daryl Porter Jr., OJ Frédérique, and Meesh Powell stood out in the back end. Miami managed 529 total yards (7.7 yards per play) to Florida’s 261 (4.8 YPP). It was a total domination.

Florida head coach Billy Napier in postgame remarks said “They beat us today and I don’t have any excuses. We struggled to produce any running game….no explosive plays…Miami outplayed us, out-coached us.”

Some comments on Cam Ward’s Miami debut included Mario Cristobal jokingly stating “Yeah, he’s not bad. Special, special guy.” X. Restrepo said, “He’s ridiculous, he’s amazing.” Meesh Powell added, “He’s the best quarterback in the country.” Cristobal said, regarding his team, “This one goes to the players and the coaches that work their butts off to make it happen…Now, we got to show we can handle the success and go get better. That’s really the most important thing. We’re in stages…today was a really, really big step and I’m just beyond proud of our guys and their resilience, toughness, and their work ethic. They did it all.”

Next up is Florida A&M at the Hard Rock on Saturday, September 7th with a 6 pm kickoff. Miami looks like they have a very special team this season. They need and deserve fan support. Let’s hope every home game is a sellout. That’s all for now. Be well and go Canes!