Hurricanes Rise in Polls— Conference Play Starts Tonight

After a resounding 50-15 win over USF (2-2) in Tampa last Saturday night, the Canes were voted No. 7 in the AP and No. 9 in the Coaches Polls. ACC conference play starts tonight, 09/27 at 7:30 pm, when Miami (4-0) hosts Virginia Tech. The growing excitement surrounding the resurgent Miami program was palpable at Raymond James Stadium last weekend. The announced attendance was 58,616 people. A surprising number of orange-clad Cane's supporters mixed in with Bulls, who were faithful in their green gear.

South Florida is an excellent football team, and they had a right to believe a win was possible against visiting Miami. That belief did not last much past halftime. The Canes took a 7-0 lead on the game’s opening drive, when Damien Martinez capped an eight-play, 75-yard drive, with a two-yard touchdown run. The Bulls got on the scoreboard when Nico Gramatica, son of longtime NFL placekicker Bill, hit on a 58-yard FG to make it 7-3.

USF took a 9-7 lead when a Cam Ward to Jacolby George pass was bobbled up in the air as George turned upfield and was picked off by the host, Brent Austin. On second 10 from the Miami 12, Bulls QB Byrum Brown handed off to WR Sam Atkins on a reverse and Atkins hit Brown for a TD. Miami came right back with an eight-play, 90-yard drive, that ended with a six-yard Cam Ward to Isaiah Horton TD connection, and a 14-9 Canes lead after the first quarter.

USF opened the second quarter with a 51-yard Gramatica FG, closing the score to 14-12. Miami’s ensuing drive was marred by penalties, and Dylan Joyce hit his only punt of the day to the USF seven. Brown then led the Bulls on a 19-play, 66-yard drive, that led to another FG and a 15-14 lead. Miami took the kickoff on their own 20 with 2:23 left in the half, and wasted no time taking back the lead. On first down, Martinez rushed four yards. On the next play, Ward hit Sam Brown in stride, down the left sideline at the UM 47. There was no catching the speedy Brown, who took it to the house for a 76-yard TD.

The Canes were up 22-15 at the half after Ward hit Martinez with a two-yard toss for the two-point conversion. The game was long, very long. Three hours and 58 minutes long, to be exact. The teams shared 22 time-consuming penalties evenly. When the sides came out for the second half, it seemed Miami was far more ready for the drawn-out and extremely physical battle than their opponents. USF took the kickoff and punted. Miami went 80 yards in 12 plays, ending with a Martinez one-yard TD run, 29-15. USF, again, punted on their next possession, and Miami, again, went 80 yards (this time on seven plays), ending with a one-yard Martinez TD run, 36-15 after the third quarter. 

The Bulls moved the ball to the Miami 13, but on third and nine, they were kept off the scoreboard when Hurricane safety Meech Powell picked off a Bryce Archie pass in the end zone. Miami, again, drove 80 yards, and a Cam Ward to Xavier Restrepo six-yard TD pass made it 43-15. USF punted to the UM four, and on third and five from the nine, freshman RB sensation Jordan Lyle took a handoff left, and with a blaze of speed, turned right for a 91-yard TD run, the longest TD run in Miami football history. It was 50-15, and much like up in Gainesville a couple of weeks ago, when the final whistle was blown, there were far more Canes fans in the stadium than home team faithful.

For the Bulls, Byrum Brown was 19-30 for 254 yards. WR Sam Atkins had 11 receptions for 125 yards and tossed Brown a TD. Cam Ward was, again, named ACC QB of the week after his 24-35, 404 yd, three TD performance. Martinez had three rushing TDs and caught two passes for 50 yards. Isaiah Horton has eight catches for 108 and a TD. Xavier Restrepo, six for 99 and one, and Sam Brown grabbed two for 75, and a score. After four games, the Hurricane offense has put up big numbers. They are fourth nationally in scoring, with 52.2 points per game. First in third down conversion at 64.3%. Third in first downs with 114. Second in passing yards and total yards per game, with 405 and 605. 

Tonight, all that is in the past, and the focus is on the Hokies. They are led by QB Kyron Drones, 64-107 (59.8%), 765 yards, four TDs, and three interceptions. In the "I’m not making this up" department, Drones and Cam Ward are cousins, and train together in Houston every summer.

RB Bhayshul Tuten leads the Hoke's ground attack with 391 yards and seven TDs. There is something very special going on in Coral Gables. Conference play will be a great challenge, but everything I see with this team tells me they are ready to overcome all obstacles ACC football might bring.

Media was allowed on the field for the last six minutes of the USF game. Head Coach Mario Cristobal was walking off the field after post-game celebrations and interviews, and as he walked within a couple of feet of me on his way to the tunnel, I snapped a candid of him with a small smile of contentment on his face (pictured above). This was taken during the first thirty seconds of time he had for private reflection the entire day. That’s all I got. Be well all, and go Canes.