Miami Warms Up For Seminoles In Noon Matchup With Troy State
Oct. 2, 2001
From the Associated Press
One week before a showdown with their in-state rivals, the top-rankedHurricanes get another tuneup Saturday as they take on Troy State.
This contest precedes Miami’s Oct. 13 matchup with No. 18 Florida State, agame which could have national title implications. It will be the first timethe Hurricanes (3-0) have faced a ranked opponent this season.
They have rolled through the first three games, outscoring Penn State,Rutgers and Pittsburgh by a combined 137-28. Miami’s averages of 45.7 pointsand 537.0 yards per game are both among the top five in the nation.
Two big reasons for that offensive production are quarterback Ken Dorsey andrunning back Clinton Portis.
Dorsey is completing nearly 62 percent of his passes, throwing for 867 yardsand six touchdowns. Portis is averaging nearly 115.3 yards per game on theground.
While Dorsey had his least impressive performance of the season last week,Portis more than made up for it as Miami routed Pittsburgh 43-21. Portisrushed for 131 yards and a career-high three touchdowns on 24 carries.
“He’s great to watch after he gets the football, (Portis) makes peoplemiss,” said Dorsey, who was 18-of-32 for 208 yards and a touchdown.
The Hurricanes gave up two late touchdowns when the game was out of reach,but the defense seemed unhappy about giving up any points.
“We don’t like 21 points, 14 points – even seven points being scored on us,”cornerback Philip Buchanon said. “We try to get a shutout every game.”
The Hurricanes may have a chance to do so Saturday.
Troy State (1-2), which has averaged just 19.0 points through its firstthree games, is playing its first season in Division I-A and has never facedMiami.
The Trojans blanked winless Nicholls State 26-0 on Sept. 23 in their lastgame, but that followed a blowout loss to Middle Tennessee State and aseason-opening 42-14 loss to fourth-ranked Nebraska. They gave up nearly1,100 yards of total offense in those two defeats.
Troy State is trying to snap Miami’s 13-game winning streak, second-longestin the nation behind Oklahoma’s 17-game run.
