Prime Performances From Win Over Pittsburgh

Nov. 7, 1999

Offense: Freshman running back Clinton Portis (Gainesville, FL) rushed for134 yards on 20 carries (6.6 yards per carry) and one touchdown in Miami’s33-3 road win over Pittsburgh. Ports rushed for 99 yards in the fourthquarter and 124 yards in the second half as he reeled off fourth-quarterruns of 20, 28 and 34 yards. The 34-yarder resulted in a touchdown thatput Miami ahead 27-3. With the performance, Portis became the secondfreshman and the first true freshman in school history to post three100-yard rushing performances in a season, having rambled for 147 yards atEast Carolina and 104 yards last week vs. West Virginia. He also became thefirst true freshman to ever post back-to-back 100-yard rushing performances.Ports now has rushed for 407 yards, 39 yards shy of the school true freshmanrushing record and 188 yards shy of the school freshman rushing record.

Defense: Junior linebacker Nate Webster (Miami, FL) registered twointerceptions which he returned for a combined 75 yards, while leading theHurricanes with seven tackles (six solo, one tackle for loss) in UM’s 33-3road win over Pittsburgh. Webster’s first interception came in the firstquarter as he picked off a David Priestly pass at the Miami two-yard lineand then rambled 37 yards on the return. In the fourth quarter, Websterintercepted Pittsburgh’s Matt O’Connor and ran 38 yards on the return whichfeatured several jukes and moves. Webster led a Miami defense that heldPittsburgh 265 total yards (72 rushing yards, 193 passing yards) whileforcing four Panther turnovers (three interceptions, one fumble). The Miamidefense shut out the Panthers for the final 54:55 of the contest. On theyear, Webster leads the Miami defense with 95 tackles (59 solo), threeinterceptions and 11 tackles-for-loss.

Special Teams: Senior kicker Andy Crosland (Dallas, TX) was a perfect 2-2 infield goals and 3-3 in extra points as Miami defeated Pittsburgh, 33-3.Crosland’s field goals came form 28 and 26 yards.