Miami Blanks Rutgers, 55-0

Nov. 20, 1999

MIAMI (AP) – Ken Dorsey threw for two touchdowns and ran for another in his first college start, and fellow freshman Clinton Portis rushed for 133 yards and a score as Miami routed Rutgers 55-0 Saturday.

Dorsey completed 19 of 26 passes for 194 yards for the Hurricanes (6-4, 4-1 Big East), who started freshmen at quarterback and running back for the first time in more than 20 years.

Portis carried 17 times in his fourth consecutive 100-yard game for the Hurricanes, who improved to 7-0 all-time against the Scarlet Knights (1-10, 1-6).

Portis, filling in for injured James Jackson, set the school record for rushing yards by a freshman, breaking Jackson’s 1997 mark of 595 yards. Portis has 679 yards this season.

Jarrett Payton, son of the late Walter Payton, added a career-high 87 yards on 20 attempts and also scored a touchdown.

Payton, who missed two games because of his father’s illness and death, broke two tackles with a spin move and sprinted to the end zone for a 16-yard TD that gave Miami a 14-0 lead in the first quarter.

After he scored, Payton pounded his chest twice and pointed toward the sky, apparently paying tribute to his father.

Miami sacked Rutgers quarterback Chad Schwenk nine times, two shy of the school record, and posted the Hurricanes’ first shutout since a 45-0 win over Pittsburgh in 1996.

The Scarlet Knights, who upset Syracuse last week, crossed midfield just three times. They got to the Miami 36 in the second quarter, but then lost 21 yards on the next three plays _ all sacks.

Their other two possessions in Miami territory resulted from turnovers.

Schwenk went 8-of-18 for 51 yards with an interception before giving way to Michael Jones in the fourth quarter.

Rutgers managed only 13 yards rushing and five first downs.