'Canes Freshmen Lead The Charge Against Owls

Dec. 2, 1999

By BRIAN OREFICE
AP MegaSports Writer

MIAMI – Decimated by injury to its offensive backfield, Miami will once again lookto a pair of freshmen to lead the way Saturday when they take on Temple with aberth to the Gator Bowl on the line.

Running backs James Jackson and Najeh Davenport, who were supposed to powerthe Hurricanes (7-4, 5-1 Big East) rushing attack following the departure ofEdgerrin James, went down early this season with various ailments.

In their place, Clinton Portis has taken full advantage of his opportunity.The rookie back has five 100-yard rushing games, smashed the school’s freshmanrushing record and is the second-leading frosh runner in the nation.

“He has been a great boost filling in for James,” receiver Reggie Waynesaid. “He has come in and filled some big shoes, and we’ll continue to praisehim and hope he continues to do good things.”

Portis isn’t the only freshman on the team who has stepped up for an injuredstarter. Quarterback Ken Dorsey has filled in admirably for Kenny Kelly andwill look to go 3-0 as a starter against the Owls this weekend.

In last Saturday’s 45-13 win over Syracuse, Portis threw three touchdownpasses to tie a school freshman record and Portis ran for 98 yards, justmissing his fifth straight 100-yard game.

That victory propelled Miami back into the poll with a No. 23 ranking and,more importantly, made it bowl eligible. A win Saturday would land the ‘Canesin the Gator Bowl, where they would play Georgia Tech on New Year’s Day.

They will battle a Temple team that comes off a 62-7 thrashing at the handsof No. 2 Virginia Tech prior to a bye week. The Owls (2-8, 2-4) have lost twostraight overall and all seven meetings with Miami since conference play beganin 1992.

Saturday’s game was originally slated for Oct. 16, but had to be rescheduledbecause of the threat of Hurricane Irene. As a result, it is the only Top 25contest of the weekend that is not a conference championship game.