Football Looks To Stay On Championship Track
Oct. 24, 2000
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The Miami Hurricanes look to keep their national championship hopesalive when they host the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs at the Orange Bowl on Saturday.
The Hurricanes (5-1, 3-0 Big East) enter the game with a four-gamewinning streak, after beating Temple 45-17 last week. Miami enjoyed a stellar gamefrom wide receiver/kick returner Santana Moss on Saturday, when he racked up 241all-purpose yards and two touchdowns.
“He’s one of the biggest sparks on our team,” Hurricanes quarterbackKenny Dorsey said. “He came up big in two clutch situations. He basically told meif I got the ball to him, he’d make something happen.”
Though Moss has had most of Miami’s hype, Dorsey has quietly emerged asthe Hurricanes best player. The sophomore quarterback threw his firstinterception of the season on Saturday, snapping a school-record streak of 193 passeswithout an interception since the Gator Bowl last January.
Miami also has some stars on its defense, led by linebacker Dan Morgan.The senior shared Big East Player of the Week honors with Moss after making 17tackles -13 solo – against Temple. Morgan is a candidate for the ButkusAward, given annually to the nation’s best linebacker.
The Hurricanes’ dominance on both side of the ball could have themplaying for the national championship at the Orange Bowl if they win their remainingfive games.
The Bulldogs (2-6), meanwhile, are looking to play giant-killer againafter nearly upsetting Auburn last week. Louisiana Tech freshman quarterback LukeMcCown was the story in the 38-28 loss, setting a school record with 47completions.
McCown enters the game as one of the hottest quarterbacks in thecountry, after his 433-yard, four-TD performance on Saturday. The freshman completedhis first 10 passes in the game, and he has a total of 10 TD passes over hislast two games.
McCown’s effort led to big games for his main receivers, James Jordanand Sean Cangelosi. Jordan caught 15 passes for 100 yards against Auburn, whileCangelosi had 100 yards on eight catches.
