Post Game Notes
Sept. 27, 2008 | Dolphin Stadium, Miami Gardens, Fla. | Postgame Notes
STOPPING THE RUN… The Hurricanes kept the Tar Heels to just 35 yards rushing for a 1.1 yard per carry average. Miami’s defense had kept opponents to just 2.4 yards per carry entering today’s game, while North Carolina’s offense had averaged 6.1 yards per carry entering the game. PASSING LANE… Kayne Farquharson caught a nine-yard touchdown pass from Robert Marve with 11:02 remaining in the opening quarter to help the Hurricanes take the early 7-0 lead. It marked the second-straight game in which Marve and Farquharson have connected for a score. FAST STARTS… With that Farquharson TD today, the Hurricanes have scored on their opening drives in three of four games this season and in two straight. CAREER BEST… With a four-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter to Aldarius Johnson – putting the Hurricanes ahead 24-14, Robert Marve threw for a career-high three touchdowns in today’s game to three different receivers (Farquharson, Cooper, Johnson). It also marked Johnson’s first collegiate touchdown.
It is also the most touchdown receptions for the Hurricanes since a 35-0 win over Florida International on Oct. 14, 2006, when Kyle Wright had three touchdown passes.
CATCHING THE QB… Eric Moncur posted his second sack of the season and 10th of his career in the third quarter, tackling North Carolina quarterback Cameron Sexton for an 11-yard loss.
Brandon Harris recorded his first collegiate sack in the fourth quarter, taking down Sexton for a seven-yard loss.
SUPER COOPER… Graig Cooper’s 11-yard touchdown with 39 seconds remaining in the opening quarter marked his season-high tying fifth touchdown in four games this season. In 11 games last season, he recorded five.
With 110 rushing yards today, Cooper notched his second-straight 100-yard rushing game and the fourth of his career. He ran for 128 yards at Texas A&M last week.
IN THE ZONE… Including today’s 4-5 effort, the Hurricanes are a near-perfect 14-of-16 in the red zone on offense this season. UM has converted 10 touchdowns and four field goals. Entering today’s game, Miami led the ACC with a 90.9 percentage. AT THE HALF… The Hurricanes have outscored their opponents 72-26 during first-half play this season. Entering today’s game, opponents are averaging just 130.7 yards of total offense in the opening half. Miami limited North Carolina to 87 yards of total offense in the first half, including just 19 rushing yards. ACC OPENERS… With today’s loss, the Hurricanes fall to 2-3 in ACC openers and 3-2 in ACC home openers. The Hurricanes had won three-straight ACC home openers entering today’s game.
Today’s loss also marks the first defeat of the Hurricanes at Dolphin Stadium, moving Miami to 4-1 all-time and 1-1 this season at Dolphin Stadium. It marked Miami’s first September loss to an unranked opponent since Sept. 25, 1999, when the Hurricanes fell to an unranked East Carolina, 27-23.
HOME DEBUT… Freshman quarterback Robert Marve made his first career home start this afternoon. The reigning ACC Rookie of the Week completed a 10-yard pass to Khalil Jones in his first play. DON’T BLINK… Nine of UM’s 13 offensive touchdowns this season have come on drives of three minutes or shorter, with four of those TDs coming in under 36 seconds.
| Opponent | TD | Drive | Time |
| CSU | Jacory Harris 30-yard run | 7-67 | 2:37 |
| CSU | Javarris James 7-yard run | 9-43 | 4:19 |
| CSU | Leonard Hankerson 7-yd pass from Harris | 5-60 | 2:15 |
| CSU | Graig Cooper 14-yard run | 2-14 | 0:12 |
| CSU | Derron Thomas 5-yard run | 6-60 | 2:55 |
| CSU | Shawnbrey McNeal 1-yard run | 7-49 | 3:44 |
| TAMU | Graig Cooper 19-yard run | 4-59 | 1:44 |
| TAMU | Graig Cooper 51-yard run | 2-62 | 0:35 |
| TAMU | Thearon Collier 26-yd pass from Marve | 3-41 | 0:27 |
| TAMU | Kayne Farquharson 15-yd pass from Marve | 1-15 | 0:08 |
| UNC | Kayne Farquharson 9-yd pass from Marve | 8-89 | 3:58 |
| UNC | Graig Cooper 11-yd pass from Marve | 3-11 | 0:50 |
| UNC | Aldarius Johnson 4-yd pass from Marve | 8-37 | 4:00 |
TODAY’S CAPTAINS… Today’s captains for Miami are Jason Fox, Glenn Cook and Chavez Grant. START IT UP… Miami’s offensive starters today are: Aldarius Johnson (WR), Jason Fox (LT), AJ Trump (LG), Xavier Shannon (C), Joel Figueroa (RG), Reggie Youngblood (RT), Dedrick Epps (TE), Chris Zellner (TE), Khalil Jones (WR), Robert Marve (QB) and Graig Cooper (HB).
Miami’s defensive starters are: Steven Wesley (LE), Dwayne Hendricks (LT), Joe Joseph (RT), Eric Moncur (RE), Darryl Sharpton (SLB), Glenn Cook (MLB), Colin McCarthy (WLB), Chavez Grant (LCB), Bruce Johnson (RCB), Anthony Reddick (S) and JoJo Nicolas (S).
