Recap and More: Harris, Defense Lead Miami Past Duke

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Jacory Harris threw for one touchdown and ran for another, and Miami forced seven turnovers in a 28-13 victory over Duke on Saturday.

Harris was 17 of 34 for 224 yards for the Hurricanes (4-2, 2-1 Atlantic Coast Conference). They bounced back from last week’s lopsided loss to rival Florida State by rolling up 448 total yards and shutting down one of the league’s top passing offenses.

Vaughn Telemaque picked off two passes, and defensive tackle Micanor Regis returned an interception 22 yards for a touchdown for Miami, which intercepted five passes and forced two fumbles.

Sean Renfree was picked off five times and fumbled a snap for Duke (1-5, 0-3). The Blue Devils lost their fifth straight.

Damien Berry rushed for 111 yards, and his 1-yard score in the third put the Hurricanes up 28-10.

Harris threw a 14-yard touchdown to Leonard Hankerson on the first play of the second quarter, dumping the ball off in the flat that allowed the 6-foot-3 wideout do the rest himself, flipping over the goal line to make it 7-3. Those two also hooked up just before halftime on a 33-yard gainer one play before Harris scrambled in untouched from 13 yards out, pushing the lead to 14-3.

The Blue Devils’ defense–the worst in the ACC–kept them in the game early by stifling three fourth-down conversion attempts in the first half, including a fake punt.

Then again, the Hurricanes could afford to take a few chances with the league’s best defense playing like this.

A Miami D that entered ranked No. 4 nationally against the pass harassed Renfree and locked down on the ACC’s top two receivers: Duke’s Conner Vernon and Donovan Varner who entered averaging 6.8 and 6.2 catches, respectively.

Varner’s first catch didn’t come until there were 3 1/2 minutes left in the half and Duke was down by double figures, and he finished with four catches for 50 yards. while Vernon didn’t catch a ball until the fourth quarter. Duke, which averaged 295 yards passing, was held to 187.

Regis thwarted Duke’s first possession of the second half when he stepped in front of a Renfree pass and rumbled into the end zone to make it 21-3.

That came after Renfree was picked off three times in the first half. His fumbled snap in the pistol formation led to the Hurricanes’ second touchdown. Renfree, who has thrown at least three interceptions in three of five games, finished 18 of 38 for 157 yards for Duke.

The Blue Devils lost their ninth straight against Bowl Subdivision teams and haven’t beaten one since winning at Virginia on Oct. 31, 2009.

Technically, Renfree wasn’t the starter at quarterback for Duke. A fumble on the opening kickoff gave the Blue Devils the ball at the Miami 8, so they opened with a short-yardage offensive set with Brandon Connette under center. That drive went nowhere–a clear sign of things to come–so Duke settled for Will Snyderwine’s 25-yard field goal to take a 3-0 lead.

Connette scored from 1 yard out midway through the third pulled Duke to 21-10, and Snyderwine converted from 43 yards out with 6:14 left.

BERRY JOINS ELITE COMPANY
Senior running back Damien Berry became the fifth player in school history to record three consecutive 100-yard rushing games with 25 carries for 111 yards today against Duke. Berry, who had 101 yards in each of Miami’s last two games against Clemson and Florida State, joins Willis McGahee, Edgerrin James, Clinton Portis and Frank Gore as the only Hurricanes to accomplish the feat.

INTERCEPTIONS PILING UP
The Hurricanes recorded five interceptions today, bringing their season total to 12 through six games. Last year the `Canes finished with nine in 13 games. A week after recording his first career interception against Florida State, sophomore safety Vaughn Telemaque picked off two more passes in the first half today’s game. DeMarcus Van Dyke tallied his second of the season while defensive tackle Micanor Regis hauled in his third career interception and returned it for 22 yards for a score in the third quarter. Late in the third quarter, Ryan Hill pulled in his third INT of the season.

The last time Miami recorded four interceptions in a game was on Sept. 1, 2007 in a 31-3 win over Marshall.

ELITE COMPANY
Senior wide receiver Leonard Hankerson’s touchdown catch in the first half moved him into sole possession of sixth place in school history for touchdown receptions with 16. That same play, Jacory Harris moved into a tie for fourth place with Gino Torretta for career TD passes at UM with 47. With two more TD passes, Harris will pass Vinny Testaverde and Steve Walsh for sole possession of second all-time in school history in TD passes.

OFFENSIVE OUTPUT
Miami’s 448 total yards of offense today were the most for the `Canes this season and the most since recording 496 yards against Duke last year in Miami.

HANKERSON EXTENDS STREAK
With four catches in the first half, Hankerson extended his consecutive games with a catch streak to 19. Hankerson also improved on his team-leading touchdown total, recording his seventh TD this season with a 14-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter.

GETTING IN THE BACKFIELD
The Hurricanes, who entered the game leading the nation in tackles for loss per game (9.5), tallied 9.0 today against the Blue Devils.

JACORY ON THE GROUND
Junior quarterback Jacory Harris recorded a rushing touchdown for the second straight game. A week after running for a 3-yard score against FSU, Harris scored on a 13-yard run in the second quarter of today’s game. Harris now has five rushing touchdowns in his career, including two against the Blue Devils.

FIRSTS FOR CAIN
Freshman linebacker Kelvin Cain made his first career start at middle linebacker today. Cain, who also forced his first career fumble in the first half, finished the contest with 9 tackles.

DEFENSIVE STOPS
Defensive Back Ryan Hill (10) and defensive tackle Micanor Regis (9) recorded their season-highs in tackles in the win.

QUICK HITTERS
Miami notched its 12th and 13th scoring drives of under two minutes in the first half against Duke. Here’s a look at Miami’s quick strikes thus far this season:

Plays-Yards TOP Result Opponent
7-63 1:40 Leonard Hankerson 19-yd TD catch FAMU
6-64 1:17 Leonard Hankerson 40-yd TD catch FAMU
6-55 1:51 Mike James 1-yd TD run FAMU
7-19 1:58 Matt Bosher 51-yard field goal OSU
7-60 1:37 Chase Ford 9-yd TD catch OSU
4-51 1:02 Leonard Hankerson 19-yard TD catch PITT
4-43 1:26 Travis Benjamin 10-yard TD catch PITT
3-70 1:00 Leonard Hankerson 65-yard TD catch CLEMSON
1-18 0:06 Mike James 18-yard TD catch CLEMSON
2-29 0:14 Leonard Hankerson 7-yard TD catch CLEMSON
6-69 1:54 Damien Berry 26-yard TD run FSU
7-55 1:56 Leonard Hankerson 14-yard TD catch DUKE
3-46 1:10 Jacory Harris 13-yard TD run DUKE

TODAY’S CAPTAINS
The 2010 captains for Miami are Jacory Harris, Matt Bosher, Colin McCarthy, Pat Hill, Leonard Hankerson and Allen Bailey. Representing the captains for the coin toss against Duke were Bailey, Bosher, Hankerson and Hill.

TODAY’S STARTERS
Miami’s offensive starters today were: Jacory Harris (QB), LaRon Byrd (WR), Leonard Hankerson (WR), Richard Gordon (TE), Orlando Franklin (LT), Harland Gunn (LG), Tyler Horn (C), Brandon Washington (RG), Seantrel Henderson (RT), Brandon Linder (OL) and Damien Berry (RB)

Starting for Miami on defense was: Olivier Vernon (DE), Micanor Regis (DT), Marcus Forston (DT), Allen Bailey (DE), Kelvin Cain (LB), Sean Spence (LB), Brandon Harris (CB), Vaughn Telemaque (FS), JoJo Nicolas (SS), Ryan Hill (CB), DeMarcus Van Dyke (Nickel).

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Vaughn Telemaque

Ryan Hill

Allen Bailey

Sean Spence

Micanor Regis