Recap and More: 'Canes Slip In OT

MIAMI (AP)–Demetris Murray had a 1-yard touchdown run in overtime and South Florida stunned Miami 23-20 on Saturday, sending the Hurricanes to their worst season at home since 1997.

Bobby Eveld tied the game with a 1-yard run with 2 minutes left in regulation, then got the Bulls back to the 1 with a 9-yard catch in overtime. Murray went over the top of the pile one play later, and the Bulls (7-4) rushed the field wildly.

Miami had a chance to win in regulation, but Jacory Harris threw an interception–with the Hurricanes in field goal range–with 5 seconds left. Matt Bosher kicked a 38-yarder on the first possession of overtime for Miami, but it wasn’t enough as the Hurricanes (7-5) finished 3-3 at home for the first time in 14 seasons.

Murray had two TD runs and Moise Plancher rushed for 103 yards for the Bulls. Storm Johnson had a 71-yard touchdown run for Miami.

The Hurricanes trailed 10-0 in the third quarter, before Lamar Miller’s 8-yard run finally got them on the board. And when Johnson got loose up the middle on Miami’s first play of the final period–his first carry of the game– the Hurricanes seemed to have control.

Miami had used three other running backs before turning to Johnson, and the freshman quickly made the move look brilliant.

It was the longest rush by a Miami ballcarrier since Frank Gore got loose for a 77-yard gain against Syracuse on Nov. 17. 2001, and the longest touchdown run for a Hurricane since Clinton Portis’ 82-yarder against McNeese State on Aug. 31, 2000.

But in the end, an interception–Miami’s biggest problem all season– spelled trouble. Instead of giving Bosher a chance to win it in Miami’s home finale, Harris was picked off by Jerrell Young, and the Bulls immediately began celebrating, as if they just knew they would pull it out in overtime.

Which they always do–USF is now 9-0 all-time in overtime.

Miami came into the game having put up at least 420 yards of offense in seven straight games, a streak that no Hurricanes team in more than 15 years– not even the 2001 national championship squad–managed.

So inexplicably, the offense sputtered against South Florida. Or more specifically, stalled.

The Hurricanes punted on their first six possessions, then finally got something going late in the first half, driving 57 yards to get a first-and-goal at the South Florida 1.

The end result? No points.

Damien Berry was stopped on first down, starting quarterback Stephen Morris was stopped on second down, and Berry not only was stopped on third down, he fumbled the ball out of the end zone for a turnover with 3:43 left in before intermission.

South Florida drove 77 yards, and Maikon Bonani’s 21-yard field goal with no time left in the half gave the Bulls a 3-0 lead.

Morris was intercepted on Miami’s first possession of the second half, setting up a two-play, 18-yard drive that was capped by Murray’s touchdown run that put South Florida ahead 10-0.

That was the end for Morris, who completed 8 of 17 passes for 78 yards and an interception. Harris–the former starter who hadn’t played since getting a concussion against Virginia on Oct. 30–took over the rest of the way, finishing 12 of 18 for 110 yards, and the one huge interception.

HANKERSON JOINS ELITE COMPANY
– With a 20 yard catch at the end of the first quarter, Senior Leonard Hankerson became just the third receiver in UM history to eclipse the 1,000 yards receiving in a season. The other two Hurricanes to achieve the feat were Eddie Brown in 1984 and Andre Johnson in 2002.
– Hankerson now also has over 2,000 receiving yards for his career. He is the first player in UM history to have 2,000 yards in a career and have 1,000 yards in a season.

1. With an eight-yard catch in the first quarter, Hankerson has now caught a pass in 25 straight games
2. With nine receptions today, Hankerson is now fifth in school history in career receptions, while his 21 career touchdowns are the third most in school history

GETTING IN THE BACKFIELD
Entering today’s game, Miami is second in the nation with 8.64 tackles for loss per game. Today, the Hurricanes registered eight tackles behind the line of scrimmage led by junior Adawale Ojomo with two.

I’LL TAKE THAT
Miami came into today’s game tied for seventh nationally in turnovers forced, with 27. The `Canes forced a fumble in the third quarter to make it 28 on the year.

PASS DEFENSE
Miami came into the game allowing just 145.2 yards per game through the air, third fewest in the nation. It allowed just 159 today.

FRESHMEN SENSATIONS
-Freshman Lamar Miller, with an eight-yard run in the third quarter, has now recorded a touchdown in four straight games.
–Freshman Storm Johnson recorded his first career touchdown, a 71-yard scamper in the fourth quarter to put Miami ahead. The run was the longest run from scrimmage by a Hurricane since Frank Gore’s 77-yard run on Nov. 17, 2001 against Syracuse. It was the longest touchdown run by a Hurricane since Aug. 31, 2000 when Clinton Portis ran the ball 82-yards for a score against McNeese State.
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MIAMI’S STARTERS
Miami’s offensive starters today were: Stephen Morris (QB), Travis Benjamin (WR), Leonard Hankerson (WR), LaRon Byrd (WR), Brandon Linder (Jumbo), Orlando Franklin (LT), Harland Gunn (LG), Tyler Horn (C), Brandon Washington (RG), Seantrel Henderson (RT), and Damien Berry (RB)

Starting for Miami on defense was: Allen Bailey (LDE), Micanor Regis (LT), Marcus Forston (RT), Olivier Vernon (RDE), Sean Spence (WLB), Colin McCarthy (MLB), Ramon Buchanan (SLB), Brandon Harris (CB), Vaughn Telemaque (FS), JoJo Nicolas (SS), Ryan Hill (CB).

MIAMI’S CAPTAINS
Seniors Allen Bailey, Matt Bosher and Leonard Hankerson are serving as Miami’s captains today.

Quotes

Miami Head Coach Randy Shannon

Opening Statement

“It’s one of those games you fight and play hard… we had opportunities in the red zone and couldn’t convert all day long, turning the football over in the red zone. It was sad to see the seniors go out on not a good note. Guys on defense played hard and kept us in the game the entire time and had an opportunity on one of the drives to make a play and cancel out some points in that situation. Just down, that’s how we feel right now. The players are down, team is down, it’s just a tough one. Like I’ve been saying all year long, the same things [are] happening to us as a football team and we can’t win games like that when those things continue to happen.”

On starting Stephen Morris overJacoryHarris

“Jacoryjust wasn’t playing very well in practice this week. He wasn’t in a rhythm like we are used to. We knew we were going to play him sometime during the course of the game, we just weren’t sure when. We decided to go with him in the second half to see where he was at.”

On not running on the last play of regulation

“Our run game wasn’t very good today besides Storm Johnson’s long run. If you take that run away from that game, we didn’t do very much in the run game. They were stuffing our run game pretty hard, so you have to take your chances.”

On punting six times in the first half

“I think the defense kept us in the game and the offense couldn’t run the football. They did a great job stuffing our run game and we couldn’t run. The defense had to come up and keep us in the game like they did.”

On having such high expectations before the season

It’s always disappointing. As a coach you never sit around and say I am satisfied no matter what. Any coach across the nation will tell you that. The only time you are satisfied is when you win it all. 10-2, 9-3, yeah you are happy, but you are never satisfied.”

On starting whoever gives you the best chance to win

“That’s all. We always try to find the quarterback that gives us the best chance to win and whoever is hotter at the time. We feel like we have two quarterbacks that are making plays, doing different things and making different mistakes, so we do get discouraged by that but we keep telling them to be the best that they can be.”

DL Adewale Ojomo
On emotions after the game…
“I’m hurt. Words can’t explain how I feel on losing to a team from our state.”

On the game starting out slow…
“I felt that too. I thought the defense was playing pretty good.”

On the future of Coach Shannon…
“I have no comment on that.”

Summarizing the season…
“In one word, I would say `disappointing.’ This is Miami, and we don’t expect that.”

WR Leonard Hankerson
On the start of the game…
“Early on, we started too slow and didn’t capitalize on third downs.”

On team miscues…
“It was very tough. We turned the ball over and didn’t convert in the red zone. And we work on it every week. Red zone is the first part of practice.”

On fade route…
“I guess the ball was inside a little bit and I went up with the DB – and the ball came out.”

On what’s next…
“We’ll bounce back and win the bowl game. We have to practice and come together as a team the next few weeks.”

On Coach Shannon…
“He can’t go out there and play. We have to make the plays.”

On Senior Day…
“It was emotional that we didn’t win in that I’m a senior and it being the last home game. But I can’t really get that emotional because I know I went out and gave it my all. But it was emotional that we didn’t win in the last game at home.”

FB Pat Hill
On a tough loss…
“It was very tough. We had several occasions this season to capitalize and we didn’t.”

On the mood in the locker room…
“It was just silent. There is not too much to say after something like that. We have to build on it and learn. It is something the younger guys can learn from.”

On losing on Senior Day…
“It’s very frustrating. I’m going to evaluate it forever, and see what I could have done better.”

DB Ryan Hill
On a tough loss…
“I would hate to think we took this game for granted, but it does hurt in that it was our last regular season game and my last home game.”

On what lies ahead…
“We have a few weeks with meetings and workouts, but this loss right now stings.”

On Coach Shannon…
“I feel like they are going to do what is best for the team and the university. I think he is a great man and a great coach.”