Second-Half Surge Propels Canes Past Blue Devils
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – The Miami Hurricanes led by double digits in the first quarter. They trailed by double digits in the third quarter.
But by the end of yet another 60-minute roller coaster ride the Canes had a comfortable double-digit victory, making the plays they needed to stay on top – and stay undefeated.
The fifth-ranked Canes scored five touchdowns and forced three turnovers in the second half, roaring past the Duke Blue Devils 53-31 on a record-setting Saturday at Hard Rock Stadium.
Miami improved to 9-0 overall and 5-0 in ACC play. Duke fell to 6-3 overall and 2-3 in conference play.
Quarterback Cam Ward threw for 400 yards and five touchdowns, while wide receiver Xavier Restrepo had eight catches for 146 yards and a career-high three scores, which propelled him past Santana Moss into first place on Miami’s career receiving yards list with 2,573. Ward now has 29 touchdown passes on the season, which ties him with Steve Walsh for the school single-season record.
Miami racked up 526 total yards and forced four turnovers overall, leading to 21 points.
“Really love the way our team closed out the game after a fast start,” head coach Mario Cristobal said. “We had some miscues that were uncharacteristic and just regrouped at halftime. The decision was simple — let’s play Hurricane football and play as a team and play together and put forth our best effort and execute at a high level.”
Wide receiver Jacolby George caught four passes for 74 yards and one score, while Isaiah Horton had six catches for 71 yards. Running backs Damien Martinez and Mark Fletcher, Jr. combined for 131 rushing yards.
Linebacker Francisco Mauigoa paced the Canes with nine stops, including two tackles for loss. Cornerbacks OJ Frederique and Jadais Richard and safety Meesh Powell each had interceptions.
Duke quarterback Maalik Murphy threw for 325 yards with three touchdowns and three picks. Running back Peyton Jones had 132 total yards and two touchdowns, while wide receiver Sahmir Hagans caught nine passes for 139 yards and one score.
On the third snap of the game Ward completed a 22-yard pass to Horton to pick up a first down before hitting Restrepo for 11 yards. After Martinez moved the chains with a five-yard run on 3rd and 5, Ward pirouetted out of the pocket, rolled right and threw towards the right corner of the end zone. Safety Terry Moore tipped the ball backwards and Restrepo alertly cradled the pass for a 34-yard touchdown. Miami had an early 7-0 lead.
Miami’s defense forced a three-and-out after Frederique broke up a third-down pass. The Canes got the ball back at their 25 and Martinez burst through the middle for a 16-yard gain. The drive stalled but punter Dylan Joyce pinned the Blue Devils at their five-yard line. Murphy went deep on the first snap and Powell picked it off, giving Miami the ball right back at the Duke 45.
Fletcher rushed three times for 22 yards before Ward hit Horton across the middle for 21 yards. It was first and goal from the three-yard line. Two plays later, Ward faked a handoff and lobbed a four-yard scoring toss to tight end Cam McCormick, pushing UM’s lead to two touchdowns.
The teams traded punts and Duke took over at its 17-yard line. Just 55 seconds later, they had sliced the lead in half. Murphy completed two passes for 48 yards and Jones carried twice for 35 yards, the last an eight-yard scamper to the end zone to make it 14-7.
The Blue Devils forced a three-and-out and Murphy threw a 40-yard pass to Jones to the Miami 32. Three plays later, Murphy found Hagans wide open for a 27-yard catch-and-run that tied the score at 14.
Fletcher ran for 17 yards to move the ball across midfield before Ward picked up a first down with an eight-yard rush. Ward checked down to Martinez for a 17-yard reception, and then a pass interference call gave UM first and goal at the six-yard line. But defensive end Wesley Williams sacked Ward on third down and Andy Borregales came in to boot a 29-yard field goal for a 17-14 Miami lead.
The Blue Devils answered right back as Murphy capped a seven-play, 75-yard drive with a six-yard touchdown toss to Jones. Duke had a 21-17 lead heading into halftime.
Murphy marched his team down the field to open the second half, hitting Hagans for 16 yards before the two connected again on a 34-pass down to the Miami 15. Four plays later the Blue Devils went for it on 4th and 1 and Murphy lobbed a six-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jordan Moore. After trailing by double digits, Duke was leading by double digits.
The Canes wasted little time chipping away at the deficit. Ward completed 4 of 5 passes on a 69-yard drive, capping it with a three-yard touchdown pass to Restrepo. Ward then scored on the ensuing two-point conversion and the Blue Devils’ lead was down to three.
Two plays later, Murphy looked deep again but was picked off by Frederique, who galloped 30 yards to the Duke 38. The Canes took advantage of the short field and retook the lead after a two-yard scoring plunge by tight end Elija Lofton.
The Blue Devils regrouped as Murphy connected with Moore on a one-handed, 25-yard catch that moved the ball to the Miami 20. But on 3rd and goal from the seven-yard line Murphy threw incomplete and Todd Pelino kicked a 24-yard field goal to cut the Canes’ lead to one point. Lofton returned the ensuing squib kickoff 24 yards to the Canes 49 and two plays later, Ward fired a 49-yard scoring strike to George and Miami led 39-31 with 12:58 left.
The Canes forced a three-and-out, but Ward was picked off by cornerback Chandler Rivers, giving Duke the ball at its own 40. Frederique broke up a pass on third down, forcing another punt. Two plays later Ward hit Restrepo on a 66-yard catch-and-run to the end zone, which propelled the senior wideout past Moss on the receiving yards list. Miami led 46-31.
Murphy was picked off again – this time by Richard, who returned it to the Duke 30. Ward hit Brown for 26 yards and Fletcher capped off the drive with a one-yard touchdown run to push the lead to 22 points.
On the next drive defensive end Rueben Bain, Jr., forced Murphy to fumble and defensive end Akheem Mesidor recovered. The Canes marched to Duke’s five-yard line but Moore sacked Ward on a blitz and safety DaShawn Stone recovered. The Blue Devils took over but couldn’t move the ball and punted before Miami ran out the clock.
The Canes return to action next Saturday, November 9 at Georgia Tech. Kickoff time to be announced.
