Canes Surge Past Deacons for 42-14 Win
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – The Miami Hurricanes rode a stellar defensive effort and a dominant final quarter to secure their 10th win of the season for the first time in seven years.
The Canes broke open a close game with 22 points in the final eight minutes en route to a 42-14 win over the Wake Forest Demon Deacons Saturday before a Senior Day crowd of 64,210 at Hard Rock Stadium.
Miami improved to 10-1 overall and 6-1 in the ACC and wrapped up their regular season home schedule with a perfect 6-0 home mark. The Demon Deacons fell to 4-7 overall and 2-5 in conference play.
The Canes racked up 508 total yards and their defense held Wake to just 193 total yards and 3.4 yards per play, racking up five sacks and six tackles for loss.
Quarterback Cam Ward completed 27 of 38 passes for 280 yards with two touchdowns and one interception and added a touchdown run. In the process he broke Bernie Kosar’s single-season school record for passing yards, which Kosar set 40 years ago. Ward now has 3,774 passing yards during this sparkling season.
Wide receiver Jacolby George had seven catches for 91 yards and two scores, while tight end Elijah Arroyo hauled in six passes for 79 yards. Running back Jordan Lyle rushed for a career-high 115 yards and one score and fellow back Damien Martinez added 63 yards.
Safety Meesh Powell scored on a 76-yard interception return, adding three tackles and a sack. Linebacker Francisco Mauigoa paced the Canes with 12 tackles, while defensive end Akheem Mesidor recorded seven stops and a sack.
“The story of the game was the defense without a doubt,” head coach Mario Cristobal said. “After that first series and the busted coverage that’s what Miami Hurricane defense should look like. And then offensively we had our struggles. We caused a lot of it ourselves with penalties, miscues, dropped balls and some turnovers. But the defense we leaned on them and they came through in a big-time way even when they were on short fields.
“I hadn’t seen a defensive performance like that anywhere in a long time. That was really awesome and they certainly deserve all the credit and all the mention of the game.”
Quarterback Hank Bachmeier completed 8 of 14 passes for 86 yards with one score and one pick for the Deacs. Running back Demond Claiborne rushed for 62 yards and returned a second quarter kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown.
Miami got the ball to open the game and Ward moved the Canes right down the field, completing all six of his passes, including a 13-yard touchdown pass to George. But Wake responded with a touchdown drive of its own as Bachmeier lofted a 36-yard scoring toss to wide receiver Micah Mays, Jr. to tie the game at 7-7.
Ward completed two 13-yard passes to Arroyo before throwing a dart down the middle field to George, who made a leaping, 34-yard grab at the Deacons 10. But a pass interference penalty pushed the Canes back and Miami settled for a 40-yard field goal by Andy Borregales to take a three-point lead.
On the next drive, Wake converted a 4th and 1 from its own 44 and the Deacs marched all the way to the Canes 16. On 2nd and 16 Bachmeier dropped back and threw to his left but Powell jumped the route, picking off the pass and racing untouched 76 yards to the end zone. It was Powell’s career high fifth interception of the season. Miami led 17-7.
Wake answered right back when Claiborne returned the ensuing kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown, cutting the Canes’ lead back to three. Miami moved the ball to the Deacs 27 but linebacker Quincy Bryant picked off Ward to give Wake the ball back at their 26-yard line with three minutes left in the half.
But Miami’s defense forced a three-and-out and Ward threw a 31-yard pass to Arroyo, who ran out of bounds at the Wake 27. Three plays later, the two connected again for a 12-yard completion to set up first and goal at the eight-yard line. But the Deacs’ defense held and Borregales booted a 25-yard field goal to give the Canes a 20-14 halftime lead.
Miami’s defense forced consecutive three-and-outs to open the second half, but wide receiver Xavier Restrepo fumbled after a reception on the ensuing drive and Wake recovered at the Canes 33. Four plays later, the Deacs faced a 4th and 7 and Bachmeier scrambled for 10 yards to move the chains. But Powell and defensive tackle Ahmad Moten sacked Bachmeier on back-to-back sacks to force another punt.
Wake forced a three-and-out and got the ball back at the Miami 44. The Deacs went for it on 4th and 3 and defensive end Rueben Bain, Jr. dropped Bachmeier for a seven-yard loss and the Canes took over on downs. Ward zipped an 11-yard pass to Restrepo to move the ball into Wake territory but the drive stalled and Dylan Joyce pinned the Deacs back to the their two-yard line.
Miami’s defense was up to the challenge again as Mauigoa tackled Bachmeier two yards short of a first down. The Canes got the ball back at the Wake 44 and on the first snap running back Mark Fletcher, Jr. burst through the line for a 30-yard gain. Martinez followed with a 10-yard run to set up first and goal. Three plays later, Ward scored on a quarterback sneak and then hit Arroyo on a two-point conversion. The Canes were up 28-14.
Safety Dylan Day forced Claiborne to fumble on the ensuing kickoff return and linebacker Cam Pruitt recovered at the Wake 25. Three plays later, Lyle rushed up the middle for an 18-yard touchdown and the Canes had a three-touchdown lead with 6:25 left.
Wake moved the ball to the Miami 15 on the next drive, but safety Jaden Harris stuffed running back Tate Carney for no gain. Two plays later, Lyle rumbled down the right sideline for 61 yards and two plays after that Ward connected with George again on a 15-yard touchdown pass to push the lead to 42-14.
The Canes wrap up their regular season next Saturday at Syracuse. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. on ESPN.
