Home » HIGHLIGHTS: Miami Hurricanes Stun No. 20 Virginia Cavaliers 17-9 At Hard Rock Stadium

HIGHLIGHTS: Miami Hurricanes Stun No. 20 Virginia Cavaliers 17-9 At Hard Rock Stadium

By  //  October 12, 2019

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Miami improves to 3-3 (1-2 ACC)

ABOVE VIDEO: The Miami Hurricanes defeated the 20th ranked Virginia Cavaliers 17-9 to get their first ACC win of the season.

MIAMI, FLORIDA (Miami Hurricanes) – The Miami Hurricanes protected home field and came away with an upset victory over No. 20 Virginia, 17-9.

The Canes entered Hard Rock Stadium eager to avenge their loss at Virginia from a year ago and did exactly that, leading wire-to-wire to earn their first ACC win of the season and improve to 3-3 overall in 2019. The victory was Miami’s first win over a ranked opponent since downing No. 24 Pitt on Nov. 11, 2018, 24-3.

Miami wasted no time getting its offense going, marching 78 yards in an 11-play scoring drive that ended in a 17-yard touchdown pass on a screen from N’Kosi Perry to DeeJay Dallas that put the Hurricanes ahead, 7-0, with 8:55 left in the first quarter.

The Hurricanes’ defense, which held firm over the opening 15 minutes of play, made one of is biggest plays of the first half on the first snap of the second quarter. With Virginia staring at a fourth-and-1 from the Miami 24, Gregory Rousseau stuffed Wayne Taulapapa for no gain to give the Hurricanes the ball on downs.

The Canes entered Hard Rock Stadium eager to avenge their loss at Virginia from a year ago and did exactly that, leading wire-to-wire to earn their first ACC win of the season and improve to 3-3 overall in 2019. (Miami Hurricanes Image)

On its next possession, Virginia moved the ball to the Miami 21 before attempting a 38-yard field goal, but Brian Delaney’s kick was blocked by Pat Bethel and the senior defensive tackle fell on the loose ball to give the Canes possession on their own 22. The blocked field goal was the first by a Hurricane since Jaquan Johnson blocked a kick against Savannah State on Sept. 8, 2018.

The Cavaliers finally got on the scoreboard on the final drive of the first half, converting a key third down when Perkins connected with Hasise Dubois for a 49-yard gain to the Miami 8. The Hurricanes’ defense held Virginia to a 25-yard field goal by Delaney that sent the two teams to the locker room with Miami up, 7-3.

Miami’s defense halted a charging UVA attack with 6:28 remaining in the third quarter, as Trajan Bandy recovered a fumble to give the Canes possession on their own 20. UVA’s Mike Hollins was stripped by Miami defensive tackle Jonathan Ford and Bandy feel on the loose ball to earn his first Turnover Chain of the season.

The Canes’ defense was dealt a big blow late in the third quarter, as Amari Carter was ejected for targeting after the junior safety broke up a pass intended for Dubois in the end zone. UVA moved up to the Miami 9 after the penalty, but the Hurricanes limited the Cavaliers to a 21-yard field goal by Delaney that bounced off the right upright before going through to bring Virginia within a point, 7-6, with 14:28 remaining in the game.

But the Hurricanes’ answered back in a big way, as Perry connected with K.J. Osborn on three consecutive passes before the redshirt sophomore hit Brevin Jordan on a screen for a 35-yard gain to the Virginia 7. The Cavaliers’ defense tightened up and held Miami to a 19-yard field goal by redshirt sophomore kicker Turner Davidson that increased the UM lead to four, 10-7, with 10:06 left to play.

Virginia got its biggest spark of the game on the ensuing kickoff, as all-conference returner Joe Reed sprinted 72 yards to the Miami 27 to give the Cavaliers their best starting field position of the game.

After Perkins ran for a first down to the 27, the Hurricanes got a huge sack from Rousseau on third-and-10 that pushed Virginia back 10 yards to the 27 before Delaney converted a 44-yard kick that brought UVA back within a point 10-9, with 7:39 remaining in the game.

Miami’s offense responded again, covering 75 yards in 10 plays that shaved 5:08 off the game clock before Perry rushed into the end zone from three yards out to give Miami a 17-9 advantage with 2:31 to go.

The Cavaliers made one last effort to drive down and tie the game, reaching the Miami 38 before Bandy came up with a big sack of Perkins for an 11-yard loss that sent UVA back to the Miami 49. Two incomplete passes later, Miami’s victory was complete.

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