Tag: Hurricanes

Sep 7, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Hurricanes running back Chris Johnson Jr. (24) celebrates with wide receiver Isaiah Horton (2) after scoring a touchdown against Florida A&M Rattlers during the second quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

No. 12 Miami starts fast, overwhelms Florida A&M

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Cam Ward threw for 304 yards and three touchdown passes and ran for another score to lead the host Miami Hurricanes to a comfortable 56-9 victory over the Florida A&M Rattlers on Saturday night in Miami Gardens, Fla.

Ward completed 20-of-26 passes for the No. 12 Hurricanes (2-0), who beat the Rattlers (2-1) for the 11th consecutive time since losing the first meeting between the two schools in 1979.

Miami followed up its convincing win over Florida last week by jumping out to a big lead early and scoring touchdowns on its first three drives and a field goal on its fourth series.

Ward exited the game after scoring on an 8-yard touchdown run with 3:43 left in the third quarter that put the Hurricanes ahead 46-9.

Backup Reese Poffenbarger played the remainder of the game and completed 6 of 7 passes for 20 yards.

Florida A&M picked up its only points off two field goals by Cameron Gillis and another by Michael Smith.

Rattlers starting quarterback Daniel Richardson, a Miami native, completed 13 of 17 passes for 135 yards but threw an interception on Florida A&M’s opening drive to Wesley Bissainthe. This led to a 17-yard touchdown pass from Ward to Elijah Arroyo.

Tyler Baron recorded three of Miami’s five sacks.

Damien Martinez ran for 90 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries. Mark Fletcher Jr. and Jordan Lyle each scored touchdowns and combined for 82 rushing yards as the Hurricanes played numerous reserves in the second half. Chris Johnson Jr. was one of those backups and caught a touchdown pass.

Xavier Restrepo caught four passes for 104 yards and a touchdown to lead all Miami receivers.

Florida A&M was led by Jamari Gassett with 61 yards on five catches. But the Rattlers were held to only 52 yards rushing.

Florida A&M will look to rebound next week when it visits Troy on Sept. 21 while Miami will try to remain unbeaten when it hosts Ball State next Saturday.

–Field Level Media

Aug 31, 2024; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward (1) reacts after a game against the Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-USA TODAY Sports

After routing Florida, No. 12 Miami faces FCS foe Florida A&M

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Is “The U” back? That question likely won’t be answered fully until much later in the season, but No. 12 Miami showed marked improvement last Saturday during a season-opening road rout of rival Florida.

Coming off a 41-17 victory, the Hurricanes will look to continue to build momentum on Saturday when they open their home slate against Florida A&M at Miami Gardens, Fla.

In his first start with Miami, quarterback Cam Ward was recognized as the Maxwell Award Player of the Week after completing 26 of 35 passes for 385 yards and three touchdowns.

“It was calming,” Miami offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson told reporters on Monday. “He’s comfortable out there. You can tell. He does a really good job of protecting plays when the play isn’t there and extending the play.”

The Hurricanes will next look to continue their dominance of the visiting Rattlers (2-0), playing their first season under coach James Colzie III. Miami is 10-1 all-time in the series, with Florida A&M’s lone win coming in 1979. The Hurricanes have averaged 51.1 points per game and won the past 10 meetings since then — all in Miami.

FAMU reinforced its roster this offseason with 28 transfers, including 12 from Power Four programs, following the departure of longtime coach Willie Simmons. The Rattlers are ranked 24th in the Football Championship Subdivision Coaches poll and are coming off narrow wins over Norfolk State and South Carolina State.

Rattlers starting quarterback Daniel Richardson played his high school football in Miami, and has been strong through their first two games, completing 45 of 68 passes for 568 yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions.

Richardson has thrown three touchdown passes in each of FAMU’s wins, including two in the final quarter last week to rally the Rattlers from an 18-7 deficit.

Colzie, who also went to high school in Miami and had an uncle (Neal) who played for the Miami Dolphins in 1979, said he’s looking forward to the challenge the Hurricanes present for his squad.

“Getting ready to face one of the top quarterbacks in the country,” Colzie said in his weekly press conference on Tuesday. “They look pretty good on film. They’re extremely athletic, big-time offensive line, and very, very good on the defensive line and skilled positions.”

Ward wasn’t the only key factor for the Hurricanes last week.

Miami’s offensive line had a great performance and was not called for a single penalty. The Hurricanes also ran the football well, amassing 144 yards, and got a look at the potential of their running back duo of Damien Martinez (65 yards) and Mark Fletcher Jr., who scored two touchdowns.

Miami’s defense, which recorded three sacks and forced two turnovers, will be shorthanded, however, as star edge Rueben Bain Jr. is expected to miss at least the next two games with what coach Mario Cristobal described as a soft-tissue injury.

The Hurricanes’ defense held the Gators to 139 rushing yards on 28 carries, with 71 coming on Montrell Johnson’s touchdown in the first half.

–Field Level Media

Oct 14, 2023; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; Miami Hurricanes running back Henry Parrish Jr. (21) carries the football against the North Carolina Tar Heels in the first half at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nell Redmond-USA TODAY Sports

Former Miami RB Henry Parrish Jr. returns to Ole Miss

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Former Miami Hurricanes running back Henry Parrish Jr. committed to Ole Miss on Monday, returning to the school where he started his college career in 2020.

Parrish entered the transfer portal last Tuesday, the first day of the spring transfer window, and announced his decision to join the Rebels on social media Monday.

Parrish gained 625 yards on the ground and scored six touchdowns for the Hurricanes in 2023. Across four seasons with Ole Miss (2020-21) and Miami (2022-23), Parrish amassed 2,057 rushing yards, 56 receptions for 384 yards and 17 total touchdowns (15 rushing).

He has one year of eligibility remaining.

Coach Lane Kiffin adds Parrish to the mix of potential running backs to replace starter Quinshon Judkins, who went to Ohio State via the transfer portal. The Rebels’ second-leading rusher last season, Ulysses Bentley IV, returns after posting 540 yards rushing and five rushing and receiving touchdowns, and the team also added transfers Jacory Croskey-Merritt from New Mexico and Logan Diggs from LSU.

–Field Level Media

Dec 28, 2023; Bronx, NY, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights running back Kyle Monangai (5) celebrates his touchdown against Miami Hurricanes during the second quarter with Rutgers Scarlet Knights wide receiver Isaiah Washington (14) at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Rutgers takes down Miami to capture Pinstripe Bowl

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Kyle Monangai rushed for 163 yards and a touchdown, Gavin Wimsatt added two short scoring runs and Rutgers rallied in the second half to top Miami 31-24 Thursday in the Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium.

Monangai ripped off a 40-yard run to the 1-yard line early in the fourth quarter that set up Wimsatt’s second 1-yard touchdown sneak with 11:51 remaining in the game, increasing the Scarlet Knights’ advantage to 28-17.

Wimsatt completed 7 of 15 passes for 84 yards for Rutgers (7-6), which beat the Hurricanes for the first time in 12 meetings, dating back to the schools’ time in the Big East Conference. It marked Rutgers’ first bowl victory since 2014.

Miami (7-6) took its only lead with 10:33 left in the third quarter on Jacurri Brown’s 30-yard touchdown pass to Xavier Restrepo. But the Scarlet Knights regained the lead with 5:06 left in the period when Timmy Ward recovered a blocked punt in the end zone.

Brown was 20-of-31 for 181 yards with a touchdown and an interception in his first start. He also ran for two touchdowns, including a 1-yard run with 27 seconds left that got the Hurricanes within seven points.

Miami recovered an onside kick but was stopped on downs at the Rutgers’ 47-yard line with seven seconds remaining.

Rutgers dominated the first quarter and a half behind a physical ground game coupled with a stifling defense. The Scarlet Knights chewed up the game’s first 8:06 with a 75-yard drive that Wimsatt capped with a 1-yard sneak.

Rutgers made it 14-0 at the 7:37 mark of the second quarter on a 7-yard touchdown run by Monangai. Rutgers cashed in a 42-yard field, set up after Abram Wright intercepted Brown.

At that point, Miami, which was outgained 115-5 in the first quarter, decided to join the game.

With the help of consecutive personal fouls on the Scarlet Knights’ Aaron Lewis, the Hurricanes got on the board with Brown’s 7-yard scoring jaunt. Then they drove 73 yards inside the final minute to set up a 35-yard field goal by Andres Borregales as time expired, drawing within 14-10 at halftime.

–Field Level Media

Nov 4, 2023; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Miami Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal looks on during the first half against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at Carter-Finley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports

Miami looks to revive season vs. No. 4 Florida State

Posted on | by Field Level Media

One win would change everything.

That’s the opportunity facing the Miami Hurricanes, who travel to Tallahassee, Fla., to visit the fourth-ranked Florida State Seminoles on Saturday.

Miami’s disappointing season — including a stunning last-second loss to Georgia Tech that would’ve been a victory had the Hurricanes simply taken a knee with time winding down — can be salvaged in a sense with a triumph over the school’s biggest rival.

However, the Seminoles (9-0, 7-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) are favored by two touchdowns and a serious threat to win their first national title since 2013.

Worse yet for Miami (6-3, 2-3), quarterback Tyler Van Dyke seems to have lost his confidence — to the point that coach Mario Cristobal hasn’t ruled out benching him in favor of true freshman Emory Williams.

Van Dyke is a capable QB, proving that in 2021 when he averaged 293 passing yards per game and threw 25 touchdown passes with just six interceptions. Earlier this season, in a signature 48-33 win over Texas A&M, Van Dyke completed 21 of 30 passes for 374 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions.

However, in the past two games, Van Dyke averaged just 168 passing yards while tossing no TD passes and getting intercepted five times.

Cristobal this week suggested that injuries are a factor.

“(Van Dyke) has been banged up,” Cristobal said. “But the bottom line is that we have regressed in the passing game. It was our strength earlier in the year, and it hasn’t been good (lately).”

Williams, in his only career start, beat Clemson 28-20 in double overtime on Oct. 21. The Hurricanes played it conservatively in that game and Williams completed 24 of 33 passes for 151 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

As for the Florida State series, Miami leads 35-32. However, the Seminoles are looking for their third straight win in the series and 13th in the past 19 meetings with the Hurricanes.

A fascinating matchup to watch for on Saturday pits Florida State’s wide receivers against Miami’s cornerbacks.

Star Seminoles receivers Johnny Wilson and Keon Coleman missed the team’s 24-7 win over Pitt last week.

Wilson, who sat out the Seminoles’ past two games, returned to practice this week — welcome news for coach Mike Norvell.

“I do see us being in a better spot,” Norvell said of his receivers’ health entering the Miami game. “What that means, we’ll see.”

Coleman (538) and Wilson (415) are Florida State’s top two players in receiving yards. They have also combined for 11 receiving TDs. No other Florida State player has more than two TD catches.

Further, Wilson is 6-foot-7, and Coleman 6-4, giving sixth-year quarterback Jordan Travis two imposing targets.

Miami could be vulnerable in the secondary due to injuries that hit two of its top three cornerbacks last week. Both Jaden Davis and Daryl Porter Jr. were hurt in Miami’s 20-6 loss at North Carolina State.

The only certainty for Miami at cornerback is that Te’Cory Couch will play. But losing Davis and/or Porter could hinder the Hurricanes’ upset hopes.

Florida State leads the ACC in points scored per game (39.6) and is third in points allowed (17.0). Miami ranks fifth in scoring offense (32.1) and fourth in scoring defense (20.0).

Miami will need to stop running back Trey Benson and Travis.

Benson ranks third in the ACC in yards per rush (6.6) and is sixth in rushing yards (641).

Travis ranks second in the league in passing yards (2,469) and has produced 190 yards and seven TDs on the ground.

–Field Level Media

Oct 14, 2023; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; Miami Hurricanes quarterback Tyler Van Dyke (9) looks to pass against the North Carolina Tar Heels in the first half at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nell Redmond-USA TODAY Sports

Miami QB Tyler Van Dyke to return from injury vs. Virginia

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Miami will have starting quarterback Tyler Van Dyke back this week for the Hurricanes’ home game against Virginia on Saturday.

Van Dyke missed last Saturday’s 28-20 double-overtime win over Clemson due to an undisclosed injury. Miami coach Mario Cristobal said Monday that Van Dyke was “good to go” and practiced earlier in the day.

“Last week caught us off guard during the week,” Cristobal said. “He doesn’t have anything that’s serious, but if it takes a certain turn it can delay you, so that’s really what ended up happening. We’re in a good place right now.”

In his fourth season playing for the Hurricanes, Van Dyke has completed 70.5 percent of his throws for 1,721 yards, 16 touchdowns and six interceptions for Miami (5-2, 1-2 ACC).

In Van Dyke’s absence, freshman Emory Williams completed 24 of 33 passes for 151 yards, one touchdown and one interception in Miami’s win over Clemson.

–Field Level Media

Oct 7, 2023; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels wide receiver Devontez Walker (9) warms up before the game against the Syracuse Orange at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-USA TODAY Sports

Tez Walker, No. 12 UNC try to stay perfect vs. No. 25 Miami

Posted on | by Field Level Media

No. 12 North Carolina aims to keep its unbeaten record intact on Saturday when it opposes No. 25 Miami in Chapel Hill, N.C.

The Hurricanes (4-1, 0-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) are still licking the wounds from their first loss of the season, an arguably self-inflicted defeat at home to Georgia Tech.

Miami led 20-17 and could have knelt on the ball to end the game on a third-and-10 play, as there was just 33 seconds left and the Yellow Jackets had no timeouts remaining, but instead the Hurricanes ran the ball and fumbled it. Moments later, Georgia Tech’s Haynes King tossed the game-winning touchdown pass.

Second-year Miami coach Mario Cristobal took the blame for the blunder during a press conference this week.

“I made the wrong call,” Cristobal said. “I take full ownership in not taking a knee and giving them the opportunity to have a couple extra plays and preventing us from sealing the win.”

He added: “The guys are very eager to get back to work and prepare for this weekend’s opportunity.”

What awaits Miami is its toughest on-paper opponent yet, with the Tar Heels (5-0, 2-0 ACC) led by a Heisman Trophy candidate at quarterback.

North Carolina’s Drake Maye showed off his talent again last weekend in a 40-7 home victory over Syracuse, completing 33 of 47 passes for 442 yards and three touchdowns while also rushing for 55 yards and a score. Maye is the conductor of an offense that scores an average of 36.6 points per game, tied for 18th best in the FBS.

And Maye and the Tar Heels offense just got stronger, as Devontez “Tez” Walker finally made his North Carolina debut last weekend after receiving an eligibility waiver from the NCAA. Maye and Walker seemingly had chemistry right away as the wideout hauled in six catches for 43 yards. Last season at Kent State, Walker tied for the Mid-American Conference lead in receiving touchdowns with 11.

Walker, a native of Charlotte, transferred to North Carolina to be closer to his ailing grandmother.

“It’s heartwarming that she finally got to see me play,” Walker said. “I just felt blessed to be out there.”

As for Miami, despite an inconsistent offensive performance last week, the unit can be potent behind a quarterback who is a proven playmaker. Tyler Van Dyke leads the ACC in completion percentage with 72.6 percent of his throws landing in the mitts of his receivers. Van Dyke also has more passing touchdowns than Maye (12 to eight).

Before the loss to Georgia Tech, Miami scored at least 38 points in each of its first four games.

“They’re the most talented team that we’ve played to this point,” North Carolina coach Mack Brown said. “They’ve got speed all over the place, and we’ll have our hands full this weekend.”

North Carolina is 13-11 against Miami and has won four straight games in the series. The Hurricanes haven’t won in Chapel Hill since 2017.

–Field Level Media

Oct 7, 2023; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal walks on the field in the second half against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Miami coach Mario Cristobal: ‘Wrong call’ lost game to Georgia Tech

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Miami offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson tried to take responsibility Monday for calling the wrong play in the Hurricanes’ improbable loss to Georgia Tech on Saturday, but head coach Mario Cristobal was not having it.

“I made the wrong call,” Cristobal said at his weekly news conference. “I take full ownership in not taking a knee and giving them the opportunity to have a couple extra plays and preventing us from sealing the win.”

Miami (4-1, 0-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) was leading 20-17 and could have taken a knee on third-and-10 from the Georgia Tech 30 with 26 seconds to play and run out the clock. The Yellow Jackets had no timeouts remaining.

Instead, Donald Chaney Jr. fumbled after a 4-yard gain, and the Yellow Jackets’ Kyle Kennard recovered at the 26. Four plays later, Haynes King’s 44-yard touchdown pass to Christian Leary with one second left gave visiting Georgia Tech a stunning 23-20 upset over then-No. 17 Miami.

“What we did at the end was the wrong decision. I called it,” Dawson said Monday. “… It was the wrong thing to do.”

Cristobal said the Hurricanes practice situations such as the victory formation.

“We didn’t do it Saturday, and we should have,” he said.

Earlier Monday, the coach of the now-No. 25 Hurricanes appeared as a guest on WQAM sports talk host Joe Rose’s radio show and didn’t shy away from the decision that’s been heavily criticized since Saturday night.

“There’s no way to rationalize it,” Cristobal said. “It’s the wrong decision. Should have kneeled it and didn’t do it.

“Like everything,” Cristobal told Rose, “we have a process. We got the first down and then after that, again, there’s no way to rationalize it. Just the wrong decision. Should have taken a knee, taken it out of the players’ hands.

“… We gave ourselves a chance at the end. But again, like I mentioned before, this entire program is based on accountability. We gave ourselves a chance to win and just gotta make that decision to take a knee. That’s it.”

Miami visits No. 12 North Carolina (5-0, 2-0) on Saturday.

–Field Level Media

Sep 14, 2023; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Hurricanes quarterback Tyler Van Dyke (9) runs with the football against the Bethune Cookman Wildcats during the first quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

No. 22 Miami has no trouble dispatching Bethune-Cookman

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Tyler Van Dyke passed for two touchdowns and ran for another as the 22nd-ranked Miami Hurricanes routed the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats 48-7 on Thursday night in Miami Gardens, Fla.

Van Dyke played just one half, completing 19 of 23 passes for 247 yards as Miami (3-0) cruised. The Hurricanes scored touchdowns on their first four possessions and nearly had a fifth if not for a fumble into the end zone by Colbie Young.

Wide receiver Xavier Restrepo had six catches for 120 yards for Miami. The Wildcats (1-2) have never beaten Miami, losing all seven games in the series.

Bethune-Cookman quarterback Luke Sprague, making his first start of the season, lasted just one series before leaving the game due to an injured right shoulder. Sprague went 3-for-3 for 23 yards, but he took a couple of big hits.

Miami played without four defensive starters, all out due to injury: All-American safety Kamren Kinchens; ends Akheem Mesidor and Nyjalik Kelly; and tackle Branson Dean.

Still, the Hurricanes led 14-0 after the first quarter, 34-0 at halftime and 41-0 heading into the fourth.

The Hurricanes were nearly flawless in the first half other than the fumble and one penalty for five yards.

Van Dyke went 5-for-5 for 34 yards passing on Miami’s first possession. He capped the drive with a 10-yard touchdown run.

The Hurricanes made it 14-0 on Ajay Allen’s 8-yard run, capping an 11-play, 93-yard march. A highlight on the drive was a 20-yard catch by Restrepo on third-and-7.

Miami extended its lead to 20-0 as Van Dyke threw a 20-yard scoring pass to Jacolby George on a bubble screen. Andres Borregales missed the extra point.

The Hurricanes made it 27-0 on a four-play, 55-yard drive. Donald Chaney Jr., who carried on every play, capped the march with a 3-yard rumble up the middle.

On its final possession of the first half, Miami moved 74 yards in just 35 seconds and four plays — all through the air. The touchdown came on a 27-yard post pattern to Brashard Smith with 27 seconds left in the first half to make it 34-0.

The Wildcats spoiled Miami’s shutout bid on Walter Simmons III’s 6-yard scoring run with 1:19 left in the game. Simmons made a great effort to reach for the right pylon.

–Field Level Media

Sep 9, 2023; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Hurricanes safety James Williams (20) reacts as trainers check on Miami Hurricanes safety Kamren Kinchens (5) after an injury against the Texas A&M Aggies during the fourth quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

Miami S Kamren Kinchens says he’s ‘doing better’ after scary injury

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Miami All-American safety Kamren Kinchens, who was airlifted to a trauma center Saturday night at the end of the Hurricanes’ game, wrote on social media Sunday that he is “doing better.”

Kinchens collided with Texas A&M receiver Ainias Smith after a 20-yard completion with just under two minutes left in Miami’s 48-33 win and fell down to the turf. He was attended to for nearly 10 minutes before being removed from the field and taken to Ryder Trauma Center in Miami.

The school hasn’t yet revealed the nature of Kinchens’ injury, but later that night the program’s official Twitter account posted a photo of Kinchens sitting up in his hospital bed, making the school’s signature “U” with his hands.

Kinchens then released a short message Sunday afternoon.

“I want to Thank everyone for the prayers, I’m doing better Love Y’all,” Kinchens wrote.

Kinchens had seven tackles and an interception during the victory over then-No. 23 Texas A&M.

“So far, the reports that we have on (Kinchens) are that everything seem to be relatively normal, so I’m going to head over there right after I get done with the press conference and see how he’s doing,” Hurricanes coach Mario Cristobal said in his postgame press conference. “I think we’re going to be fine. Obviously, aside from that, it’s hard to talk about the game when something like that happens, but the guys played really hard.”

Last season as a sophomore, Kinchens earned first-team All-American honors while grabbing six interceptions. He also was first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference.

Kinchens earned first-team preseason All-American honors prior to this season and is one of the team leaders.

–Field Level Media