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Miami Gardens, FL-– First year Miami Hurricane head coach Mark Richt didn’t have to wait long to get his first win. The Hurricanes won in convincing fashion Saturday night 70-3 over Florida A&M (FCS) in his debut at newly minted Hard Rock Stadium.
Three Hurricane running backs rushed for over 100 yards, the first time since the 1980s. Mark Walton led all rushers with 117 yards on 15 carries and scored a touchdown. Junior RB Joe Yearby added 105 yards of his own with two touchdowns and a long of 64 yards. Finally, Gus Edwards, who sat out all last year with an injury, scored on a 74-yard run and ended the night with 108 yards rushing.
“Those guys all deserve it. They’re all very quality backs. The blocking was good. A lot of times they did make people miss, but there was some good blocking up front, there was some good blocking on the perimeter,” said head coach Mark Richt.
Richt was impressed with his running backs but also his quarterback. The Hurricanes got it going early as Corn Elder picked off a pass in the first quarter setting up a touchdown pass from Brad Kaaya to Marquez Williams the transfer fullback.
“Overall, I thought he managed the game well, I thought he got us in the right running game just about every time he came to the running game with the options that we give him. I thought he did a nice job. I don’t think there’s any balls that could have or should have gotten picked, which is big for me,” said Richt of Kaaya.
Miami just looked fit, fast and physical overall. Much improved as a team. And it showed, to the tune of 70 points on offense and a special teams returned punt of 41 yards by Braxton Berrios who said the crowd attendance was something that pumped him up.
“Honestly, when we come off the highway there was only one game before that we saw cars in that back lot—it was FSU my freshman year [in 2014]. There were cars in that back lot and that was incredible, honestly, to see. It was the home opener, coach Richt’s first game, new stadium, there’s a lot of things. It really turned the notch up for everyone when we saw that.”
With scores from the fullback, a tight end (Chris Herndon), all three running backs, a true freshman wide out (Ammond Richards) and a veteran (Stacy Coley) along with the back up QB Malik Rosier…the Hurricanes were hitting on all cylinders. Though coach Richt thinks there is room for improvement.
“I felt like, on that punt at the end, somebody on Florida A&M cared more than we did at that moment, and that can’t happen any time. You have to cherish every moment you get, every snap you get. If that had been the first play, I hope that wouldn’t have happened. My guess is that somebody relaxed a little bit and got the thing blocked.”
Miami stays at home next week to play in city rival, Florida International. After that, they head out on the road for their first text at Appalachian State.
News & Notes:
Kickoff time: 6:04 PM lasted 3 hours and 26 mins.
Game attendance: 60,703
The University of Miami Athletics Department announced today that it has suspended redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Gerald Willis for the FAMU game and freshman wide receiver Sam Bruce for the first three games for violations of team rules.
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