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Miami, FL — After two missed field goals the Miami Hurricanes lined up for the game-winning kick with the score tied at 21 with 25 seconds left against Georgia Tech when the unthinkable happened.
Another field goal fail.
The 25-yarder was blocked by junior Antwan Owens sending the game to overtime. The Yellow Jackets scored on their first possession in OT on a one-yard run by redshirt sophomore Jordan Mason and Miami failed to convert on fourth down on their possession as the Canes would lose their third coastal division game of the season. The Hurricanes are 3-4 for the first time since 1997.
“We bought ourselves a close game through some mistakes we made in the first half,” said Head Coach Manny Diaz. “When you get into close games and not being able to finish red zone drive with easy field goals it’s demoralizing their sideline.”
Three pointless drives would ultimately be the difference in the game.
Post Game With Defensive End Trevon Hill: “We just didn’t execute.” pic.twitter.com/GuPCDJBaQV
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) October 19, 2019
Hurricanes forced a three-and-out on defense to start the game but it was the Yellow Jackets’ that would get on the scoreboard first. The Hurricanes found themselves backed up on their own eleven yard-line faced with a 3rd down. Perry was stripped of the football by Demetrius Knight and the Yellow Jackets swarmed to the football scoring the opening touchdown of the game. Redshirt freshman Ja’Quon Griffin would pounce on the football for the score for Georgia Tech.
“For a lack of a better word, this is a rebuild,” said Coach Diaz overall of the program. “Through these games you can see the promise of the future and the ugliness of the present.”
The Canes would bounce back with the ensuing drive. Miami was able to get to the one-yard line where Perry was pushed into the end zone by his teammates on a one-yard quarterback sneak. The Hurricane’s next possession was set up by a 52-yard return by KJ Osborn. The returning duties are usually assumed by Jeff Thomas who was suspended by the game for disciplinary issues. Osborn would finish off the drive with a touchdown catch where he would reach the ball over the goal line. The senior transfer from Buffalo had 4 catches for 39 yards and the one touchdown.
Also in the first quarter, the Yellow Jackets gambled on fourth down and seven at the Miami 41-yard line when punter Pressley Harvin threw one of the best passes of the day to Nathan Cottrell for a touchdown. The score would tie the game at 14 just before the end of the first quarter.
Starting Hurricanes running back DeeJay Dallas left the game with an injury in the first with an what was to believed to be a leg injury. He did not return.
The Canes would add another Perry touchdown pass to their total with Camron Harris on the receiving end of a 24-yard play. Harris had a big day in Dallas’s absence rushing for 136 yards on 18 carries.
The first field goal miss would happen in the second quarter as Turner Davidson missed a 34-yarder that did not have a chance. Georgia Tech would add yet another touchdown before the end of the quarter yet again. Quarterback James Graham threw to the corner of the end zone to Ahmarean Brown for a 35-yard touchdown with 53 seconds left in the half. The score was tied at 21 at the half.
In the third quarter, N’kosi Perry left the game with a shoulder injury after a designed rush play for the quarterback in the teeth of the Georgia Tech defense. Jarren Williams would replace Perry and go 1 for 3 for 12 yards and was sacked on third down forcing a Miami punt.
Senior linebacker Michael Pinckney would also leave the game with an injury in the second half forcing walk-on Ryan Ragone into action. Georgia Tech would pound the football Ragone’s way converting drives and keeping the ball out of Miami’s hands.
Perry would return to the game on the next offensive series for the Hurricanes but the offense could not get any rhythm going. Perry would finish the game completing 16 of his 28 passes for 188 yards and two touchdowns, zero interceptions and was sacked twice. The defense looking to revive the home Hard Rock Stadium crowd was able to recover a fumble to stop a Georgia Tech. Senior linebacker Shaq Quarterman emerged from the pile with the football and Shaq adorned the turnover chain on the sideline. Miami could not convert the turnover to points as Bubba Baxa missed a field goal from yards out.
Perry was able to hit Dee Wiggins on a play-action pass to give the Canes a chance at the go-ahead score just before the Davidson blunder.
Miami missed a total of three field goals (two misses by Davidson and one by Baxa). Average yards of field goal misses were 28.6.
The Canes would get a chance to match the Yellow Jackets score and were faced with a fourth down and four from the 8-yard line. Perry would complete a pass to Brevin Jordan and the tight end was stopped at the four-yard line. The measurement would be short.
“All losses are tough. Especially this one in the nature that it happened,” said Quarterman. “The lockerroom will always stay together.”
Canes fall to (3-4), and (1-3) in the coastal while Georgia Tech gets the second win of the year to bring their record to (2-5) and (1-3) in the coastal division. Miami goes on the road to take on 5-2 Pittsburgh. Georgia Tech gets a bye next week.
