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MIAMI GARDENS, FL–The Miami Hurricanes held the No. 20 ranked Virginia Cavaliers to only three field goals and managed to score twice and add a field goal of their own en route to a 17-9 victory Friday night.
The Hurricanes got the win, though difficult because of their inefficiency on offense, by playing sound defense and the help of a redshirt sophomore walk-on kicker named Turner Davidson.
Head coach Manny Diaz said that the decision to start Davidson on extra points was made right after warm-ups. He replaced the embattled Bubba Baxa who has missed two extra points already this season and is 5-9 on field goals. Davidson was perfect in both categories on the night nailing a 19-yard attempt in the fourth quarter to extend Miami’s lead to 10-6.
After a fast offensive start to the game, the Canes took a 7-3 halftime lead into the locker room. It was expected this game would be difficult because the Canes were playing in their second game this week. Just 6 days ago, they lost to Virginia Tech, coming back down from 28-0 to tie the game at 35. They lost the game after a go-ahead extra point was shanked by Baxa and the Hokies scored a touchdown on their final drive to win.
Tonight, the Canes seemed resolved from the very beginning to be the aggressors and get on the board first. They did so behind a masterfully engineered drive by quarterback N’Kosi Perry, starting for the injured Jarren Williams tonight against the Cavaliers. The opening series spanning 11-plays and 78-yards, originating from the Hurricanes 22 yard line featured a collection of screen passes to TE Brevin Jordan (13 yards), WR Jeff Thomas (9 yards) and RB DeeJay Dallas for 17 yards and the opening score.
Meet RS Sophomore Kicker, Turner Davidson from San Antonio, TX. He’s replaced Bubba Baxa on XP tries, at least at the outset of this contest vs. Virginia. #Canes https://t.co/h2FkT3bPGZ
— Brandon Odoi (@Brandon_Odoi) October 12, 2019
But the initial offensive success for Miami was short-lived. On the next four drives of the first half, they were completely inefficient. And at the end of the half, poor clock management on offense gave the Cavaliers an opportunity to kick a field goal as the clock expired.
However, the Canes would regroup in the second half with the defense leading the way. Coach Diaz’s group forced a third and out in the first defensive series of the second half and caused the games only turnover in the second. But the Cavs stayed in the game because the Canes couldn’t convert the turnover into any points. Instead, they gained confidence by marching down the field and kicking another field goal to draw within a point at 7-6.
Enter the walk on.
Davidson drilled a 19-yard field goal after Miami drove down the field led by senior wideout K.J. Osborn and sophomore tight end Brevin Jordan who caught passes from the poised N’Kosi Perry, making his first start of the season. The passes caught were significant because Miami had several dropped balls on the night. For his part, Perry finished 16 for 27 for 182 yards and a TD pass to Dallas on a screen play on the first drive.
Manny Diaz 🗣 “The neatest thing about this team is that they just don’t panic.” #Canes win 17-9 over No. 20 Virginia #ACc pic.twitter.com/0wPxYnetY4
— Brandon Odoi (@Brandon_Odoi) October 12, 2019
Defensively, the Canes redshirt Freshman defensive end Greg Rousseau was the star. The 6’6 rangey defender finished with 7 tackles, a sack, 2 tackles for a loss and a forced fumble. It was just a whale of a game for the young defender who Cane fans were begging to see more of.
His head coach said in the post-game presser that he had been getting “more sound in the run game,” allowing him to stay on the field for longer stretches during the game. He and senior striker Romeo Finley who finished with 8 tackles, were part of the main reason the Canes held star Virginia quarterback Bryce Perkins in check. Perkins only managed 27 rushing yards and went 24 for 41 passing for 244 yards.
Overall, it was a sound team effort for the Miami Hurricanes who now climb to 3-3 overall and 1-2 in the Atlantic Coast Coastal Conference. The Canes play again at home on October 19 at noon against 1-4 Georgia Tech.
Rousseau > Perkins. #Canes
— Brandon Odoi (@Brandon_Odoi) October 12, 2019
Watch the emotion of the final play of the game and see the relief of this team who so desperately wanted to get a win.
FINAL PLAY: From the field view, take a look at the raw emotion from players and coaches on the #Canes defense as they exit the field were the last Virginia pass falls to the ground incomplete. @CoachBanda @CoachPatke @AlBlades_Jr @BandyTrajan @gurvanhall6 #hotbedworld pic.twitter.com/AR9MzblOg2
— Brandon Odoi (@Brandon_Odoi) October 12, 2019
