First Half Summary: Hurricanes vs. Virginia: 7-3

Follow

MIAMI GARDENS, FL–After a fast offensive start to the game, the Miami Hurricanes take a 7-3 halftime lead into the locker room in their second game this week.  The Canes played just 6 days ago here at Hard Rock Stadium in a loss to Virginia Tech.  Coming back down from 28-0, the Canes would tie the game at 35, but eventually lose on the last drive.

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 11-play, 78-yard drive that began at the Hurricanes 22 yard line featured a bevy of screen passes to Brevin Jordan (13 yards), Jeff Thomas (9 yards) and DeeJay Dallas for 17 yards and the score.

Of significant note, the Hurricanes replaced Sophomore placekicker Bubba Baxa on extra points.  Enter Turner Davidson. His extra point try went up and through the uprights.  There was immediate applause by Hurricanes fans followed. It was clear there was a growing frustration with Baxa’s failed extra-point attempts of the early season.  Some even contributing to the loss of games for the (2-3, 0-2) Canes.

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 success for Miami was short-lived.  On the next four drives of the half, they were completely inefficient.  And to end the half, poor clock management on offense gave the Cavaliers an opportunity to kick a field goal as the clock expired in the first half.

Here are my scratch notes from the first half:

Canes v. Virginia

Virginia wins toss and elects to defer

Canes to receive

KO at 8:01 PM

1st Quarter

Miami Drive 1

N’Kosi Perry starts for the University of Miami

Perry with a dime to KJ Osborn on 2nd and 12 for a gain of 

A beautiful opening drive for the University of Miami which featured several screen passes to explosive athletes DeeJay Dallas, for the score, Brevin Jordan and Jeff Thomas.  The Hurricanes get on the board early and get ahead of this game, something they failed to do just 6 short days ago. 

11 plays covering 78 yards 6:30 seconds 

DeeJay Dallas scores to put Miami up 7-0 in the first quarter.

Virginia Drive 1

Romeo Finley makes a great tackle knifing through on the run play.  

3 and out.

Miami Drive 2

Play to Mark Pope, deep downfield pass. He was wide open and dropped the ball. 

KJ Osborn with a drop on second down

3rd down, Kosi blitzed and scrambles to get a couple. 3 and out

41 yard punt by Lou Hedley

Virginia Drive 2

Drive starts on 33 yard line

3rd and 10 play. Ball on UVA 45 yard line.

Perkins completes pass to Joe Reed, 11 yard gain Mike Pinkney got theri just too late to get the sack.

4th & 1 at the 24 of Miami and VA going for it:

-Rousseu with the knifing TFL

Miami Drive 3

Drop by JT

Dallas with a 5 yard run on 2nd down, 3 and 5from the 29

Pitch to Dallas good for first down. Ball down to Miami 42

51 lead blocker
1-10 sack by OLB Noah Taylor

2-14, KJ osborn was wide open and pass overthrown by about 5 yards.

PENALTY

3-19 from the 33 

PUNT- big hit from JImmy Murphy on punt coverage

Virginia Drive 3

3 and 3 Perkins blitzed by Miami and picks up the first down. 

Perkins is strong. 6’3 215…getting tackled and just falling forward for the first down. Wow. #Canes

1-18 for the Cavs

-Perkins run stopped by 94 Trevon Hill

2-18 from the Cavs 41

-Frierson misses tackled and allows a gain longer than it should have been (10)

3-8 from the 49 of the Cavs

-Slant play complete to 8 Hasis Dubois

1-10 from the Canes 38

-21 1st down run byWayne Taulapapa

2-10 from the 25

3-6 from the 21 

-Canes get a stop. Pickney drove him out of bounds. Threw the ball away

4-6 from 21

-38 yard attempt. Kick blocked. BLOCKED BY PAT BETHEL FOR CANES 93

Miami Drive 4

1-10 from their own 22 

-Jet sweep to Jeff Thomas for loss of 3

2-13 from the 19

-Sack by 91 Mandy Alonso 

3-21 from the 11

-Perry with a design run.

4-10 from the 22 yard line TIME OUT VIRGINIA

PUNT

Virginia Drive 4

1 down over thrown

2nd down pass nearly intercepted by DJ Ivey and Pickney

3-10 from the 47 of Cavs with 2:32 to go

-pass short of the line to go. 

4-4 from Canes 47-TIME OUT MIAMI

-81 Nash Griffin PUNT

Fair catch by Jeff Thomas at Miami 6 yard line

Miami Drive 5

1-10 Hurricanes from their own 6

-DeeJay Dallas rush for 9 yards

2-1 from the 15 

-incomplete pass, intended for KJ Osborn Wires got crossed. 

3-3 Dallas run for no gain. Missed facemask call

Virginia Drive 5

1-10 from their own 35

-Pass complete to 13.

2-6 from the 41

-Bryce Perkins with a scramble out of the pocket and rush for a first down

1-10 from the Cavs 47 yard line 

-1:05 left in half. Run play stuffed

TIME OUT VIRGINIA

2-11 from the Virginia 46 1:01 left in Q2

-Sack by John Ford

3-13 from the 43 pass complete to No 8, DJ Ivey fell down and the ball is down to the Virginia 8

-49 yard pass completion from Perkins to Dubois

See tweet

2 and goal from the 8

-Pass broken up by G Hall, intended from Joe Reed

3 and Goal from the 8 for the Cavs

-Big pass break up by Al Blades intended for No. 9 Chatman

HALFTIME: DB Al Blades, Jr with a big stop on 3rd and goal. 25 yard FG attempt by #UVA is up and good. #Canes 7-3 leaders at the break.

9 plays 57 yards 

HALFTIME 7-3 Hurricanes lead.