Miami Gardens, FL — New quarterback D’Eriq King and new offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee were expected to change the look of an offense that averaged just 25.7 points per game in 2019 (90th of 130 teams).
Miami opened the 2020 season with a 31-14 win over University of Alabama-Birmingham (UAB) in the first game of the season for the Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium Thursday night in front of a socially distanced crowd. The COVID-19 pandemic canceled Spring practice and caused conferences to have an unorthodox schedule. The Hurricanes come away with a win, but the home team got off to a slow start for what is supposed to be a fast-paced offense.
“Week one is always weird,” said quarterback D’Eriq King with a black shirt that had the words ‘Black Lives Matter’ in bright yellow letters. “Every week one I’ve been apart of has been a crazy week. New offense, new quarterback, new system totally missing spring ball, missing a little of the summer. We did pretty good for the occasion.”
The running game of senior transfer King and junior running back Cam’Ron Harris would power the rushing offense to 217 yards rushing combined. The team would end the game with 337 yards total rushing yards.
Head Coach @Coach_MannyDiaz on the lack of a an atmosphere after a @CanesFootball 31-14 win over @UAB_FB. Attendance at @HardRockStadium tonight – 8,153 pic.twitter.com/g7PuzQcLZq
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) September 11, 2020
Running Game Is Elite
Cam’Ron Harris (Miami Carol City) broke free for a career-high 66-yard touchdown run at the 1:04 mark in the first quarter to set the bar of what was to come from the Miami rushing attack. Harris rushed for over 100 yards for the second time in his career finishing with 134 yards on 17 carries (7.9 yards per rush). Harris also had the honor of adorning the new touchdown rings which had the words “The Crib” along the front. The rings are given to the scorer of the previous touchdown on the sideline.
“I thought we set the tone early,” said Head Coach Manny Diaz. “Our guys really looked relentless. I’m proud of those guys, I’m proud of how we were physical and ran the football.”
Also impressive in the run game was King from the quarterback position. King would find paydirt for the first time as a Miami Hurricane as he dropped back and pulled the football down to rush off the left side. King dived in headfirst to vault his way over the goal line for a Miami touchdown with 10:04 left in the second quarter. The score would help the Hurricanes take a 14-7 lead into halftime.
Miami rushed for 181 yards in the first half alone with the assistance of true freshmen Jaylan Knighton (Deerfield Beach, Fl.) and Don Chaney Jr. (Belen Jesuit, Miami, Fl.). Knighton would finish with 59 yards on 9 carries (6.6 yards per rush) while Chaney Jr. would end with 52 yards on 8 carries (6.5 per rush).
The strong running game continued right out of the gate from the Hurricanes as Harris broke loose for a 19-yard gain on the first play and King dazzled with a scramble and run for a 25-yard gain on the same drive. King recorded 83 yards on the ground on 12 attempts. The drive stalled however as King’s pass completion to Harris would not be enough for a first down. Canes would settle for a Jose Borregales field goal from 25 yards to make it a 17-7 game.
Harris would score his second touchdown of the game driving his defender through the goal line on a four-yard run with 4:02 left in the third quarter. The score would help Harris register his first multiple touchdown game.
“Cam’s a great player,” said King. “He makes the offense go. Being able to run the ball we are able to take those shots (down the field).”
Harris would leave the game in the fourth quarter at the 12-minute mark with an apparent leg injury. Harris would jog off after remaining on the ground for about a minute.
Holes In The Defense
Early in the game after an exchange of punts between the two teams, the first big play would come late in the first quarter. At the 3:24 in the quarter, Mark Pope (Miami Southridge), new to the punt return duties, fumbled on his first attempt to field the football.
UAB would capitalize on the turnover with a 16-yard pass to Austin Watkins Jr. from (North Fort Myers) by way of Dodge City Community College. Tyler Johnston III, the redshirt junior would find Watkins on a corner route where the defender, junior D.J. Ivey, failed to turn around to look for the football. Miami would tie the game at seven with the long Harris run and a Borregales extra point, his first point as a Miami Hurricane.
At the 6:45 mark, a questionable penalty call would prove to be costly. UAB had a 4th and 4 on the Miami 11-yard line when defensive end Quincy Roche was called for offsides while the UAB tight end was moving. The penalty would give the Blazers a first down and running back Spencer Brown would go in from six yards on the next play for UAB’s second score.
Passing Game Missed The Mark
Although D’Eriq King, had an impressive showing on the ground, much was to be desired through the air. Preseason All-American Brevin Jordan had only three catches for 51 yards and a touchdown. His third catch of the night occurred with no time on the clock in the 3rd quarter. Jordan caught a simple out route from King from four yards out to extend the lead 31-14. King extended a current record of 16 straight games with throwing and rushing for a touchdown. King went 15 of 23 for 141 yards and one touchdown with zero interceptions.
Run Defense Looked Stout, But Turnover Chain Did Not Make An Appearance
Canes limited UAB to just 13 yards on 14 carries in the first half and completely shut down UAB’s attempt to get a running game going but could not generate a single turnover. Miami did give up some big plays including a 29-yard pass to Myron Mitchell but overall Coach Manny Diaz was impressed with the defensive performance. Temple transfer Roche got his first sack as a Miami Hurricane with 7:37 remaining in the first half. Roche leads as the active NCAA sack leader with 27.
“There’s some things we have to correct,” said Diaz. “I thought all those three-and-outs in the first half start allowed our offense to get the ball back and those snaps start wearing on the opposition.”
Miami goes on the road to take on Louisville next week.
Attendance : 8,153
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