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Miami Gardens, FL — Fourth and 17 was the down in distance that was used to motivate the Miami Hurricanes for the game Saturday with North Carolina. The Tar Heels converted on fourth down last year late in the game and would go on to beat the Hurricanes scoring on a 10-yard touchdown pass from Sam Howell to Dazz Newsome.
This year, the Hurricanes (8-2) came into Saturday’s afternoon game at Hard Rock Stadium winning their last five games in a row and perhaps their most impressive performance was last week, a 48-0 shutout win over Duke. Saturday’s game, perhaps their worst performance of the season and maybe the worst in the history of the program. The Hurricanes were embarrassed 62-26 at home to North Carolina (8-3) and gave up a total of 778 total yards, the second-most by any team in college football this year. The total yardage given up by the defense was the most in the 84-year history of the Miami Hurricanes program. The Canes also gave up 520 yards rushing yards to running backs Michael Carter and Javonte Williams, the most combined by the two teammates is an FBS record.
“We got our ass kicked,” said Head Coach Manny Diaz with his post-game press conference opening statement. “When you’re not playing your best, that’s what it looks like. Especially against a really offensive football team.”
The game marked the debut of the Miami Nights 2.0 uniforms, the all-black uniforms with orange trim and black helmets and orange facemasks. After today’s performance, the team should consider suspending the uniforms for a while.
Miami’s first drive was promising, but ended with a 47-yard field goal make by senior Jose Borregales. Borregales (Miami Booker T. Washington) accepted an invite to the Senior Bowl this week and is a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award, an award given to the nation’s best kicker.
On the ensuing drive, North Carolina would drive down the field and take the lead with a two-yard run by Javonte Williams. The junior running back Williams would score on back-to-back drives and is projected to be the third running back taken in the draft by most experts. Williams ran for 112 yards on ten carries in the first half alone. The junior broke free for a 65-yard run later in the half.
After a turnover on downs on the Carolina 35-yard line in the first quarter, senior running back Michael Carter (Navarre, FL) got the edge and ripped a 65-yard touchdown run. Carter had 7 carries for 120 yards and two scores in the first half.
North Carolina would score on their first six possessions and moved the ball at will throughout the game. As a team, Carolina rushed for 230 yards on 19 carries and scored on every possession in the first half except for the last possession that ended the half.
“They came to play, we didn’t,” said junior defensive end Jaelen Phillips. “Credit to their running backs. Those are probably the two best running backs I’ve ever seen.”
North Carolina would continue to move the ball with ease in the second half. Howell would get in on the scoring onslaught as the sophomore quarterback dove to the goal line for a two-yard touchdown in the third quarter and caught a touchdown on a ‘Philly Special’ play in the fourth quarter. Howell would add a touchdown pass to Kamari Morales (Lincoln, FL) to make it a 55-26 game with 11 minutes to go.
“Obviously we did not make the adjustments during the course of the game,” said Coach Diaz. “They were able to do the same two or three things over and over again and have the success that they had and once you got those backs out in the open field. Then they really became a problem.”
Miami added points before the half as King found Mike Harley Jr. (Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas) for a two-yard touchdown and in the third quarter, Brevin Jordan on a 76-yard touchdown. This game was all about North Carolina gashing the Miami defense for big chunk yards. The Heels had five plays of fifty yards or more.
“We learned a harsh lesson tonight,” said Diaz. “It’s worth one loss in the standings. We still have the ability to decide what we do next.”
The win gives the Tar Heels an opportunity to play in a New Years Six bowl for the first time since the 2001 Peach Bowl (16-10 Win over Auburn). Likely opponents for the Tar Heels could be the Florida Gators or the Texas A&M Aggies. The loss for the Hurricanes likely will land them in the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville or Cheez-It Bowl in Orlando.
