Miami Gardens, FL — The Miami Hurricanes opened ACC play with a Thursday night game against the Virginia Cavaliers hoping to gain some momentum to carry through the season.
Unfortunately, the Hurricanes season continues to spiral downward.
With 5:36 remaining in the game down two points, the Hurricanes had an opportunity to take the lead with a go-ahead score. Quarterback Tyler Van Dyke led the drive from the Miami nine-yard line and benefitted from solid runs from Jaylan Knighton and Cam’Ron Harris that would drive the Hurricanes to the Virginia 16-yard line.
Miami decided to settle for the field goal try to win the game as Van Dyke went down early on third down to position the ball for an Andy Borregales field goal.
“We were just trying to go down there and center the ball for Andy,” said Van Dyke. “I thought we were in a good position to win the game right there. I have a lot of faith in Andy and he’s going to make a lot of big kicks for Miami.”
Borregales would miss the 33-yard field goal off the upright as time expired and the Virginia players ran around the field in celebration at Hard Rock Stadium.
“We were trying to score a touchdown until it got to third down,” said Head Coach Manny Diaz. “We simply didn’t gain yards on first and second down, but once it became third down and ten, and the way the clock was, they took a timeout late in the play clock, which at that point we could control the clock and kick the walk-off field goal.”
The Hurricanes would be without usual starting quarterback D’Eriq King recovering from a shoulder injury and true freshman Jake Garcia was in a walking boot with an apparent ankle injury.
Tyler Van Dyke would make the second start of his career for the Hurricanes against Virginia. The second-year QB started the game slow, but got into a rhythm in the fourth quarter. He would finish the game 15-29 for 203 yards and one touchdown and zero interceptions.
Overall this was a game of missed opportunities as it started with true freshman Kamren Kinchens dropping a sure interception in the end zone that could have stopped an early Cavalier drive. The Cavaliers finished the drive with a one-yard touchdown rush by Wayne Taulapapa in the first quarter.
Defensive back Tyrique Stevenson, fielding punts for the Hurricanes and allowed the Cavaliers to pin the Hurricanes at their own one-yard line. Virginia defender Mandy Alonzo tackled Harris in the backfield for safety with 1:10 to go in the first quarter. The two-pointer ended being the difference in the game on the scoreboard.
Van Dyke’s 36-yard pass to senior receiver Charleston Rambo was the first sign of offense for the Hurricanes in the first half. Miami would complete the drive with a one-yard touchdown by Harris to make it a two-point game with 2:30 left in the half.
The Cavs would bounce right back with another score. Running back Mike Hollis, found an opening and traveled 25 yards to the goal line. Virginia led Miami 16-7 at halftime.
Miami was outgained by Virginia in the first half 245 to 94.
“Obviously [we] started very slowly, allowed them to take control of the game,” said Diaz. “We had a hard time getting in rhythm, had a hard time running the football, had a hard time protecting our quarterback. As time went on we grew into the game. Like I said I thought our fourth quarter effort was worthy of victory, and our play we came up one play short.”
After the Cavaliers converted on a 43-yard field goal by Brendan Farrell to start the second half the Hurricanes gave the home crowd something to be excited about. Freshman Corey Flagg Jr. stepped in front of an errant throw for an interception.
Turning the tide.
Watch on @espn: https://t.co/EE0o9ToOSe pic.twitter.com/LgtaeXGnB5
— Canes Football (@CanesFootball) October 1, 2021
The Miami defense registered three sacks but the Miami offensive line allowed four sacks.
The Canes would convert the turnover to points as Van Dyke connected with Mike Harley Jr. on a fade route for a 16-yard touchdown.
Harley led all Miami receivers with six catches for 45 yards and the one touchdown. Harley also moved into third all-time in receptions for the Hurricanes on the night.
3️⃣ continues to climb the ladder.@MikeHarleyjr has moved into third all-time in career receptions at Miami! pic.twitter.com/agEG6zbg1H
— Canes Football (@CanesFootball) October 1, 2021
The momentum shift. would not last for long as the Cavaliers would execute a seven-play 75-yard drive for another Virginia score. Miami safety Gurvan Hall Jr. seemingly had an interception caught but lost control of the football and the ball would bounce off of the Dontayvion Wicks’s body into his arms for the touchdown (Two-point conversion successful, run by Taulapapa). The score put Virginia up 27-14, the largest margin of the game.
Harris broke free for the biggest run of the game just before the end of the third quarter. The former Miami Carol City running busted loose for a 57-yard touchdown to make it a one-score game.
Clutch Cam with a 57 yard run 🙌
Canes 21, Hoos 30 in the beginning of the fourth. pic.twitter.com/ZuibtclSYf
— Miami Hurricanes (@MiamiHurricanes) October 1, 2021
Harris had 14 carries for 114 yards and two touchdowns.
Another Farrell field in the fourth quarter would stretch it out to a two-score game with 12:52 left in the game, which would prove to be the game-winning kick. Van Dyke would add a 24-yard touchdown run to pull within two points in the fourth quarter.
9️⃣ HAS WHEELSSSSSSS!
Watch on @espn: https://t.co/EE0o9ToOSe pic.twitter.com/XB1Xfmh82O
— Canes Football (@CanesFootball) October 1, 2021
The loss drops Miami to (0-1) in ACC play and (2-3) overall. Miami gets a bye week next week before going to Chapel Hill to take on North Carolina.
“We got something,” said Diaz. “There’s been all kinds of teams that have dropped a game in our league, we have a chance to rest up where we’re at right now physically, wounded mentally emotionally wounded. We have a chance to get away and get ourselves back. We know we got a seven-game tough stretch run coming starting off in Chapel Hill.”
Attendance – 37,269
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