Miami Gardens, FL — The Miami Hurricanes are expected to compete for the ACC coastal division this season…like every season. Games against perceived lesser opponents can serve as a barometer to how well they will compete. On Saturday night, Miami hosted Appalachian State in a game most expected to win comfortably.
This was anything but comfortable.
The Hurricanes had their backs against the wall down one with 5:48 remaining. Quarterback D’Eriq King trying to will his team to a victory decided to keep the football and ran on several occasions to keep the drive alive. Miami could not convert on a third down and six from the App State 28-yard line and settled for a 43-yard field goal attempt. The freshman kicker Andy Borregales confidently drilled the field goal to re-take the lead for the Hurricanes with 2:04 left in the game.
“We don’t want to put him that situation that often,” said Head Coach Manny Diaz. “For him to bang out two clutch kicks we had to have, it’s pretty special.”
Borregales converted from 27, 38, and the collegiate career long with the 43 yarder.
It would be up to the defense to secure the victory for the Hurricanes in their home opener. On fourth down and six, the visiting Mountaineers had one last chance to keep their upset hopes alive. Quarterback Chase Brice threw to his right to his receiver Corey Sutton, but the pass would be broken up by Tyrique Stevenson. The Canes would take over on downs and run out the clock for the victory.
Miami failed to finish drives with touchdowns all night. Miami converted only 5 of 16 on 3rd downs and out of five trips to red zone, Miami converted three field goals, had one field goal blocked, and scored one touchdown.
“We got to get better,” said Quarterback D’Eriq King. “We got a win tonight which is always postive, but offense, we got to get a lot better. It starts with me on the offense side of the ball I have to get a lot better.”
King completed 20 of 33 passes for 200 yards, with zero touchdowns and zero interceptions. King also added 79 yards on the ground on 19 carries.
The turnover chain made an early appearance as Amari Carter playing at the striker position this season caught a tipped pass at the line at the five-yard line.
App. St. would strike back however with a nine-play drive that would end with a 28-yard touchdown run by running back Cam Peoples. Peoples had 17 carries for 95 yards and a touchdown.
Late first quarter, Miami would reap the benefits of an errant snap over the App State punter’s head. The ball was batted out of the end zone by Mountaineer punter Xavier Sabotosh for a safety.
That safety was the first since November 1st of 2014 in a 47-20 win over North Carolina.
In the second quarter, the Canes would get in the red zone, but would fail to get into the end zone and settled for a Borregales 27-yard field goal. On the ensuing kickoff, Jalen Virgil would take it 100 yards for a touchdown streaking down the sideline.
The Hurricanes would trail the Mountaineers 14-12 going into halftime.
Miami seemingly came out of the break motivated as King orchestrated a six-play scoring drive that would conclude with a 12-yard rush up the middle by Cam’Ron Harris. King connected on big pass plays to KeyShawn Smith and Charleston Rambo on big gains of 17 and 33 yards. Harris had 18 carries for 91 yards and a touchdown.
The Mountaineers would add a field goal to make it two-point game going into the fourth quarter.
Borregales would add another field goal to start the fourth quarter extending the point spread to five, but that was erased by the Mountaineers. A 41-yard pass from Brice to Malik Williams would set App State up inside the ten-yard line. Brice would find Williams to finish the drive for a three-yard touchdown. The senior receiver was left all alone for an easy catch in the end zone (two-point conversion failed).
Running back Don Chaney Jr. and linebacker Keontra Smith left the game in the first half what appeared to be serious injuries.
“Neither initial prognosis were good,” said Diaz of Chaney’s and Smith’s injuries. “Big losses for our team.”
Miami hosts Michigan State next week and Appalachian State will look to bounce back against Elon at home.
Attendance – 45,877
Photos Courtesy of Miami Athletics
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