Miami Hurricanes Run Over Bethune-Cookman 41-13
The Miami Hurricanes ran over Bethune-Cookman for 317 yards in a 41-13 victory in the season opener. Malik Rosier added 217 yards and three touchdowns passing.
The Miami Hurricanes got off to a slow start. Bethune-Cookman scored first. A Uriel Hernandez 36-yard field goal gave the Wildcats the lead 7:35 into the game. That capped a 12 play, 54-yard drive.
Miami struggled defensively on third and fourth down throughout the game. The Wildcats converted a fourth and three from the Miami 36 on their opening drive. A sack and penalties eventually stalled the Bethune-Cookman drive. That prevented them from having any chance to get in position to get into the end zone.
The Hurricanes defense on third and fourth down was abysmal. It’s something to watch going forward. The Wildcats were eighth of 17 on third down and two for two on fourth. They are going to have to improve on that quickly. If they don’t Florida State will shred them on the key downs.
The running game carried the day. The speculation was how much of the load would Mark Walton have to carry on offense. He was outstanding today. The Hurricanes star Junior running back had 16 carries for 148 yards and two touchdowns. He also added two receptions for eight yards.
Walton had a spectacular five-yard touchdown run in the first half. That gave the Miami Hurricanes their first lead. It turned a three all tie into a nine to three Miami lead. Michael Badgley added the extra point for a 10-3 Hurricanes lead.
The Hurricanes were playing today without last year’s receiving yardage leader Ahmmon Richards. Richards was out with a pulled hamstring. Rosier did a good job spreading the ball around. Ten different Miami Hurricanes receivers caught passes.
Junior Darrell Langham and Sophomore Lawrence Cager both stepped up this afternoon and made impacts. Langham had three receptions for 65 yards and a touchdown. Cager added three for 47 and his own touchdown. Senior Braxton Berrios had three receptions 35 yards and a TD.
Miami has had success running the ball against FCS teams in the past, only to struggle later in the season. They are going to have to continue the big effort on the ground as the season progresses.
If they are not able to continue to run effectively teams will be able to stack the box against run and dare Rosier to throw.
Head coach Mark Richt discussed the running game after the game.
"“We ran the ball pretty darn good…Obviously, Walton had a big day, averaging over nine yards per carry and [Travis] Homer did the same. Trayone Gray had a pretty good average and Malik got in the action a little bit, which was nice. Overall, I thought they played well. The opening drive they [Bethune-Cookman] took most of the first quarter by making plays, methodically moving the ball down the field, putting points on the board. Their field goal kicker made every kick. They’re a good football team.”"
Walton got assistance in the ground game from Travis Homer, Rosier and third string running back Trayone Gray. Homer had 103 yards on 11 carries, Rosier 43 yards on four carries and Gray three for 25.
It was an uneven performance for the defense. They had trouble getting off the field on third and fourth down. They were able to get into the Wildcats backfield often.
The Miami Hurricanes defense got to the Wildcats for seven tackles for loss. That included a big Demetrius Jackson sack on the opening Bethune-Cookman drive. That helped keep the Wildcats to a field goal.
"“Sophomore linebacker Shaquille Quarterman led all Hurricanes with eight total tackles (six solo), while senior defensive back Dee Delaney had seven tackles (six solo) in his Hurricanes debut.”"
Sophomore cornerback Malek Young who had a pair of interceptions during spring scrimmages and has made some big plays in training camp continued to do so today. Young had an interception and a tackle for loss.
Next: Miami Hurricanes Poised to Join College Football Elite
Miami will be on the road the next two weeks. They play at Arkansas State in a 3:30 ET (2:30CT in Arkansas) next week. They follow that up with the big prime time showdown in two weeks in Tallahassee.