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Miami football five critical elements that led to loss at North Carolina

By Alan Rubenstein

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 07: Dazz Newsome #5 of the North Carolina Tar Heels dives to make a catch in front of DJ Ivey #8 and Romeo Finley #30 of the Miami Hurricanes look oon during the second half of their game at Kenan Stadium on September 07, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 28-25. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 07: Dazz Newsome #5 of the North Carolina Tar Heels dives to make a catch in front of DJ Ivey #8 and Romeo Finley #30 of the Miami Hurricanes look oon during the second half of their game at Kenan Stadium on September 07, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 28-25. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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1) Too many penalties

Miami had seven penalties for 57 yards. Cam’Ron Harris had a big run called back because of a penalty for the second straight game. Penalties are expected with a young team. Twenty-one penalties for 182 yards through the first two games. It was encouraging to have half as many penalties as week one but they were still crippling.

2) Poor special teams play

This is primarily the kicking game, but there was more to it against North Carolina. After the Tar Heels kicked a field goal on the first drive of the game to open up a 3-0 lead, Jeff Thomas returned the ensuing kickoff 15 yards to their only 15 yardline to give the Hurricanes poor field position to start the game.

That was minuscule compared to Bubba Baxa and the abysmal Miami kicking game. Baxa missed an easy field goal for the second straight game. The sophomore made only two of his four field-goal attempts and had a critical extra point blocked. The blame is not entirely on Baxa. UNC pushed the middle of the line to block the PAT.

Baxa badly shanked a 49-yard field goal that would have tied the game with five seconds remaining. He made a 50-yard field goal earlier in the game that got the Miami football team on the board in the first quarter. Baxa missed a 26-yard field goal in the second quarter.

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