Miami football makes big plays in fourth quarter to defeat Virginia Tech

The Miami football team had big plays on both offense and defense in the fourth quarter in a 25-24 victory over Virginia Tech.

The Miami football team made the big plays when they had to in the fourth quarter to earn a 25-24 victory at Virginia Tech on Saturday. Miami rallied from a double-digit deficit on the road for the second straight week. A 36-yard touchdown pass from D’Eriq King to Mark Pope with 5:59 remaining provided the winning margin.

King was efficient completing 24-38 for 255 yards and the TD pass to Pope. Virginia Tech made King throw. King finished with 18 yards rushing on 15 carries a week after running for 105 yards in a 44-41 victory over North Carolina State. Cam’Ron Harris had his second straight solid game with 14 carries for 63 yards and a TD.

Defensive end Jaelan Phillips had his second straight dominant performance. Phillips recorded eight tackles, three tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. The TFLs for Phillips totaled a loss of 24 yards. The Miami defense was stifling again in the fourth quarter. Virginia Tech had 56 yards in the final 15 minutes.

The Hokies had 33 yards on the final drive that they began at their own three. Miami gave up the yards to keep Virginia Tech in front of them. Miami held Virginia Tech to 160 yards rushing which was 137 below their average. Virginia Tech finished with 362 total yards to 389 for Miami. Virginia Tech averaged 3.9 yards per carry.

Virginia Tech had nearly a third of its rushing yards on a 53-yard touchdown run by quarterback Hendon Hooker in the first quarter to put the Hokies up 7-0. A 42-yard field goal by Jose Borregales put Miami on the board with 37 seconds remaining in the first quarter. Jalen Holston answered with a TD for Virginia Tech.

Holston had an eight-yard TD run with 8:47 remaining in the second quarter to put Miami down double digits for the second straight game. The Hurricanes fought back again. King had a 10-yard TD run and Borregales added his second field goal with four seconds remaining in the first half to trail 14-13 at halftime.

Holston added his second TD of the game and Brian Johnson kicked a FG to put the Hurricanes down 24-13 in the third quarter. A Harris six-yard TD run cut the Hurricanes deficit to 24-19 after a failed two-point conversion with 1:27 remaining in the third quarter. That set up King and Pope’s heroics.

Miami received big plays throughout its defense and on special teams to secure the victory. Striker Gilbert Frierson had eight tackles with two TFLs and Te’Cory Couch had a big interception on the drive following the game-winning TD. Punter Lou Hedley averaged 52.4 yards, had six punts over 60 and three inside the 20.

The Miami football team returns home for the first time since October 24 to host Georgia Tech next week. The Yellow Jackets are 2-5 overall, 2-5 in the ACC. Georgia Tech lost its last game 31-13 two weeks ago to Notre Dame. The Yellow Jackets did not play last week and do not play this week. Kickoff is 8 PM on the ACC Network.