Miami football iced Virginia Tech win with game closing drive
Virginia Tech cut what was once a 20-0 lead by the Miami football team to 20-14 on a touchdown with 3:20 remaining in the game. Miami began the drive at their own 25-yard line. The Hurricanes moved the ball 24 yards in eight plays to run out the clock. Miami converted two crucial third downs on the drive.
On the first set of downs, Miami quarterback Tyler Van Dyke completed a pass for a loss of one yard on first down to Romello Brinson. Running back Jaylan Knighton ran for three yards on second down. Miami faced its biggest third down of the game to keep the ball away from a potential game-winning Virginia Tech drive.
Van Dyke had a 15-yard completion to Frank Ladson to keep the drive alive and give the Miami football team a fresh set of downs. Miami gained a yard on via down via a Van Dyke run. Running back Lucious Stanley had a three-yard gain on second down. On third and six Van Dyke scrambled to the left nine yards for a first down.
Miami was penalized five yards for a substitution infraction following the Van Dyke run for a first down. That final penalty was a microcosm of the game. Miami overcame 17 penalties for 159 yards in the win. Van Dyke took a knee on the next two plays to run out the clock. That last drive won the game.
The focus on the end-of-game drives is usually on the final two minutes in a tie game or when a team is trailing. Led by Van Dyke Miami did not panic. After Virginia Tech got back into the game, the Miami offense picked up the entire team by doing what they had to gaining the two first downs and running out the clock.
Having the veteran presence of Van Dyke at the end of the game was critical as he was directly involved in both third-down conversions. Miami finished eight for 17 on third down. The Miami defense held Virginia Tech to four of 15 on third down. Virginia Tech converted its one-fourth down attempt.
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Miami made the clutch plays they needed to on the final drive. The win by Miami over Virginia Tech improves the Hurricanes to 3-3 overall and 1-1 in the ACC. Mario Cristobal earned his first ACC conference win with the victory. Miami will host Duke on Saturday. Duke lost 38-34 to North Carolina on Saturday.