Jake Garcia has under performed in fourth quarter this season
In three appearances in the fourth quarter this season, Jake Garcia has completed 18 of 29 pass attempts for 190 yards, no touchdowns one interception and lost one fumble. In the 45-21 Miami loss to Duke on Saturday Garcia had five turnovers, three interceptions and two lost fumbles.
The majority of the positive numbers for Garcia in the fourth quarter came against Bethune-Cookman when he completed all four of his pass attempts for 42 yards, one TD and no interceptions. Taking the game away against B-C, Garcia is 14-25 for 148 yards, no TDs, one interception and a fumble in the fourth quarter.
Miami starting QB Tyler Van Dyke has completed 58.2 percent of his passes for 317 yards, one TD and one interception in the fourth quarter. Prior to the loss against Duke, the Miami offense was averaging six points per game in the fourth quarter. Miami allowed an average of 6.2 PPG in the fourth quarter prior to Duke.
Garcia completed four passes in 11 attempts for 57 yards in the fourth quarter of the 45-31 loss to Middle Tennessee State. In the third quarter versus the Blue Raiders, Garcia completed six passes in eight attempts for 112 yards and led Miami on one scoring drive. Miami also had a fourth-quarter TD versus Middle Tennessee State.
The sample size for Garcia is relatively small, but Miami faces the possibility that Van Dyke will be out for an extended period after leaving the game on Saturday with an injured shoulder. Miami needs to be able to rely on Garcia in the fourth quarter. Van Dyke led Miami on a critical game-closing drive versus Virginia Tech last week.
Jake Garcia has to be able to improve his play in the fourth quarter for the Miami offense to be able to win games late. Garcia showed what he is capable of early in the third quarter. Miami entered the second half trailing Duke 17-7. Garcia threw two TD passes less than two minutes into the third quarter 1:03 apart.
Colbie Young caught a 71-yard TD pass 54 seconds into the third quarter and following Miami receiving a Duke fumble a 34-yarder to Will Mallory with 13:06 left. Miami was not able to continue the momentum as Duke scored the final 28 points of the game. Miami had four turnovers after taking the lead.
Next. Miami commits 8 turnovers in 45-21 loss to Duke. dark
Everything snowballed for Miami on Saturday. Miami appeared to overcome the four first-half turnovers after taking the lead in the third quarter. Jake Garcia lost two fumbles and threw two interceptions in the fourth quarter. It appears Garcia will have the entire week to prepare as the starters versus Virginia.