Miami football red zone defense critical defeating Virginia

The Miami football team held Virginia to two field goals in three red zone trips in regulation that played a major role in the game being tied at six entering overtime. Miami forced two Virginia field goals in the first two overtimes before finally prevailing 14-12 in the fourth extra stanza. Virginia finished the game with 327 yards.

Miami was particularly stout in the first half. Virginia had 92 yards in the first half and averaged 4.2 yards per play. Miami and Virginia each punted on their first five possessions of the first half. The Miami football team took the lead on an Andres Borregales 38-yard field goal on the final play of the first half.

The deepest Virginia got in the first half was to the Miami 49 before the Cavaliers punted. That drive was eight plays, 43 yards in 4:42. Miami was able to limit big plays for Virginia in the first half. The Cavaliers had several big plays in the second half that put them into the Miami red zone.

On their drive to start the second half, Virginia quarterback Brennan Armstrong completed passes of 30 yards to Keytaon Thompson and 47 to Lavel Davis Jr. to advance to the Miami three-yard line. Miami pushed Virginia back to the nine and the Cavaliers had to settle for a Will Bettridge field goal to tie the game at three.

After a Miami punt, Virginia drove to the Hurricanes’ three primarily because of an Armstrong to Mike Hollins completion for 64 yds. Miami topped Virginia on a first-down running play and the Cavaliers were incomplete on the next three downs. Virginia went to trickery on third down, but a pass by Thompson was incomplete.

Armstrong’s pass was incomplete on fourth down to Grant Misch. After another Miami punt, Virginia drove as far as the Hurricanes’ four-yardline before Cavaliers’ running back Perris Jones was stopped for a two-yard loss. Bettridge added another field goal to take a six-to-three lead.

The Miami football team forced overtime on a 20-yard Borregales field goal on the last play of regulation. Head coach Mario Cristobal indicated Miami planned to play for a touchdown before a penalty pushed the Hurricanes back on third down. The Miami defense was equally as tough in the red zone in overtime.

Miami held Virginia to two field goals in the first two that were matched by the Hurricanes to force a third extra stanza. Miami stopped Virginia on both two-point tries that occurred in the third overtime. Hurricanes’ quarterback Jake Garcia scored the game-winner in the fourth overtime when he successfully dove for the right pylon.