Miami rolls before and after weather delay in dominant win over South Florida

Miami scored on its first two drives and continued rolling after about a 100 minute lightning delay to dominate South Florida throughout the game in a 49-12 win on Saturday at Hard Rock Stadium. True freshman wide receiver Josh Moore had a breakout game for Miami.

Moore had eight and 39-yard touchdown receptions on the first two drives of the game as Miami led 14-0. Nico Gramatica had field goals before and after the lightning delay to cut the South Florida deficit to 14-6. A 38-yard TD run from Mark Fletcher and a two-yard run from Carson Beck extended the Miami lead to 28-6.

That was the lead at halftime. Beck had 23 completions in 28 attempts for 340 yards, three TDs and two interceptions and six carries for 28 yards and the TD. Fletcher had 16 carries for 120 yards and two TDs and two receptions for 25 yards. Moore recorded three receptions for 61 yards and two TDs.

South Florida quarterback Byrum Brown was 20-36 for 274 yards, one TDs and one interception and was limited to 13 carries for two yards. Most of the passing yardage for Brown came well after the game was decided, with 159 yards in the second half.

Brown had 31 carries for 109 yards as South Florida beat Boise State and Florida to begin the season. South Florida finished with 27 carries for 40 yards. USF entered the game 99th nationally, averaging 122.50 rushing yards per game.

South Florida had a chance to get back into the game in the third quarter, but Miami stopped Brown on fourth at two from the Miami nine. Miami went 91 yards in six plays that culminated with a 13 yard Fletcher TD run to extend the Miami lead to 35-6 and essentially put the game away.

Miami will conclude non-conference play next week against Florida. LSU led Florida 13-10 at halftime at the time the game ended. Florida beat Long Island in week one and lost 18-16 to South Florida in week two. After a bye week, Miami begins ACC play on October 4 at Florida State.