Cam Ward and Miami's ability to answer adversity key versus Florida

Cam Ward and the Miami football team answered nearly every big play by Florida during a 41-17 win over the Gators on Saturday in Gainesville. Miami had a field goal on their next drive after their lone turnover and scored on all three drives following Florida scores.

Miami went 11 plays and 84 yards in 5:39 on their opening drive to take a 7-0 lead. The drive culminated with a Ward to Cam McCormick nine-yard TD pass. Miami forced Florida to punt on the ensuing drive. On second and nine from their own 15, Ward forced a pass and Florida got its only turnover on the Miami 33.

The Miami defense held Florida to 10 yards on six plays on the next drive. A Trey Smack 41-yard field goal put Florida on the board and cut the Miami deficit to 10-3. Miami went 70 yards in nine plays in 5:26 with an Andres Borregales field goal extending the lead back to seven. The Hurricanes stalled at the Florida five on third down.

After stopping Florida on fourth down on their own 42, Miami went 58 yards in four plays. A Mark Fletcher 10-yard run extended the Miami lead to 17-3. After the teams exchanged punts, Montrell Johnson ran 71-yards for a touchdown to get Florida back within 17-10 with 3:21 left in the first half.

Ward and Miami again had an answer. The Hurricanes had an eight-play, 75-yard drive in 2:36 with a Ward to Xavier Restrepo 24-yard TD pass to push the lead back to 24-10 with 45 seconds left in the first half. Florida took a knee and the teams went to halftime.

With basically two consecutive drives for Miami with the ball to start the second half, the Hurricanes were able to put the game away. Miami went 75 yards in six plays, with Fletcher scoring his second TD of the game on a one-yard leap. The Hurricanes led 31-10 and the lead remained at least 21 points for the rest of the game.

After another Florida punt, Ward completed a 23-yard TD pass to Jacolby George on third and 11 to extend the Miami lead to 38-10 and basically end any Florida ideas of a comeback to match the Hurricanes' rally from a 33-10 deficit to the Gators in 2003 to rally for a 38-33 win.

After Florida starting QB Graham Mertz was hurt, five-star freshman D.J. Lagway had a nine-play, 58-yard drive in 4:03 culminated with a Treyaun Webb one-yard TD run. Miami answered with a six-play, 37-yard drive in 3:14 that Andres Borregales finished with a 26-yard field goal.

Ward and Miami ran the clock out with a five play, 46-yard drive in 2:50. The ability for Miami to rebound from adversity versus Florida is a testament to Ward's leadership. The 2024 Miami season looks bright with Ward and QB and the talent he has surrounding him.