Cam Ward completed 19-28 passes for 346 yards and five touchdowns and no interceptions playing only one series into the second half as Miami beat Ball State 62-0 on Saturday. The game was delayed 2:25 by a lightning delay. Miami didn't break the game open until late in the second quarter.
Ward threw three TD passes in a 3:16 span that concluded with 1:30 in the second half to extend a 10-0 Miami lead to 31-0. Miami led 31-0 at halftime. Ward completed 17 passes in 25 attempts for 317 yards and four touchdowns in the first half. Miami was equally dominant defensively in the first half.
Miami outgained Ball State 199-43 in the first half and was even more dominant in the second half with a 410-25 advantage. The Hurricanes outgained Ball State 750-115 for the game. The 750 yards broke a Miami program record against Central Connecticut State when Miami had 739 yards in a 69-0 win in 2021.
Miami had arguably its most complete performance this season. Francisco Mauigoa had six tackles, one tackle for loss and two pass breakups. The 115 yards allowed were the fewest by Miami since they held Savannah State to 78 in a 77-0 win during the 2018 season.
Ward became the first quarterback in ACC history with over 300 passing yards and third touchdowns in his first three games. Xavier Restrepo had two touchdown receptions and Jacolby George, Chris Johnson and Elijah Arroyo had one each from Ward. Emory Williams had a 40 yard TD pass to Elija Lofton in the fourth quarter.
Miami got the running game going in the second half after only 22 rushing yards in the first half. The Hurricanes ran for 221 yards in the second half. Ajay Allen led Miami with seven carries for 104 yards and a touchdown. Allen had two carries for 90 yards on the Miami scoring drive to increase the lead to 48-0.
Lofton and Jordan Lyle closed out the scoring late in the fourth quarter. Lyle carried 11 times for 71 yards and a TD in the best performance of his young Miami career as a true freshman, Miami will finish its non-conference schedule at South Florida next week.