The Miami Hurricanes knocked off the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats in game three, 38-10 in UM’s first home game of the year.
Below are the top five plays from the win and a hint, you might see the name Duke Johnson in there as the freshman running back found his way to the end zone four times in the win.
No. 5 – Eduardo Clements breaks off ten-yard touchown run late – Leading 31-10 the back ups were in the game and after a Dallas Crawford interception on a fake punt attempt, Miami rolled out Ryan Williams at quarterback and Clements at running back, third behind Mike James and Duke Johnson, both who had strong showings.
The Canes were hit with a holding penalty on first down and still chose to run Clements four times in a row, where he picked ten, seven and four yards before punching in the ten-yard touchdown run.
When Lamar Miller left Miami high-and-dry this past off-season, there were huge questions about the running game. Could James be the top dog? How would Johnson fit in as a freshman? Did Clements have what it takes?
All questions are slowing being answered. James is in the best shape of his career, Johnson is blowing up and growing up right in front of everyone’s eyes and Clements is a tough third-down, short-yardage back who is showing he too can carry the load.
With quarterback Stephen Morris struggling a bit, there’s more reliance on the ground game and to see James / Johnson / Clements forming a solid little unit, the late runs by fresh-legs Clements were a welcomed site, as was UM punching it in one last time down the stretch.
No. 4 – Dallas Crawford intercepts a Bethune-Cookman fake-punt attempt – Bounced around between offense and defense, it was just nice to see a playmaker like Crawford on the field for special teams, and making the most of the opportunity.
WIth the Canes leading 31-10, the Wildcats attempted a fake punt with Kory Kowalski, who noodle-armed a pass right into the hand of Crawford, two feet in front of him. Crawford returned it nine yards to the Miami twenty-one and running back Eduardo Clements punched in the score a few plays later.
The play came late in the game when the Canes had a large lead, but it’s always a good feather in the cap of the special teams unit or defense when something like this happens. It can give a spark later in the season as these guys now know they have made plays in the past. Similar to a late Brandon McGee interception at Kansas State last week, despite Miami being in a huge hole and the game out of reach.
You want your playmakers, special teamers and defenders making plays like this no matter what phase of the game you’re in. Heads up by Crawford and nice to see Miami score after the turnover.
No. 3 – Miami takes over midfield after poor Bethune-Cookman punt – With the score tied 7-7 midway through the second quarter, Miami finally got a spark and won the field position battle when Wildcats punter Kory Kowalski sent his kick out of bounds at the fifty- yard line.
Mike James picked up twenty on back-to-back runs and on a crucial 3rd-and-4 quarterback Stephen Morris found Phillip Dorsett for a fifteen-yard pick-up. A quick James run on 1st-and-Goal didn’t get in so on second down The Duke got the handoff and barreled in for his second score of the day and Miami led, 14-7.
No. 2 – Duke Johnson takes Morris dump off 50 yards for touchdown – Miami led 17-7 midway through the third quarter and in all reality, Bethune-Cookman was still a score from getting back in the game, despite their offense doing nothing.
Miami started the drive on its own twenty-two and after some dinking and dunking from Stephen Morris, he hooked up with Rashawn Scott for a fourteen-yard reception.
A play later tight end Asante Cleveland was nailed with a holding penalty and with the offense stagnant, a 1st-and-20 seemed rather daunting until Johnson ran away with it.
After receiving the toss and bouncing left, Johnson stopped, cut right, accelerated and found the end zone. It happened in a split second and again, showed this kid is special. Canes went up 24-7 and truly put the game out of reach on this play.
No. 1 – Duke Johnson returns kickoff 95 yards for touchdown – After Phillip Dorsett fumbled a punt return, Bethune-Cookman took over on the UM twenty and after six straight runs by Isadore Jackson, had the early 7-0 lead.
Before Miami even had a moment to panic – or fans had time to ‘boo’ – Johnson took the kickoff, cut through everyone and found the end zone, with the closest defender twenty yard behind him.
The Miami defense fed off the score, buckled down and while the offense remained in a lull until midway through the second quarter, because of the kickoff return, the Canes never had to play from behind – and ESPN didn’t have much time to flash – Bethune-Cookman 7, Miami 0 – across the ticker, as they’d have loved to.
Duke woke up the Wildcats with this return and took over the game from that point.
That 95-yard kickoff return brought back memories of Devin Hester. I was really impressed by Duke’s tv interview…..humble, sincere, and willing to do whatever is asked of him. I hope his teammates sit up and take notice. By the way, how did Randy get the nickname “Duke?”
D.J’s kickoff return was a much needed T.D. for U’all Cane fans team de jour. Eh. SIMPLY because that score took away any MOTIVATIONAL emphasis Bethune Cookman got fromt their GIFT touchdown.
Also, I SEE-r Seantral starting very, very, very soon. Perhaps against Ga. Tech this Saturday afternoon. And if not against the Rambling Wreck, then the next Saturday’s against the Wolfpack. No not Howling’ Wolf. LOL
Speaking of the Yellow Jackets. I TOUTED on Sunday A.M. past, that Ga. Tech would be a – 14 1/2 home chalk. And as of Monday afternoon, the Rambling Wreck area solid – 13 1/2 favorite. Bloody ouUch.
Cane tactics. It would do The Golden One’s youngish’ squad to establish a running game EARLY and SAVE the defense by winning the Time of Possesion battle. Otherwise, this A.C.C. encounter MAY turn into another MOLESTATION akin to the Manhatten, Kansas fiasco. dUh
Bon jour
Could be blow out. Might not be, either. Georgia Tech isn’t Kansas State on offense. Not a multi-dimensional squad. Washington can hurt with you with a throw here or there, but their passing game is all but non-existent.
Where it gets scary is their defense, which is better this year than it has been in years passed. Miami needs to get its shit together offensively and must move the ball and score early. Don’t want to go down a score or two against these guys. Score first, put them in a hole and make them change their offensive strategy.
With Miami’s HELTER SKELTER young defense, I am no longer going to LAMELY attempt to forcast a score. Especially after I failed miserably with my pouting, tout against Kansas St. LOL
Bottom line is all I wanna’ see from the Canes this Saturday is too COMPETE and hang tough with Ga. Tech. Is that asking too mUch. Eh.
Keep Hope Alive, U’all Hurricane college football fans. Because Miami could be the Colorado Buffalo’s and what not.
And here’s a brief tidbit from CBS’s Barnhart. Eh. Notice the LAST TIME both the Canes and Colorado were Top 10/20 ‘ significant… ‘ 2005.
Because the Buffalo’s have totally fallen off the major college football TIERRA FIRMA and Miami is THREADING the shark-ladden seas of college football. dUh
There’s really bad, and then there’s Colorado
” After losing to Sacramento State, an FCS school, you just didn’t think it could get any worse for the Buffs. But it did. Fresno State outgained Colorado 516-123 in the first half and led 55-7 at halftime. Pac-12 play begins this week.
For Colorado, there is simply not a win on the schedule. Could somebody please tell me how Colorado got so bad? Only 22 years ago Colorado won the AP national championship. Only 11 years ago the Buffs were in the Fiesta Bowl under Gary Barnett. Since Barnett left after the 2005 season, the program has not had a winning record. Jon Embree has a tall task in front of him. ” Barnhart, http://www.cbssports.com CBSSportsline