Game Six : Miami 27, Central Florida 7

A much more spirited affair than last season’s 20-14 Canes victory in Miami, but again Central Florida treated this Sunshine State match up as if it were a BCS game.

Almost 50,000 screaming fans at Bright House Stadium; the largest crowd in its short history. An explosive energy on campus as this fan base knows the days of big time programs coming to Orlando will remain few and far between. (Especially with a now 0-for-21 record against top 25 teams.) This was a do or die type game for the Knights and their fans. For the Canes, it was simply game six on the schedule. Some faux hype would have to be implemented to avoid the let down.

Credit to Randy Shannon and staff, Miami was ready. It wasn’t the blowout many overzealous fans were calling for, but it was a convincing 27-7 victory where the outcome was never truly in doubt. That’s not to say things didn’t almost get a little hairy midway through the third quarter.

After finding itself in a fourth and long situation, Miami muffed a snap before an attempted punt, setting Central Florida up at the Canes two-yard line. Attempting to cut into UM’s then 17-7 lead, UCF inexplicably attempted to run an option, losing four yards. After an incompletion on second down, Miami made the game-changing third down play which brought the contest back down to earth.

Instead of pulling to within three, the Canes blitzed quarterback Brett Hodges and forced an interception by Colin McCarthy. Miami then drove 52 yards on eight plays for a back-breaking field goal and 20-7 lead. From there, no looking back. By the time the fourth quarter kicked off, fourth string running back Damien Berry was in the game.

Jacory Harris, 20-of-26 on the night for 293 yards and a touchdown, didn’t attempt a pass after the 12:42 mark in the fourth quarter. The game’s final sixteen offensive plays were all on the ground.

Miami didn’t set the world on fire Saturday night, but in a game like this it didn’t need to. Contrary to the belief of some, this was indeed a pitfall game. Had the Canes not buckled down and remained focused, this contest could’ve absolutely gotten away from them.

The Knights brought as much thunder as possible. Harris was sacked six times and Central Florida was hitting hard on every play. They were out to prove a point; they simply didn’t have the personnel to pull off the upset – even with the Canes as banged up as they were.

Midway through October, it’s all about staying the course. Win games. Find a way. Remain focused. Look around college football on any given Saturday and you’ll find teams who didn’t get that memo. No. 4 Virginia Tech saw their title dreams go down the drain with a 28-23 loss at No. 19 Georgia Tech. Still alive in the ACC, the Hokies are dead as a title contender with two regular season losses.

No. 1 Florida got all it could handle from unranked Arkansas, needing some lucky bounces and a late field goal to eke out a three-point win. No. 6 USC was taken to the wire by No. 25 Notre Dame. No. 7 Ohio State faceplanted at unranked Purdue. No. 15. Nebraska was throttled by unranked Texas Tech. No. 17 Kansas lost to unranked Colorado.

When you see the Hokies and Buckeyes choking away their golden opportunities, it helps you put a 27-7 victory in perspective. The Canes are now 5-1 entering next weekend’s home showdown with Clemson, are back in the ACC mix and when the polls are released later today Miami will be sitting on a No. 7 or No. 8 ranking.

Not bad considering this team started the season unranked and picked fourth in the Coastal division.

One game at a time. Cliche as it sounds, it really is the only option as this unexpected seasons rolls on. Miami survived the “murderer’s row” schedule out the gate and has avoided any letdowns after a brutal opening four-game stretch. Six games into 2009, can you really ask for anything more? Especially based on expectations?

This next month is all about the ACC. Clemson, @Wake Forest, Virginia and @North Carolina. All winnable on paper, but so were many other games in the 19-19 stretch Miami endured between 2006 and 2008.

A very defining stretch of football is on the horizon. Buckle down for Clemson at 3:30pm ET next Saturday and let’s get this thing to 6-1.

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