Miami pulled off its biggest comeback in recent memory, scoring 23-unanswered points in an upset of Georgia Tech. The Hurricanes jumped out to an early 19-0 lead, but fell behind 36-19 early in the third quarter, before mounting a furious rally, forcing overtime, getting a big fourth-and-goal stop and putting six on the board for a 42-36 win.
Below are the top six plays from Miami’s win over Georgia Tech. In a game with 78 points and 1,025 yards there were a slew of big time moment.
Hard to pick just five, which we normally do, so we added an ‘honorable mention’ and did our best to narrow it down here.
No. 6 – Thomas Finnie pops Orwin Smith on fourth down on first drive – Had to throw this in as a bonus play because it was a defensive moment that really set the tone and showed that Miami came to play.
After the Canes scored on the opening drive, the Yellow Jackets were looking to answer. Smith converted on the first 2nd-and-9 opportunity, rumbling for nineteen yards, but GT didn’t do much the next three plays.
Facing a 4th-and-4 from the Miami forty-three yard line, head coach Paul Johnson flexed his muscle – and ego – and went for it. Tevin Washington pitched left to Smith and Finnie read it all the way, with the corner beelining his way into the backfield and stuffing the running back for a seven-yard loss.
For a defense that has struggled much of this season, this was a big time play. The jarring hit riled that side of the ball up and the stop on Tech’s opening possession showed the offense that the defense showed up to play, as well.
No. 5 – Anthony Chickillo sacks Tevin Washington on 3rd-and-6 in fourth quarter – Trailing 36-29 just over twelve remaining, Miami thought it had a stop on 3rd-and-12, but was hit with a holding penalty, giving Georgia Tech new life. On 1st-and-10, the Yellow Jackets rushed for five and a play later, Deon Bush stuffed Orwin Smith for a loss.
Facing another crucial third down, Washington rolled left and looked to pass, but was wrapped up by Chickillo, who fought off three blockers to wrap up the quarterback.
On 4th-and-11, Georgia Tech had no choice but to punt and while Miami didn’t score on the ensuing drive (Jake Wieclaw missed a 22-yard field goal), keeping the Yellow Jackets’ offense off the field – and out of the end zone – was a must.
No. 4 – Stephen Morris hooks up with Rashawn Scott for 25-yard reception on late 3rd-and-8 – Miami trailed 36-22 early in the fourth quarter and was driving. The possession started at the Hurricanes eighteen-yard line and Morris spread it around pretty well and on the ninth play of the drive, UM was facing a crucial 3rd-and-8 from the GT forty.
Come up empty and it’s punt time. Instead, Morris rolled right and put it up for Scott, who went airborne and pulled it down with is hands. Set up with a first down at the Georgia Tech fifteen, Mike James broke off a solid run for a touchdown, bringing Miami to within a touchdown with just under fourteen minutes remaining.
Bonus points for James on that run, who shed several defenders and held on to the ball when outstretched over the goal line, taking a helmet to the arm / ball and still got in.
No. 3 – Stephen Morris connects with Phillip Dorsett for 65-yard touchdown – Slow starts have plagued Miami all season. Down 14-0 in a flash at Boston College and then again two weeks later at Kansas State.
In both cases the opposition got the ball, drove down the field and got on the board immediately. This time around Miami won the toss, elected to receive and went to work.
Mike James rushed for six on first down and Morris found Dorsett for four on second down. Facing a third and one, Morris found a wide open Dorsett streaking down the right sideline, threw a perfect ball and No. 4 scampered sixty-five yards into the end zone.
The Canes quickly went up 7-0 and on the ensuing drive forced a punt after a six-play, eighteen-yard drive went nowhere for the Yellow Jackets.
Miami got on the board first and built a 19-0 lead, that Georgia Tech obviously overcame, but the early scoring allowed the Hurricanes some breathing room and the ability to have some necessary early momentum in a tough road game.
No. 2 – Miami defense gets crucial 4th-and-Goal stop in overtime – Twice last year ‘one yard’ was the difference in Miami losses. Early in the season against Kansas State, quarterback Jacory Harris was stopped on a 4th-and-Goal which cost the Canes the game. Weeks later, Virginia Tech quarterback Logan Thomas broke off a game-winning touchdown run on 4th-and-1.
In the overtime period Georgia Tech faced a 4th-and-1 from the Miami two-yard line and instead of kicking a field goal and playing defense, head coach Paul Johnson played the odds, put the ball in the hands of Tevin Washington, and UM came up with the huge goal line stand as the quarterback ran right and tried to plunge in.
Icing on the cake was linebacker – and Georgia native – Eddie Johnson making the steop.
For a team that has been crucified for sub par defensive play as of late, getting a goal line stop against a team that gets that yard nine of ten times — it will go a long way on the confidence front for a young defense that needed the shot in the arm early in the season.
No. 1 – Mike James breaks off 25-yard game-winning touchdown run in overtime – Two plays after the defense took care of business, James ran in the game-winner.
A quick run up the middle on first down made it appear that Miami was setting up for the field goal but on second down James bounced left, followed his blocks and around the fifteen-yard line turned on the jets and blew past a few Yellow Jackets en route to this third touchdown of the day.
A win, in dramatic fashion, and an exclamation point – getting it done with a touchdown and not relying on a field goal – which took some pressure off of Jake Wieclaw, who missed a late field goal and even stutter-stepped on his last extra point attempt.