Miami wakes up late to blow away Duke

Miami Hurricanes 2009 ... Head Coach: Randy Shannon

2009 Schedule  
2009 Record: 8-3

9/7 at Florida State W 38-34
9/12 OPEN DATE
9/17 Georgia Tech W 33-17
9/26 at Virginia Tech L 31-7
10/3 Oklahoma W 21-20
10/10 Florida A&M W 48-16
10/17 at UCF W 27-7
10/24 Clemson L 40-37 OT
10/31 at W Forest W 28-27
11/7 Virginia W 52-17
11/14 at N Carolina L 33-24
11/21 Duke W 34-16
11/28 at South Florida

2008 Schedule
CFN Prediction: 7-5
2008 Record: 7-6

8/28 Char. Southern W 52-7
9/6 at Florida L 26-3
9/13  OPEN DATE
9/20 at Texas A&M W 41-23
9/27 North Carolina L 28-24
10/4 Florida State L 41-39
10/11 UCF W 20-14
10/18 at Duke W 49-31
10/25 Wake Forest W 16-10
11/1 at Virginia W 24-17 OT
11/8  OPEN DATE
11/13 Virginia Tech W 16-14
11/20 at Georgia Tech L 41-23
11/29 at NC State L 38-28
EMERALD BOWL
12/27 California L 24-17

Miami Hurricanes

Nov. 21
at Miami 34 … Duke 16
Miami overcame a rocky start and a 16-10 deficit by scoring 24 unanswered points highlighted by a 44-yard Leonard Hankerson touchdown catch and a 73-yard interception return for a score from Darryl Sharpton. Duke got the lead on three Will Snyderwine field goals and a 24-yard Donovan Warner touchdown catch, but Miami stepped up its intensity in the second half and the Blue Devil offense struggled. Miami outgained the Blue Devils 496 yards to 358.
Player of the Game: Miami LB Darryl Sharpton made 12 tackles with a broken up passes, two tackles for loss, and an interception for a 73-yard score.
Duke: Passing: Thaddeus Lewis, 20-37, 303 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Jay Hollingsworth, 10-32, Receiving: Donovan Warner, 8-165, 1 TD
Miami: Passing: Jacory Harris, 25-43, 348 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Damien Berry, 16-76, 1 TD, Receiving: Leonard Hankerson, 8-143, 1 TD
What It All Means: Miami needs to get its head screwed on straight for a full sixty minutes. It’s almost like the team needs something to provide a spark to play up to its talent level, and while that might not be a problem against someone like Duke, it cost the Canes against North Carolina. South Florida is going to be fired up from moment one next week, and a banged up Jacory Harris and the rest of the UM offense will have to be sharp from the start. 

Nov. 14
at North Carolina 33 … Miami 24
Kendric Burney intercepted three passes with his third leading to a wild and crazy score. After picking off his third, he tried to lateral it to Melvin Williams, but it was ruled a fumble going forward, and Williams weaved his way for a 44-yard touchdown and a 30-17 lead midway through the fourth. Miami QB Jacory Harris threw four interceptions on the day with Burney returning one 77 yards for a score, while the Tar Heels were helped by four Casey Barth field goals and a Greg Little 29-yard touchdown catch. Miami outgained the Tar Heels 435 yards to 329, and got short touchdown runs from Damien Berry and Graig Cooper, but the turnovers were too much to overcome.
Player of the Game: North Carolina CB Kendric Burney made two tackles, and three interceptions, taking one for a score
Miami: Passing: Jacory Harris, 28-50, 319 yds, 1 TD, 4 INT
Rushing: Graig Cooper, 15-63, 1 TD, Receiving: Leonard Hankerson, 7-92
North Carolina: Passing: T.J. Yates, 17-31, 213 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: Ryan Houston, 24-76, Receiving: Zack Pianalto, 5-51 
What It All Means: For all the good things Jacory Harris has done this year, the 16 interceptions have been a killer. Miami didn’t necessarily outplay UNC, but there were several chances to take control of the game and they all went kaput on picks. A few weeks ago, Miami was in the national title discussion, and then it was in the ACC title hunt and the mix for a BCS spot, and now the hope is to simply get a decent bowl bid after losing two of the last four games. Even with the loss, if the Canes beat Duke and South Florida, they have a shot at a strong ten-win season.

Nov. 7
at Miami 52 … Virginia 17
Miami got a career day from RB Graig Cooper, running for 152 yards with a three-yard score, Jacory Harris threw for two scores, and Thearon Collier took a punt 60 yards for a score, in one of the highlights of the ACC season, in the easy win. Virginia held a 10-3 lead in the first quarter helped by a 34-yard Rashawn Jackson run, but the offense wouldn’t get back on the board. A blocked punt for a score turned out to be the only Cav points the rest of the way, while the Canes scored 28 unanswered points in the second half helped by two short Damien Berry runs.
Player of the Game: Miami RB Graig Cooper ran 18 times for 152 yards and a score.
Virginia: Passing: Marc Verica, 11-29, 75 yds, 1 INT
Rushing: Rashawn Jackson, 8-77, 1 TD, Receiving: Rashawn Jackson, 3-3
Miami: Passing: Jacory Harris, 18-31, 232 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Graig Cooper, 18-152, 1 TD, Receiving: Dedrick Epps, 2-24
What It All Means: Miami might not be able to win the ACC title unless Georgia Tech stumbles, but it’s positioning itself in a position for a BCS spot by continuing to win and continuing to look impressive. The Canes showed off all their speed and all their talent in the blowout win, especially with the phenomenal punt return for a score from Thearon Collier, while the O line had one of its best game in weeks. Now the job is to keep the focus with a tough trip to North Carolina coming up next. That’s going to be more of a battle than it might appear. 

Oct. 31
Miami 28 … at Wake Forest 27
Miami was outplayed for most of the game, but it came through big in the fourth quarter as Jacory Harris took advantage of a special teams miscue to connect with Tervaris Johnson on a two-yard score early in the fourth and came up with the game-winner on a 13-yard Travis Benjamin catch with just over one minute to play. Wake Forest tried a 60-yard field goal as time ran out, but Jimmy Newman’s boot was well short. The Demon Deacons rolled up 555 yards of total offense and was up 17-0 early and got two touchdown passes and a scoring run from Riley Skinner.
Player of the Game: Miami QB Jacory Harris completed 22-of-43 passes for 330 yards and three score and an interception.
Wake Forest: Passing: Riley Skinner 29-43, 349 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Josh Adams, 9-48, Receiving: Devon Brown, 12-101
Miami: Passing: Jacory Harris, 22-43, 330 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Graig Cooper, 6-27, Receiving: Leonard Hankerson, 5-97
What It All Means: Miami overcame the crushing collapse against Clemson by applying some pain of its own. The defense was ripped to shreds by Riley Skinner and the Wake Forest offense, and the defense did a whole lot of nothing for most of the game, but the offense took advantage when it got the chance to make something happen, and going +3 in turnover margin made all the difference. The Canes still have a long way to go to be great, but at 6-2 with Virginia up next, the ACC title chase is still on. 

Oct. 24
Clemson 40 … at Miami 37 OT
Miami got a 22-yard field goal in overtime, but Clemson answered with a perfect strike from Kyle Parker to Jacoby Ford from 26 yards out for the win. The Tigers were able to force overtime with a 30-yard Richard Jackson field goal with five seconds to play to cap off a wild first four quarters. Clemson got a 90-yard kickoff return for a score and a 56-yard touchdown catch from C.J. Spiller, while the defense got into the act with a 23-yard DeAndre McDaniel interception return for a score. Miami had some big plays of its own with two Jacory Harris touchdown passes including a 69-yarder to Travis Benjamin in the fourth quarter, and the Miami D came up with a score of its own with a 53-yard Marcus Robinson fumble return for a score. The two teams combined for seven turnovers, and Miami committed 11 penalties.
Player of the Game: Clemson RB C.J. Spiller ran 14 times for 81 yards, caught six passes for 104 yards and a score, and returned three kickoffs for 125 yards and a score.
Miami: Passing: Jacory Harris, 17-27, 256 yds, 2 TD, 3 INT
Rushing: Graig Cooper, 17-99, Receiving: Leonard Hankerson, 5-87, 1 TD
Clemson: Passing: Kyle Parker, 25-37, 326 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: C.J. Spiller, 14-81, Receiving: C.J. Spiller, 6-104, 1 TD
What It All Means: Four turnovers, three interceptions from Jacory Harris, and 11 penalties … this was a sloppy Miami performance and it proved costly. There’s no denying the talent level and there’s no questioning the athleticism, but the Canes have to be more focused and more consistent on a weekly basis. There were too many big plays allowed, while the defense failed to close when it had the chance. If Miami is trying, and is focused, it’ll blow away Wake Forest and Virginia before going to North Carolina. The turnovers, though, have to stop. 

Oct. 17
Miami 27 … at UCF 7
Jacory Harris was sacked six times, but he was nearly flawless when he got time to throw with a 23-yard touchdown pass to Leonard Hankerson on a 20-of-26 day. Javarris James ran for a five-yard score and Damien Berry scored from three yards out in the Hurricane breather, while the defense allowed just 229 yards and gave up an eight-yard Rocky Ross touchdown catch in the third. Miami held on to the ball for over 37 minutes.
Player of the Game: Miami QB Jacory Harris completed 20-of-26 passes for 293 yards and a touchdown
UCF: Passing: Brett Hodges, 12-27, 163 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Brynn Harvey, 12-25, Receiving: Jamar Newsome, 3-56
Miami: Passing: Jacory Harris, 20-26, 293 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: Javarris James, 17-65, 1 TD, Receiving: LaRon Byrd, 5-85
What It All Means: Miami gave up six sacks, but the offense still worked fine and the defense did its job against a mediocre UCF offense. Jacory Harris was strong under the pressure and was his efficient self, but this game needs to serve as a warning. As long as the offensive line continues to struggle, and with the running game not doing enough to balance out the attack, the Canes are vulnerable against any defense that gets hot at the right time. The rest of the schedule isn’t all that bad, but North Carolina, coming up in a month, has the make-up to screw up the season. This is Miami’s ACC to lose now, after Virginia Tech lost to Georgia Tech, but the team needs to be tighter and has to play focused every week. That’s been a problem so far. 

Oct. 10
at Miami 48 … Florida A&M 16
Florida A&M scored first on a 32-yard field goal, and then it was all Miami as Jacory Harris threw two touchdown passes and fourth-string RB Damien Berry ran for 162 yards with a 35-yard touchdown. The special teams got in the act as Thearon Collier returned a punt 61 yards for a score. The only A&M touchdown came on a 26-yard Curtis Pulley touchdown dash late in the third.
Player of the Game: Miami RB Damien Berry ran 14 times for 162 yards and a score.
Florida A&M: Passing: Curtis Pulley, 10-25, 144 yds, 1 INT
Rushing: Curtis Pulley, 17-81, 1 TD, Receiving: Kevin Elliott, 3-57
Miami: Passing: Jacory Harris, 16-24, 217 yds, 2 TD, 2 INT
Rushing: Damien Berry, 14-162, 1 TD, Receiving: Mike James, 3-26
What It All Means: It might not have been the smoothest of performances, but Miami used this game like you’re supposed to use a game against Florida A&M and seemed to treat it like an advanced scrimmage. Jacory Harris threw two interceptions, but the bench emptied early and several young players got some good work in. The Canes can’t just show up and hope for the best against UCF, it’ll actually have to play a little bit, but if the focus is back, no one on the schedule should be able to come within two touchdowns of them. However, this is still a young team and it’s not going to have its total concentration week after week. The nice thing for a team this athletic and talented is that it might not matter.

Oct. 3
at Miami 21 … Oklahoma 20
Miami overcame two early Jacory Harris interceptions and a 10-0 deficit with three Harris touchdown passes including an 18-yarder to Jimmy Graham and a 38-yarder to Travis Benjamin in a 21-point midgame run, but OU had its chances. The Sooners started out the scoring with a ten-yard Cameron Kenny catch early in the first, and they got a two-yard DeMarco Murray touchdown run late in the third and a 39-yard Jimmy Stevens field goal with 4:18 to pull within one. And then Miami used its power game with an eight-play, 54-yard drive to run out the clock. Miami outgained OU 342 yards to 341.
Player of the Game: Miami RB Javarris James ran 15 times for 150 yards
Oklahoma: Passing: Landry Jones, 18-30, 188 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: DeMarco Murray, 23-80, 1 TD, Receiving: Cameron Kenney, 6-72, 1 TD
Miami: Passing: Jacory Harris, 19-28, 202 yds, 3 TD, 2 INT
Rushing: Javarris James, 15-150, Receiving: Aldarius Johnson, 4-45 
What It All Means: There were 12 penalties, there were two poor throws and decisions from Jacory Harris early on, but for the most part, Miami played as strong a game as it could’ve wanted coming off the disaster against Virginia Tech. The defensive line held up against the Sooner ground game and Harris settled down and was terrific over the final 50 minutes, and now things get interesting. The Canes got through the storm of a brutal early schedule, and now there’s no one left on the schedule, with the possible exception of road games against North Carolina and South Florida, who can come close. Miami has it all there for the taking by winning out, and now it has to be consistent and has to stay focused.

Sept. 26
at Virginia Tech 31 … Miami 7
In a driving rain, Virginia Tech’s defense was all over Jacory Harris and the Miami offense forcing two key turnovers and holding the Canes to just 209 yards of offense. The Tech running game rumbled for 272 yards with Ryan Williams accounting for 150 of them including scoring dashes from two yards and one yard away. Neither passing game clicked, but Tech’s Tyron Taylor found Jarrett Boykin for a 48-yard scoring pass in the first quarter. Miami’s lone score came from one-yard out from Javarris James.
Player of the Game: Virginia Tech RB Ryan Williams ran 34 times for 150 yards and two touchdowns, and he caught two passes for 40 yards.
Miami: Passing: Jacory Harris, 9-25, 150 yds, 1 INT
Rushing: Graig Cooper, 11-55, Receiving: LaRon Byrd, 4-58
Virginia Tech: Passing: Tyrod Taylor, 4-9, 98 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: Ryan Williams, 34-150, 2 TD, Receiving: Ryan Williams, 2-40 
What It All Means: Miami finally had to see a pass rush, and it couldn’t handle it. The Virginia Tech defense was all over Jacory Harris, and there wasn’t much from the running game to help out cause. The Canes didn’t play well, converting just 1-of-11 on third downs with dropped passes, miscues on both sides of the ball, and little production against the run, outside of a monster game from LB Colin McCarthy, but they simply ran into a buzzsaw. Call it a learning experience, and don’t assume that Miami will play the same game twice with Oklahoma up next.

Sept. 17
at Miami 33 ... Georgia Tech 17
Miami dominated on both sides of the ball holding Georgia Tech's high-powered rushing offense to 95 yards, while the Cane attack rolled for 454 yards helped by a near-perfect day from QB Jacory Harris. The Canes scored 24 straight points after giving up an early field goal. Harris threw three touchdown passes including a 14-yarder to Dedrick Epps and a 14-yard play to tight end Jimmy Graham to put the game away in the third quarter. Georgia Tech got a fourth quarter touchdown catch from Demaryius Thomas from 56 yards out, but couldn't come any closer thanks to the swarming Cane defense.
Player of the Game: Miami QB Jacory Harris completed 20-of-25 passes for 270 yards and three touchdowns.
Miami: Passing: Jacory Harris, 20-25, 270 yds, 3 TD
Rushing: Graig Cooper, 17-93 Receiving: LaRon Byrd, 5-83, 1 TD
Georgia Tech: Passing: Josh Nesbitt, 6-15, 133 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: Anthony Allen, 6-45, 1 TD, Receiving: Demaryius Thomas, 6-133, 1 TD
What It All Means: Miami was fully focused and extremely fired up to show that this is a new team and a new year after getting dominated by Georgia Tech last season, and just about everything worked. On the down side, PK Matt Bosher missed a few easy kicks and it was a sloppy effort late to close things out, but that's nitpicking. Jacory Harris got time and picked apart the Tech defense, while the Miami D got a total team effort with everyone filling their roles to near-perfection. After two emotional wins, now the team has to do the near-impossible and stay jacked up against a Virginia Tech team that will try to run the ball, but in a far different way than Georgia Tech did. If the Miami defensive front can generate the push it did against the Yellow Jackets, Miami will come up with another win and will get the college football world crazy for the Oklahoma showdown.

Sept. 7
Miami 38 ... at Florida State 34
In a wild see-saw battle, Miami's Jacory Harris overcame a big hit that led to a 31-yard interception return for a touchdown by Markus White for a 31-24 FSU lead in the fourth quarter to lead the Canes to two more touchdowns connecting with Graig Cooper for a 24-yard score and driving late leading to a three-yard Cooper touchdown run. FSU came roaring back and got within range for a game-winning touchdown, but the Canes held on with a goal line stand, stopping the Noles four times from the two, with the game ending with Jarmon Forston dropping a low pass in the end zone. Neither team led by more than a touchdown with each one answering the other's big play. Christian Ponder threw for two touchdowns and a two point conversion for the Noles.
Player of the Game: Miami QB Jacory Harris completed 21-of-34 passes for 386 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions. He also ran for a score.
Florida State: Passing: Christian Ponder, 34-41, 294 yds, 2 TD 1 INT
Rushing: Ty Jones, 14-59, Receiving: Richard Goodman, 5-82
Miami: Passing: Jacory Harris, 21-34, 386 yds, 2 TD, 2 INT
Rushing: Javarris James, 11-36, 1 TD Receiving: Travis Benjamin, 4-128, 1 TD
What It All Means: If this wasn't the beginning of the Jacory Harris era on a national scale, it was an important moment for Miami. Harris showed off a great arm, tremendous poise, and the type of toughness that makes teammates follow quarterbacks through adversity. The defense struggled way too much with the FSU passing game, but it came through when absolutely needed on the goal line and now the bar is set extremely high. However, there's Georgia tech, at Virginia Tech, and Oklahoma to follow, but if the Canes can get through the next month without losing three straight, this should be a special year.