MIAMI GARDENS — The Hurricanes’ run sport had been sleepy the final two video games.
Mark Fletcher Jr. woke it up.
The junior operating again rushed for 106 yards and a career-high three touchdowns to guide the No. 9 Hurricanes (6-1, 2-1 ACC) to a 42-7 win over Stanford (3-5, 2-3 ACC) at Onerous Rock Stadium on Saturday.
Miami received off to a sluggish begin within the win, wanting much less just like the group that gained its first 5 video games and extra just like the one which misplaced to Louisville final week. The Hurricanes moved down the sphere on their first drive, however Carter Davis missed a discipline aim on the finish.
Stanford received on the board first after the missed discipline aim. The Cardinal drove 74 yards and accomplished the drive with a 9-yard go from Ben Gulbranson to Caden Excessive.
Miami’s offense, which struggled towards Louisville within the group’s first lack of the 12 months, got here out sluggish towards Stanford. After lacking a discipline aim on the primary drive, UM punted on its second drive and turned the ball over on downs on its third drive.
The Hurricanes lastly received on the board late within the first half when UM quarterback Carson Beck related with receiver CJ Daniels on a third-down, endzone fade go to tie the sport.
Star freshman Malachi Toney set Miami up for the go-ahead rating. The standout American Heritage alum returned a punt 31 yards to place UM on the Stanford 40 for its first drive of the second half. The Hurricanes received the remainder of the best way down the sphere and scored on a 1-yard landing run by Mark Fletcher Jr., his seventh of the season.
One other lengthy Toney punt return — this one for 42 yards — however Miami was stuffed on fourth-and-1 on the Stanford 21-yard line, conserving the sport a one-score contest.
Miami’s protection, which bounced again following Stanford’s first drive, set the offense up completely late within the third quarter. Veteran linebacker Wesley Bissainthe picked off a go from Gulbranson and returned it to the Cardinal’s 3-yard line. Fletcher scored his second landing of the sport on the following play, placing Miami forward 21-7.
The Hurricanes’ protection continued its robust play, as Wisconsin switch Xavier Lucas notched his first interception as a Hurricane. Fletcher capped that drive with a 7-yard landing — his third rating of the evening.
Miami introduced within the backups within the second half of the fourth quarter, and Girard Pringle Jr. scored the final landing of the evening.
5 takeaways
1. Offense sluggish to start out
After scoring a season-low 21 factors towards Louisville, the offense struggled once more on Saturday, at the least to start out. The Hurricanes scored simply seven factors within the first half.
The offense began transferring extra within the second half and ultimately completed the sport with 42 factors and 404 complete yards, their highest complete towards a Energy 4 group this season.
2. Protection carrying the group
Whereas the offense struggled, Miami’s protection stepped up. The Cardinal had first drive, getting down the sphere and scoring. However Stanford’s subsequent two drives ended with a punt, and its last drive of the primary half would have been a three-and-out had the half not ended.
The defensive excellence continued within the second half — however added some turnovers. Bissainthe and Lucas picked off passes, organising scoring drives.
The Hurricanes held Stanford to 1 yards within the win, which is the bottom complete by a UM Energy 4 opponent since holding Duke to 128 yards in 2005.
3. Malachi Toney excels on punts now, too
Toney has completed all of it for Miami this 12 months. Now he’s making opponents look foolish on punts.
The star freshman had 73 yards on two second-half punts, making a number of gamers miss and giving Miami nice discipline place.
4. Massive day for American Heritage alumni
The Hurricanes have recruited Broward County powerhouse American Heritage nicely over the previous few years, and it paid off in an enormous manner on Saturday.
Three former Patriots had large video games.
Fletcher had the largest affect, dashing for 3 of Miami’s touchdowns for his first profession three-score sport. He completed the sport with 106 yards on 23 carries. It was the primary time the Hurricanes had a 100-yard rusher
Toney, the breakout participant of the season, had one other robust effort. He had 5 catches for 52 yards and had these two glorious punt returns. He additionally ran for 13 yards on one carry.
Lucas, a cornerback, additionally starred at American Heritage. He signed with Wisconsin out of highschool however transferred to UM this offseason. He had his first interception as a Hurricane on Saturday evening.
5. Operating sport comes alive
Miami’s run sport struggled towards FSU and Louisville, and it was extra of the identical within the first half on Saturday. However the operating backs injected life into the UM offense within the second half.
The Hurricanes completed the sport with 199 dashing yards, which is their highest complete towards a Energy 4 opponent this season. Fletcher scored three touchdowns within the win, and sophomore Jordan Lyle scored his first landing of the season within the fourth quarter.
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