MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — It wasn’t a blowout like Miami fans were probably expecting, but the No. 15 Hurricanes still delivered a win Saturday afternoon at Hard Rock Stadium.
Despite an off day for reigning ACC Rookie of the Year quarterback Tyler Van Dyke, particularly in the first half, the Canes defeated Southern Miss, 30-7, in front of an announced paid crowd of 46,421.
Van Dyke completed 21 of 30 passes for 263 yards and a touchdown, with an interception. At halftime, Van Dyke had completed 12 of 19 for 141 yards and no touchdowns, with the pick — and had been sacked three times.
The Canes defense had three takeaway: an interception by Tyrique Stephenson, forced fumble by Antonio Moultrie (recovered by Chantz Williams), and fumble recovery by Kamren Kinchens.
Miami held star running back Frank Gore Jr. to 10 yards rushing and 13 yards receiving on two catches. Last week, Gore, the son of UM running back great Frank Gore Sr., rushed for 178 yards and two touchdowns.
Now it should get even harder, as UM (2-0) travels to College Station next Saturday to meet the No. 6 Texas A&M Aggies.
Miami scored back-to-back third-down touchdowns in a little more than two minutes to mount a 24-7 lead. The first: a powerful 7-yard rush by Thaddius Franklin to culminate a 13-play, 77-yard drive. The second: a 35-yard completion from Van Dyke to Key’Shawn Smith — Smith’s first touchdown of the season — on the opening play of the drive.
Tyrique Stevenson’s interception in the end zone with 2:28 left in the third quarter prevented a Southern Miss touchdown to secure UM’s cushion.
Xavier Restrepo led UM with six catches for 72 yards. Henry Parrish had 116 yards rushing and a touchdown on 24 carries.
The Hurricanes had to feel fortunate to get a 10-7 lead heading into halftime.
With 20 seconds remaining in the first half, Henry Parrish barreled 1 yard for the UM touchdown. The Canes began the 10-play, 86-yard drive — their longest of the season in yardage — at their 14-yard line.
The drive included an 11-yard slant to Restrepo, a 16-yard completion to Michael Redding III, an 11-yard completion to Brashard Smith and an 18-yard completion to Romello Brinson. It also included a 15-yard rush by Parrish that brought UM to the Southern Miss 30-yard line before Brinson’s catch.
UM scored first on a 30-yard field goal with 1:39 left in the opening quarter.
The Golden Eagles scored early in the second quarter on a 32-yard pass from Zach Wilcke to Jason Brownlee that culminated a six-play, 75-yard drive for a 7-3 lead.
“We’ve given up explosive plays and we’re not getting explosive plays, so we’ve got to go in there and just get better, grind, no BS, no nonsense,’’ UM coach Mario Cristobal told WQAM at halftime.
“We’ve got to get to work, man.’’
UM’s final six points came on fourth-quarter field goals of 33 yards and 48 yards.
