MIAMI GARDENS – The Miami Hurricanes defeated the Florida Gators 26-7 in a rain-soaked game on Saturday night behind a dominating defensive performance and a ground and pound running attack to improve to 4-0 on the season.
The Hurricanes defense, led by Rueben Bain and Mo Toure, held the Gators offense to 7 first downs and 141 total yards. It was the fewest yards the Gators had since 1999 and the best defensive performance by a Hurricanes defense since 2006.
At the half the Gators had only 32 yards of offense and 1 first down. The domination was clear, but it wasn’t until the fourth quarter when Miami’s offensive line imposed its will and blasted the Gators off the line of scrimmage and held the ball for over 11 minutes and scored two touchdowns for the final margin.
Carson Beck struggled going 17 for 30 for 160 yards and 1 interception, but it was the defense that handled business and the running game which carried the offense to the tune of 189 rushing yards.
The ‘Canes defense swarmed DJ Lagway as he threw for only 61 yards and had a combined completion yardage amount in the air of -3 total yard as 7 of his completed passes were behind the line of scrimmage.
The Gators seemed to have changed their game plan after Lagway threw five interceptions against LSU a week prior, but he did throw for 287 yards in that game. That wasn’t the case against Miami. He threw dumps and dinks and dunks and nothing downfield as the Miami defensive line had him running for his life for much of the game, but also did a spectacular job of keeping him in the pocket.
The game was not without controversy as the Hurricanes appeared to go up 19-0 on its first possession of the 2nd half, but the SEC officiating crew blew Marty Brown’s run dead despite being 10 yards downfield and in the open field behind the final Gators defensive player by about three yards. Rather than correct their error and rule it a touchdown, the Canes punted four plays later.
Florida had its only success on the next drive marching 80 yards on 11 plays to cut the lead to 13-7. On the next play, Carson Beck threw an interception, and the Gators had the ball at Miami’s 48-yard line.
The Hurricanes defense locked in again and stopped Florida on a 4th and 4 from the 34-yard ending Florida’s chance to score.
After a 3-and-outs, both ways, Miami took possession at its own 20-yard line and marched down the field to make it 19-7 when Marty Brown jumped over the top from 1-yard out. After a turnover on downs, Miami then scored again on a Mark Fletcher, Jr., run for the final margin.
Fletcher finished with 24 carries for 114 yards and a touchdown while Brown had 18 carries for 80 yards and two touchdowns.
Miami jumped to No. 2 in the most recent AP poll and travels to Tallahassee on October 4 for a huge matchup with rival Florida State which has been set for 7:30 p.m. kickoff.