WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- The Cardiac Canes did all they could Saturday to give away the football game.

And until the fourth quarter, the Demon Deacons did all they could to win it.

But Miami quarterback Jacory Harris engineered an 82-yard drive for the ages that culminated with an impossibly difficult 13-yard touchdown catch by Travis Benjamin for a 28-27 lead and eventual margin of victory.

Turns out that lead, with 1:08 remaining, was the only oneNo. 18 UM would need.

When Wake kicker Jimmy Newman's 60-yard field-goal attempt bounced short as time expired, the Hurricanes and Deacons seemed dazed as they walked out to the field to converse and shake hands in the misty rain.

``I always knew if we were within two touchdowns we could strike at any time,'' UM safety Randy Phillips said. ``We did a great job of doing that, keeping it within 13.

``I felt like we were going to win by one, and I guess it came true. Thank God for that.''

UM's defense gave up 555 yards. It was the most allowed by the Hurricanes since Florida State got 565 in the famous 2000 game won by UM and highlighted by Ken Dorsey's drive and a touchdown pass to Jeremy Shockey with 46 seconds left.

The 408 passing yards, according to UM, were the most against the Hurricanes since UCLA had 513 in 1998 -- and the third-most passing yards ever against UM.

But somehow the Canes (6-2, 3-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) became bowl-eligible and kept themselves in the ACC race. Wake, which had the ball for 38:52 compared to Miami's 21:08, fell to 4-5 and 2-3.

GAME-CHANGING PLAYS

The Hurricanes' final drive was preceded early in the fourth quarter by a punt-return fumble by Wake's Devon Brown. UM's Sam Shields recovered, and Harris connected with Tervaris Johnson on the next play for a 2-yard touchdown.

On the drive before Wake's botched punt return, the Deacons' Jimmy Newman missed a 45-yard field-goal attempt that would have given Wake a 30-14 lead.

``That was real key,'' Harris said of the muffed punt, ``because it gave us an opportunity to put some points on the board. It was like something from the heavens. It was special.''

UM trailed 27-21 with 11:47 left in the final quarter, and the BB&T Field crowd of 30,011 was stunned into silence.

The next game-changing play came with 6:22 remaining. Wake Forest quarterback Riley Skinner, who until then was carving up the Hurricanes with a stupendous performance, rushed for 12 yards and was brought down by three players. Skinner sustained what is believed to be a concussion and left the game. He completed 29 of 43 passes for 349 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. UM had the opening it would need, as Skinner's backup, holder Ryan McManus, came into the game having completed 1 of 5 passes for 5 yards on the season.

``Our first priority is the health and safety of our players,'' Wake coach Jim Grobe said. ``[We] weren't going to take a chance on him going back in.''

The Deacons eventually punted, and UM's decisive drive began with 2:40 left.

On first-and-10 from the UM 18-yard line, Benjamin dropped Harris' first pass at about the Wake 25. Harris' second pass, intended for Jimmy Graham, was incomplete.

On third down, Harris hit Thearon Collier for a 29-yard completion.

Harris was sacked for a loss of 6 yards on the next play -- the fifth time he was sacked for the day. Then, two incompletions.

HARRIS COMES ALIVE

But on fourth-and-16, Harris came alive, thanks to a leaping, fingertip catch by Aldarius Johnson. It was an amazing 29-yard stab, and UM had a first-and-10 from the Wake 30.

That's when Benjamin, flying dreadlocks and all, caught a pass up the middle for 17 yards. On the next play, Benjamin took a crossing route by Harris and put his hands underneath the ball as he fell just inside the end zone for the winning score.

Shannon was asked how he seemed so calm during the drive. He said he wasn't.

``You can't shake yourself up,'' he said. ``You've got to stay poised because the bottom line is if the players see you nervous, they're going to get nervous. They know deep down inside I have a lot of joy right now.''

Harris finished the game 22 of 43 for 330 yards and three touchdowns with one interception and at least three passes that should have been picked off but were dropped. Still, it marked the second-most passing yards in his career.

The Hurricanes play Virginia Saturday in their homecoming game at Land Shark Stadium.