Reeling Miami commits five turnovers, falls at home in dramatic loss to Virginia Tech
The New Miami seemed ancient, tired and tattered — until it mounted a furious comeback in the second half Saturday at Hard Rock Stadium for a nearly improbable, almost miraculous comeback.
Nearly and almost.
But despite the Hurricanes scoring five of the last seven touchdowns and tying the score at 35, the Virginia Tech Hokies scored with 1:03 left to seal a nerve-racking 42-35 victory.
Coach Manny Diaz’s honeymoon likely ended Saturday only five games into his first college football head-coaching tenure, as the Hokies — 14-point underdogs — came into UM’s house and dominated the Hurricanes the first half before the Canes awakened from their stupor in front of an announced crowd of 53,183.
“Congatulations to Virginia Tech on an absolutely insane football game,’’ Diaz said. “The guys we have in our locker room right now are hurting badly, as you would expect. As a coaching staff, I can’t be more proud of the effort. To come back, down from 28-0, if you ever want proof of the character of our young men, the effort that they play with, what they believe in each other and what they believe in this program, there is no better example than that.
“To be able to battle back to have a chance to win the football game shows that we have something special in the locker room and we have something that is worth protecting. ...It’s time for us to look at ourselves as a staff, and we have to do a better job of getting that execution going quicker.”
By the end of the first quarter it was 21-0 Virginia Tech, with the Canes committing four turnovers on their first four drives: the first three interceptions of quarterback Jarren Williams’ career and a fumble by receiver Mike Harley. All three of the Hokies’ touchdowns came after the UM errors.
By halftime it was 28-7 after a Hail Mary by backup quarterback N’Kosi Perry bounced off a pack of players into UM receiver Mark Pope’s arms on the final play of the second quarter. Perry also threw an interception, but the Hokies did not turn it into points.
UM went on to score four of the next six touchdowns — a 6-yard completion by Perry (who replaced Williams at 3:19 of the first quarter) to Brevin Jordan; a 13-yard completion by Perry to Jeff Thomas; a 25-yard pass by Perry to Thomas with 4:55 left in the game, punctuated by a two-yard conversion plunge by DeeJay Dallas; and a 62-yard rush by Dallas to make it 35-35 with 3:16 left.
But Deshawn McClease’s 3-yard rush late in the fourth quarter was all the Hokies would need, despite the Canes driving as far as the VT 10-yard line and having two shots to score in the final five seconds.
Miami dropped to 2-3 and 0-2 in the Atlantic Coast Conference, both of its losses particularly damaging because they came against fellow Coastal Division opponents. The Canes are 4-8 in their past 12 games dating to last October against Virginia — the team that leads the Coastal and will meet UM next Friday in another nationally televised game at Hard Rock.
UM is 4-12 in its past 16 games against Power 5 opponents.
“Obviously, we have an outstanding opponent here on Friday night so we don’t have a lot of time to lick our wounds,’’ Diaz said. “We have to get ready to play Virginia on Friday.”
The Hokies (3-2, 1-2), who finished 6-7 last year and one week ago suffered their worst loss at home in 45 years, had lost six of their past seven games to Power 5 opponents before they sent the Hurricanes tumbling Saturday at Hard Rock Stadium.
Virginia Tech quarterback Hendon Hooker had a memorable first career start Saturday, completing 10 of 20 passes for 184 yards and three touchdowns to Dalton Keene. Hooker also ran for a 12-yard touchdown.
Perry completed 28 of 47 passes for a career-high 422 yards and four touchdowns, with the interception. All that despite being sacked six times.
“I’m just going to prepare the same way every week as if I’m the starter,”’ Perry said, after Diaz told reporters that starter Williams “is our guy.”
Diaz said that Williams’ poor start prompted his decision to see if Perry “could do something to light a spark...We didn’t want to do anything to wreck Jarren’s confidence. We still believe that Jarren is our guy so I don’t know what would change.’’
Added Perry: “I knew I had to keep a good attitude for my team and show them that I’m behind them all the way no matter who’s at the starting position. I’m behind my team and I just want to give that positive attitude 24/7 in practice and off the field.”
Williams was 4 of 7 for 47 yards, with his three picks. He was sacked once.
And kicker Bubba Baxa continued his flawed season by missing an extra-point attempt that would have given UM a 36-35 lead after Dallas’ 62-yard touchdown.
Diaz likely didn’t see this coming when he was named Miami’s 25th head coach in December. He said his Hurricanes were feeling “pretty awful’’ in the post-game locker room.
The Canes outgained Virginia Tech 563 to 337 yards, but rushed for only 94 yards.
Tight end Brevin Jordan had a career-high 136 yards receiving and his touchdown on seven carries. Thomas added 124 yards and his two scores on six catches.
“It sucks to lose,’’ said Jordan, who said the Canes are going “back to the drawing board [to] get better.’’
The Canes didn’t help themselves in the penalty department, continuing their errant ways with 11 flags for 90 yards.
The Virginia game next week will be the fourth of UM’s five-game homestand, its longest single-season homestand since 1987.
This story was originally published October 5, 2019 at 7:44 PM.
