MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Cam Ward finds Isaiah Horton for a 1-yard touchdown pass with 1:57 left for the winning score and No. 7 Miami rallies to beat Virginia Tech by 38 on the Atlantic Coast. -Breaked by 34. The conference openers for both teams will be played Friday night.
This ending was controversial. Officials ruled that Virginia Tech had won when Dirk’an Felton caught a 30-yard touchdown pass from Kyron Drones as time expired in a crowded field of players from both teams. After lengthy consideration, this decision was reversed.
Ward has thrown for 343 yards and four touchdowns so far this season, extending his national lead in scoring throws to 18. The Hurricanes (5-0, 1-0) trailed by double digits three times, the last of which was when the Hokies went up 34-24 with 12:05 left.
But in the end, Miami found a way to remain undefeated by winning its first ACC game in four years — just barely.
Draughn threw two touchdown passes and Beishl Tuten rushed for 141 yards and an extra score for Virginia Tech (2-3, 0-1).
For Virginia Tech, John Love had field goals of 52 and 56 yards. The Hokies turned three turnovers into 14 points at Miami and looked poised to defeat a team ranked No. 7 or higher in the AP Top 25 for the first time since Oct. 2, 2004. 6 West Virginia.
But, needing a touchdown on the final drive to end the upset, Virginia Tech reached the Miami 30 and nearly had the winning score.
The go-ahead drive saved Miami from disaster twice. Xavier Restrepo went down on a 4-and-3 play and the ball was already headed his way, but he managed to catch it while sitting on the ground to extend possession. Then, minutes later, on first down, Ward was dragged down by Virginia Tech’s Keyshawn Burgos for what appeared to be a sack.
Except it wasn’t. Ward escaped that tackle, broke another tackle and flipped the ball back to Riley Williams for a 26-yard gain to the 1-yard line. Then the Hurricanes made a play and the defense stopped it.
takeout
Virginia Tech: The night could have been much worse. Defensive end Antwaun Powell-Ryland entered the game leading the team with six sacks, pushing his total to seven on Friday, but left in the second half with an injury. He was escorted into the locker room area for evaluation by one of the Hokies’ staff members.
Miami: The Hurricanes negated Virginia Tech’s fake field goal try from chip shot range in the second half. If the Hokies had taken the three points there, all they would have needed on their final drive was another field goal instead of a touchdown. There was another big play on special teams. A 56-yard field goal by Andy Borregales to end the first half came close by the end of the night.
Impact of public opinion polls
Miami had avoided a crushing defeat in the AP Top 25 as of Sunday’s poll update. The Hurricanes should remain in the top 10.
to the next
Virginia Tech: Visits Stanford on Oct. 5.
Miami: Visits California on October 5th.
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Tim Reynolds, Associated Press
