Down go the Gators, although it was a tougher fight than it appeared it might be at first. The Miami Hurricanes defeated the Florida Gators 26-7 on Saturday night inside Hard Rock Stadium in a game that was largely controlled by both defenses.
Carson Beck was 17/30 passing for 160 yards with an interception. Miami’s two-headed rushing attack was extremely productive. Mark Fletcher, Jr. led Miami with 24 carries for 116 yards and a touchdown. Marty Brown had a big game himself, with 17 carries for 74
yards and 2 touchdowns while also leading all Miami pass catchers with 53 receiving yards on 4 catches.
Miami had a dream start to the game when they forced a three and out from Florida and got to work on offense themselves. Covering 56 yards in 7 plays, they bludgeoned the Gators’ defensive front, with Brown forcing his way across the goal line from 2 yards out for a 7-0 lead. Hold that thought for a while (on the scoring a touchdown part).
Miami’s defense was an absolute unit in the first half, holding Florida to 32 yards of total offense and just one first down. The Canes’ offense slowed down and kept Florida in the game, as the Gators’ defense bowed up and keyed on the run and short passing game near the line of scrimmage, and Miami struggled to adjust. Beck and his receivers were off for most of the game, and some first half misfires killed opportunities to add more than just the two field goals they did. Miami went into the locker room up 13-0.
Florida came to life in the third quarter. After forcing Miami to punt, the Gators finally got to work and found the end zone in 11 plays spanning 80 yards. A 27-yard run got Florida near midfield, and the Gators beleaguered offensive line finally started to push back and win a little bit against Miami’s dominating front. Jadan Baugh finished the drive off with an impressive cut to the outside and stiff armed a defender to get to the pylon.
And on the Canes’ next possession, their old friend Cormani McClain had a big moment with an interception of Beck near midfield. Talk about life being a funny old dog sometimes.
Fortunately for Miami, that would be it as far as Florida’s offense is concerned on the day. The Gators drove 31 yards, but the defense rose up on 4th and 3 and stopped Florida’s TJ Abrams half a yard short at the Miami 31 to turn the Gators away.
After a pair of three and outs and punts, Miami put together the knockout blow with a true death march of 13 plays, 80 yards, and 7:12 off the clock in the fourth quarter. Miami’s offensive line regained its footing, and for the first time since the first half, it shoved Florida’s defensive front backwards and was the aggressor. Brown leapt and jumped over the top from a yard out with 4 minutes left, and the blow was delivered.
Florida turned the ball over on downs four plays later, and Fletcher, Jr. finally found the end zone to end the game’s scoring and reward him for a terrific effort toting the ball – a terrific effort by both Fletcher, Jr. and Brown tonight, to be clear.
A huge rivalry win, and Miami wraps up its non-conference slate 4-0. The Canes have a bye week, and then it’s Florida State in Tallahassee in one of the biggest games in the rivalry in a very long time.
