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MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (hurricanesports.com) – The Miami Hurricanes remain undefeated after a hard-fought battle with Syracuse, 27-19.
The No. 8/7 Canes (6-0, 4-0 ACC) knew they were in for a tough game on Saturday, as Syracuse (4-4, 2-2 ACC) came into Hard Rock Stadium fresh off an upset over then-No. 2 Clemson a week ago.
With an electric offense loaded with playmakers, Miami's defense would have to step up to the challenge if the Hurricanes were to be victorious and that is exactly what Manny Diaz's defense did in the opening half.
Syracuse quarterback Eric Dungey entered Saturday's game ranked fifth in the country in pass completions. Dungey had connected on 188 of his 293 pass attempts with just four interceptions thrown this season. But that was before he faced the Hurricanes' defense. Miami doubled the junior's total in the first half, picking Dungey off four times.
Dungey was intercepted early in the first quarter when defensive tackle RJ McIntosh tipped a Dungey pass and defensive end Demetrius Jackson snagged it out of midair. Dungey stripped Jackson to get the ball back for the Orange, but his next two picks resulted in points for Miami.
The Hurricanes intercepted Dungey for the second time in the game when Michael Jackson picked a wobbly pass to the left sideline with 2:04 left in the first quarter. Jackson, who also had a pick at Florida State, donned Miami's turnover chain for the second time this season. The junior corner picked off Dungey again with 1:27 left until halftime, becoming the first Hurricane with multiple interceptions in a game since Artie Burns had two against Virginia Tech in 2015.
The momentum stayed on Miami's side, as the Canes drove down the field to find the end zone for the first time Saturday. Malik Rosier hit Christopher Herndon IV for a 35-yard gain to put the Hurricanes at the Syracuse 21-yard line. The pair connected three plays later for a 10-yard touchdown that put Miami up, 10-0, with 14:22 left in the first half.
Herndon was outstanding for Miami, setting a new career-high with 96 receiving yards on a career-best 10 receptions.
Jaquan Johnson dove and caught a deep ball thrown by Dungey with 13:31 remaining in the half to give Miami the ball on its own 38. Rosier completed three straight passes, including a 21-yard gain that ended with Ahmmon Richards hurdling over defensive back Rodney Williams, to reach the Syracuse 29. Michael Badgley, who opened the scoring with an 18-yard field goal with 7:25 to go in the first quarter, converted a 39-yard attempt that put the Canes ahead, 13-0, with 10:41 remaining in the opening half.
The Orange got on the scoreboard with a 22-yard field goal by Cole Murphy with 6:19 remaining in the opening half. Syracuse converted a third-and-25 when Dungey hit Ervin Phillips for a 27-yard gain to the Miami 39 and extend the drive. A 20-yard run by Dontae Strickland put Syracuse inside the red zone at the Miami 16, and seven plays later Murphy's kick parted the uprights.
Murphy hit his second field goal, a 40-yard attempt with 8:55 left in the third quarter to open the scoring in the second half, but Miami answered in a big way.
After forcing a punt on Syracuse's next drive, Rosier hit freshman Jeff Thomas for a 48-yard touchdown that put Miami ahead, 20-6, with 2:51 left in the third quarter. The speedy Thomas has been a big play threat in consecutive weeks for Miami, recording a career-best 70-yard reception a week ago against Georgia Tech and scoring his first touchdown as a Hurricanes Saturday.
The Orange offense countered with back-to-back scoring drives for 10 points. The first was a six-play, 65-yard drive that took just 1:43 before running back Moe Neal dashed into the end zone from 15 yards out to make it 20-13, Miami. On their next possession, Murphy hit his third field goal of the game, a 45-yarder, to bring Syracuse within four, 20-16.
The Canes called timeout with 7:22 remaining in the game, looking at a fourth-and-3 from the Syracuse 31. Richt elected to go for it, but the Hurricanes could not convert. Rosier fired a pass low to Darrell Langham, but the hero of the last two weeks could not corral the ball and Syracuse took over on its own 31.
Syracuse wasted little time getting into Miami territory, as Dungey scrambled for 33 yards on first down to the Hurricanes' 37. But Miami's defense would stifle the threat, thanks in part to a six-yard tackle for loss by Michael Pinckney, holding the Orange to a 53-yard field goal by Murphy that kept the Hurricanes ahead by a point, 20-19.
Langham rose to the occasion on the next drive, snagging a 19-yard pass from Rosier on second and 10 from Miami's 28 to give the Canes a spark. Six plays later, Travis Homer scampered 33 yards for a touchdown that gave the Hurricanes an eight-point lead, 27-19, with 2:48 to go.
Dungey, who finished the game 13-for-41 for 137 passing yards and four interceptions, was sacked four times. Pinckney led the Canes with nine tackles and 2.5 sacks, helping Miami tally 9.0 tackles for loss against the Orange.
Miami hits the road next weekend to play at North Carolina. Kickoff is set for noon. Syracuse will have a week off before heading to Florida State on Nov. 4.