Recap: Miami football throttles Louisville
Miami football dominated Louisville 52-27 in game between to five-win teams seeking bowl eligibility Nov. 9. The Hurricanes offense was seemingly unstoppable and efficient as Jarren Williams threw six touchdowns.
Jarren Williams and the Hurricane offense wasted little time making its mark in the passing game. Mike Harley had four receptions for 57 yards, including a 41-yard gain, on Miami’s opening drive. DeeJay Dallas scored from five yards to cap the 92-yard drive.
Louisville had an answer as Tutu Atwell caught a shallow crossing route on third-and-3, going 80 yards to tie the score at 7-7 with 7:04 left in the first quarter.
Williams continued to pick apart Louisville’s secondary, finding Dee Wiggins on a deep throw downfield for a 67-yard touchdown, the Hurricanes longest play offensive play of the season, to return the lead to Miami.
After a Louisville three-and-out, K.J. Osborn returned a punt 38 yards to setup another Hurricane touchdown. Dallas took a screen pass 13 yards to extend Miami’s lead to 21-7.
Javian Hawkins gained 18 yards on a second-and-16, a much needed first down for Louisville to slow the Hurricanes’ momentum on the ensuing drive. Cunningham gained 17 yards on a third-and-11 to continue the drive while had a 25-yard carry to bring Louisville inside the 5-yard-line.
Cunningham found Ean Pfiefer open in the endzone on third-and-goal from the 6-yard-line to cut Louisville’s deficit to one touchdown to cap an 80-yard, five-minute drive early in the second quarter.
Louisville’s defense continued to struggle limiting big plays. Cam’Ron Harris went 46 yards on a run and Williams found Wiggins for a 10-yard touchdown, extending Miami’s lead to 28-14 with 11:04 left in the second quarter.
Williams’ throw to Wiggins was his third touchdown pass in four attempts. The quarterback completed his first eight throws.
The Cardinals stopped a Miami possession midway through the second quarter, but couldn’t do much after the change of possession. The Hurricanes blocked a punt by Mason King, taking a possession on the 32-yard-line.
Miami capitalized on the great field position, Williams gained 12 yards on a third-and-9 and later found Will Mallory for a 17-yard touchdown for a 35-14 advantage with 3:27 left in the second quarter.
Louisville’s final possession of the first half had potential as Cunningham lofted a throw to Seth Dawkins, who made a diving catch on the 9-yard-line, on a fourth-and-8, but the drive ended on an interception by DJ Ivey in the endzone.
If a halftime adjustment was made, it didn’t help Louisville’s defense. Miami scored on the opening possession of the third quarter as Williams threw his fifth touchdown pass.
After rushing for just 48 yards in the first half, Louisville utilized its running game on its first possession of the second half. Javian Hawkins had consecutive carries for 26 and 43 yards. Cunningham capped the three-play, 70-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run.
The Cardinals appeared to be gaining some momentum after the score as the Cardinal defense forced a Miami punt, but the Hurricanes recovered a fumble on the ensuing punt.
Harley caught a 28-yard touchdown from Williams to extend Miami’s lead to 49-21 with 6:59 left in the third quarter.
Evan Conley replaced Cunningham, who was injured late in the third quarter, for the remainder of the game.
Hall set a new career long with a 58-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter to cut Louisville’s deficit to 52-27.
