Hurricanes Blow Through Boone

Pregame festivities for what locals had dubbed “The Showdown in Boone” included paratroopers dropping onto the field holding the United States' colors in front of a Kidd Brewer Stadium-record crowd of 34,658.

Running back Mark Walton took the first offensive play from scrimmage 80 yards for a touchdown, and No. 25 Miami used a 21-point first quarter to take early control en route to a 45-10 win over Appalachian State Saturday afternoon.

"I saw him break a tackle and I almost immediately put my hands up like, 'Touchdown,'" Kaaya said of Walton's opening touchdown run. "The red sea just parted and he just hit it."

The victory kept Miami (3-0) undefeated on the season as the team heads into its bye week. Miami outgained the Mountaineers 211-51 in the first quarter, including 114 passing yards on mostly successful bubble screens thrown by junior quarterback Brad Kaaya.

Kaaya finished the afternoon 21-for-27 for 368 yards with three touchdowns and one interception, moving past Miami legends Gino Torretta, Steve Walsh and Vinny Testaverde into a tie for third-most touchdowns in Miami history (49). The performance marked the eighth 300-yard game of his career.

Walton continued his torrid start to the season with his third straight 100-yard performance. The Miami native totaled 130 yards on 16 carries and recorded two touchdowns to bolster his team-leading total to seven through just three games.

Two of senior wide receiver Stacy Coley’s five receptions went for touchdowns, while freshman Ahmmon Richards exploded for 142 yards on four receptions.

Not to be outdone, Miami’s defense largely dominated the Appalachian State offensive attack. The Hurricanes accumulated 12 TFLs and three sacks, paced by a career-high nine from junior defensive lineman Chad Thomas and seven from senior defensive back Corn Elder.

Kaaya found David Njoku from nine yards out to double the Hurricanes lead with 5:46 to go in the first quarter, and connected with Coley on a 55-yard touchdown on the next drive to push Miami's lead to 21-0 before the game’s first 15 minutes had elapsed.

Trailing 24-3 at halftime, Appalachian State (1-2) enjoyed a brief swing of momentum when a fourth-and-goal pass from Kaaya was intercepted and returned 60 yards on the first drive of the third quarter.

But the Hurricanes would respond, as Kaaya led a four-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. The big play came on a 61-yard completion to Ahmmon Richards on a 3rd & 10 play that put Miami inside the Appalachian State 10-yard line.

Junior running back Joseph Yearby scored on a tough run from 12 yards out to cap the drive, putting Miami ahead by three touchdowns halfway through the third quarter.

Related articles

Canes First Road Test Comes At Appalachian State

Walton Runs for 4 TDs, No. 25 Miami Tops FAU 38-10

Miami at Appalachian State

King Kaaya

Comments

[DADDEH]

DaU Stick to the black socks

[VA Cane]

I meant the black unis....but black is a great color for anything!!!!

Interesting article.....this is why things are so messy in America...look at all these coaches who are the highest paid state employee.....I love this game, but its sad when a guy like Saban, Meyer, Calipari, Muschamp, hell ecen my state paying dumbass Bronco Mendenhall that much. No wonder society is so downtrodden....these guys are not worth that kind of money....So Sad......

http://247wallst.com/special-report/2016/09/20/the-highest-paid-public-employee-in-every-state/11/

[Dude on a Pale Horse]

^^^ I keep thinking the $$$ in college sports is going to be an issue at some point, but we just keep rolling along.

[Dude on a Pale Horse]

I love the classic unis but totally agree we need some alternates too. A black & a green alternate for sure.

[Herbieibis]

Black shoes is a must

[BigWindyCane1]

Per Palm Beach Post:

One oddsmaker reacted to the Hurricanes’ 3-0 start and No. 15 national ranking by moving them up its board.

Miami is now a 33-to-1 shot to win the College Football Playoff, according to Bovada. That’s the same as N0. 7 Stanford and No. 10 Texas A&M.

Those odds are half as long as they were last week, before UM’s 45-10 win at Appalachian State. That win also moved Miami 10 spots higher in the Associated Press poll.

The Heisman Trophy odds for quarterback Brad Kaaya remained the same (50-to-1) as last week. Kaaya, who said his left knee was swollen after he “twisted” it during Saturday’s game, practiced without limitation on Tuesday, a source told The Post.

[Sinistercane]

Pie Young transferring from USC?

https://twitter.com/thecaneshype/status/778378411471360000

[Lur-ker]

USC is a complete dumpster fire. It's fun to watch them implode.

There's a couple of guys that people might mention ad gets for us. Don't know if it's realistic or not, but Pie one of them

[1mg of Epi]

Apparently a USC OL punched Helton in the face... and a boatload of players want to transfer.

[Lur-ker]

Yep

[58 Straight]

NEW BLOG IS UP!