Golden Owns A Beamer

When an offsides penalty gave Brad Kaaya a free play, he cashed in with a long completion to help the Miami Hurricanes beat Virginia Tech.

The 45-yard gain led to the touchdown that put the Hurricanes ahead to stay. Kaaya also directed a 75-yard touchdown drive in the final minutes of Saturday's 30-20 win.

Kaaya finished 19 for 30 for 296 yards. His pivotal completion came with the score tied, Miami at its own 11-yard line and 42 seconds left in the first half.

The Hurricanes were trying to run out the clock, but on third and 20, Virginia Tech jumped offsides. The Hurricanes took advantage by switching to deep pass.

"If they jump offsides, it's an automatic go route," Kaaya said.

"Brad is really sharp with that," coach Al Golden said.

Kaaya hit Herb Waters for a gain to the Tech 44, and Miami went on to score with four seconds left in the half.

"That's a game-changer right there," Kaaya said. "It changed momentum. I think it changed the outcome."

Miami (4-2, 1-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) bounced back from a loss a week earlier at Florida State and beat the Hokies (3-4, 1-2) for the second year in a row. The Hurricanes are hoping for a rematch with the Seminoles in the ACC title game in December. 

"We preached we can't worry about last week," Kaaya said. "We want to see Florida State again. To do that, we have to handle business."

Miami's defense forced four Tech turnovers and had three sacks. Brenden Motley threw two interceptions and lost a fumble, which led to 10 Miami points.

"We played great on defense," end Chad Thomas said. "We were greedy." 

After Tech scored a touchdown to cut Miami's lead to 23-20 midway through the fourth quarter, Kaaya led a nine-play drive and capped it by throwing a 2-yard touchdown pass to Rashawn Scott with 2:44 to go. 

Artie Burns then sealed the victory with his second interception of the game. The Hurricanes committed no turnovers.

"We made too many mistakes, gave them too much," Hokies coach Frank Beamer said.

Beamer second-guessed himself for deploying an aggressive defense at the end of the first half, when Miami went the length of the field to score on Kaaya's 7-yard pass to Scott.

"If I have to do it over, I play before the half different," Beamer said.

Motley went 14 for 23 for 136 yards. He was replaced midway through the second half by Michael Brewer, who played for the first time since he broke his left collarbone in Tech's season-opening loss to No. 1 Ohio State.

Brewer threw a 33-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Ford before the Hurricanes answered with their final touchdown drive.

"Unfortunately it wasn't enough," Brewer said. "But it was nice to get out there and get my feet wet a little bit."

Miami played the last 20 minutes without middle linebacker Raphael Kirby, who was carted to the locker room with a right knee injury. His replacement, sophomore Juwon Young, had an interception and a tackle for a loss.

"I've been kind of down, waiting for my chance, and today I got it," Young said. "It made me feel good my preparation paid off."

Comments

[Go Canes]

BIG ONE next Saturday!!!

Go Canes!!!!!!

[Terrance Sullivan]

Boom. Had a blast hanging with U 86. Our Canes Won and Covered. Great Pics and Article. Love the Title.

[Go Canes]

Terrance you are back next week for Clemson?

[86Cane]

Terrance you are back next week for Clemson?

Posted by: Go Canes | October 18, 2015 at 11:16 PM

DUMB QUESTION?

HELL YES!!!

[86Cane]

Third picture from top, that is Terrance with Jerry. Jerry is an 80+ year old man who goes to every UM football, baseball and basketball game every year. We are HONORED to know him.

IF HE CAN MAKE IT TO EVERY UM HOME GAME IN ALL THREE SPORTS THEN WHAT THE HELL IS YOUR EXCUSE???

#SorrySlackers

[Go Canes]

Awesome. Already starting the countdown.

Hoping beyond hope we get 65,000+ in there to get us a legit home field advantage!

[Go Canes]

Posted by: 86Cane | October 18, 2015 at 11:22 PM

There isn't one.

[WWIN]

Posted by: 86Cane | October 18, 2015 at 11:22 PM

Golden???

[thirstybuzzardcane]

I'm going to leave the wife and kids home. It's going to be ugly!!!!!

[thirstybuzzardcane]

Hoping beyond hope we get 65,000+ in there to get us a legit home field advantage!

Posted by: Go Canes | October 18, 2015 at 11:23 PM

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Me too! Thats just more fans for Fire Golden chants!!!!

[thirstybuzzardcane]

The scenery should be lovely being that Clemson is coming to town!!!

[thirstybuzzardcane]

Oh lordy! VTs offense was ranked #88. Our D did fantastic against them! Give No'd a raise!

[raizecane]

Clemson's offense is not that potent. But they do have a top 20 defense.

[VfB_Cane]

Raphael Kirby is out for the year, having to undergo surgery.

This should serve as a reminder for all of us when we criticize the players. Even if they turn out not to be championship caliber players, if they never maximize their potential or struggle with their assignments: They should never, ever be called "trash", "losers", "quitters" or even nastier things by the fans.

While we fans risk nothing but a foul mood following a disappointing game, they run the risk that the next snap might be the last one they ever take as a Hurricane or even in their career. That's a lot of sacrifice, and we should appreciate that even if we don't like the result(s).

[Dude on a Pale Horse]

^^^ I totally agree 100%. Except for Kyle Wright who turned out to be all of those things.

[CaneRock]

Speaking of criticizing players, here's one of those "Me guys"...a "bad apple"...a "NON-leader":

https://twitter.com/pinenippless/status/655886213765832704

[Schnelly]

Doubt I'll make the Clemson game, my body cannot take South Beach in back to back weekends. I'll tell my wife it's because I want to spend time with her and the kids and score brownie points. Doubt there will be 65K at the game. Everyone I talk to is frustrated with Golden.

[canezilla]

YESSSSSSSSS!!!!!! A NOON GAME!!!! LOVE WAKING UP 5AM ON A SATURDAY AND TAILGATING BEFORE 80% OF AMERICA IS EVEN AWAKE..THEN HEADING INTO THE EASY BAKE OVEN FOR 4 HOURS AND ROASTING MY WHITE ASS OFF!!!!! CAN'T WAIT!!!!!

[Go Canes]

Posted by: thirstybuzzardcane | October 19, 2015 at 12:40 AM

There aren't fire Golden chants at the games, just a ton of real, hardcore UM fans rooting their asses off for a Canes win.

I'll be one of them.

Can't wait!

[GoldenHomer]

Sad to see Duke, Pitt & Temple ranked. I wonder if an upset this week would be enough to get us in, even if just for a week or two.

[86Cane]

The scenery should be lovely being that Clemson is coming to town!!!

Posted by: thirstybuzzardcane | October 19, 2015 at 12:47 AM

Yes indeedy!

[Lurker]

I'm all for Clemson coming here.

We're all talking about the same thing, we don't even have to say it out loud.

The question I have is why is that? Why Clemson? Is there something in the water?

Makes for an entertaining game if things don't go well on the field.

[30CINCO]

Great win!!!

Play that stands out was the bomb at the end of the first hald. Heady play by Kaaya and Waters. But the catch was the real gem, an AMAZING catch by Waters.

Everything tastes better after a win. Now onto the next:

#BeatClemson

[Ohio_Cane]

^^^ I totally agree 100%. Except for Kyle Wright who turned out to be all of those things.

Posted by: The Dude | October 19, 2015 at 04:19 AM
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Literally LOLOLOLOL!!!!!!!!

[thirstybuzzardcane]

Play that stands out was the bomb at the end of the first hald. Heady play by Kaaya and Waters. But the catch was the real gem, an AMAZING catch by Waters.

Everything tastes better after a win. Now onto the next:

#BeatClemson

Posted by: 30CINCO | October 19, 2015 at 08:12 AM

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No!!! What really stands out at the end of the half was that Golden was going to sit on the ball until Kaaya saved his ass! C'mon man, you have 52 seconds left w/ 2 timeouts and your sitting on the lead......Typical loser mentality!

You take that play away and the turnover VT gave up on the 2 yard line and VT wins that game!

[Go Canes]

@mattyports: Miami Hurricanes midseason report: what to like, what to dislike, and why there's hope. http://t.co/H526xVig1Q http://t.co/9dUILeog1s

[thirstybuzzardcane]

I'll be a much happier camper when Golden is served his papers!!!!

[SinisterCane]

Finally Clemson week

[Lurker]

So, we're still talking about ways VT MIGHT have won the game?

I guess I must be an idiot to live in the present and enjoy the win.

Anyway, on to a really good Clemson team.They're going to be a tough out. More talented across the board, but we've got a punchers chance against them.

It's #BeatClemson week. Let's get the big upset!

[Ohio_Cane]

Assuming there's no possibility for a Medical RS for Kirby?

[thirstybuzzardcane]

I guess I must be an idiot to live in the present

Posted by: Lurker | October 19, 2015 at 09:03 AM
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You finally get it!!!!!!

[86Cane]

TBCC...back it down a notch dude!

We WON, let's celebrate for a week and see what happens next week, OK?

[thirstybuzzardcane]

Gotcha!

[Go Canes]

A-freaking-men.

Not thrilled with our performance by any means.

But we won pretty easily, sloppy as it was. Time to move on and start looking forward to next Saturday.

[Ohio_Cane]

Jenn Smith ‏@JESComm 13m13 minutes ago

If you missed it, here's @SylvesterCancer's flash mob from Saturday's @MiamiHurricanes game. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1g6eXemDDJc … #CanesAgainstCancer

[ML Alumni1970.]

What a dichotomy. We want the CANES to win so badly, but we need a new top notch coach. What a DAMN mess. We win, and we demand a new coach. NOW!

[Go Canes]

Very cool post Ohio. Well done by those remarkable people.

[Lurker]

You finally get it!!!!!!

Posted by: thirstybuzzardcane | October 19, 2015 at 09:09 AM

What I get is this: that if I were to drop dead tomorrow, I would have died being happy for a win, instead of being miserable because I haven't gotten what I wanted in terms of a coaching change.

I mean call me crazy, but the point of being a sports fan is to cheer for your team to win and then to be happy when they do win,

[30CINCO]

Hurricanes lose middle linebacker Kirby (knee) for season

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/sports/college-football/hurricanes-lose-middle-linebacker-kirby-knee-for-s/nn5Yb/

[VfB_Cane]

@mattyports: Miami Hurricanes midseason report: what to like, what to dislike, and why there's hope. http://t.co/H526xVig1Q http://t.co/9dUILeog1s

Posted by: Go Canes | October 19, 2015 at 08:57 AM

After reading this, I had to think: For years, it has felt like we're just one year and a good recruiting class away from being back.

Enter Freddie Mercury: We want it all, and we want it NOW!

[VA Cane]

Good report on team positive/negative aspects and hope for future. The positives are great....negatives glaring. The message I would give you...we have some good players who need to work harder, focus, think,execute fundamentals, and play aggressive. We need this coaching staff to really coach, teach, develop these players, be open to new successful dynamic aggressive schemes, learn to make adjustments quickly, stop being afraid and passive, and play to win. It takes players and coaches working together to win together ....Team.

It does not surprise me that so many people don't know see acknowledge understand working together is critical to winning.

Good win celebration over must win game this week must put in work to beat Clemson.

[Lurker]

@antonazucar: Miami has had FIVE (5!!!) TDs called back via penalties. FIVE!!!! https://t.co/D7iXfAkKkR

@mattyports: Consider the TDs indirectly wiped out, too. Only one team (South Carolina, 21) has attempted more FGs than UM's 19. https://t.co/xFuPvVhs4x

Penalties at the worst possible times have killed us this year.

[thirstybuzzardcane]

After reading this, I had to think: For years, it has felt like we're just one year and a good recruiting class away from being back.

Posted by: VfB_Cane | October 19, 2015 at 09:31 AM
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I really thought last years team was going to be the turning point for this program and I was really excited about Miami football! We had future NFL players in place at almost every position. Going 6-7 with that team felt like a kick in the nuts!

Sorry for being so negative, but last years performance really did it for me!.....Trust me, I'm the most positive guy in the world and will give someone a chance! I've been disappointed way too long, I just want to get back to being relevant again!!! I want to be that team that is featured on College Gameday on Saturdays! I WANT TO WIN!!!!!!

[30CINCO]

After needed win, 'Canes set sights on No. 6 Clemson

It didn't take long for the Hurricanes to turn their focus to the next challenge.

Not long after snapping a two-game losing streak with a 30-20 victory over Coastal Division rival Virginia Tech on Saturday afternoon, Miami's players were asked about the opportunity ahead of them with No. 6 Clemson coming to Sun Life Stadium next week.

And to a man, the Hurricanes said they were ready to embrace the opportunity ahead of them.

"That's a good team. They've got dudes across the board," said Hurricanes quarterback Brad Kaaya, who was 19-of-30 for 296 yards with a pair of touchdowns in the win over the Hokies.

"This last defense that we just played, Virginia Tech, is one of the most disciplined teams in the ACC. But in terms of athlete-wise, Clemson and Florida State are the most athletic teams in our conference. They've got some dudes. We have some dudes too and we just have to go to work this week. We can't hang on this win too much because in the ACC, every week, someone's bringing it. We're the Miami Hurricanes. They're the Clemson Tigers and it's going to be a big game. We've got to start getting ready."

With a stretch of six crucial conference games ahead, that's likely to be how Miami approaches every week from here on out, whether their opponent is ranked or not. But there's no doubt Saturday's matchup against the Tigers (6-0, 3-0) might be a little bit more emotionally-charged.

The Hurricanes (4-2, 1-1) are looking to carry momentum forward after their victory over the Hokies. After evening their conference record, their long-stated goal of winning the Coastal Division championship and playing for the ACC title remain in play. And more than that, they understand what a victory over a team like Clemson could do for a program — and a coach in Al Golden — that has struggled to find a statement win in recent seasons.

Miami hasn't beaten a top-10 team since 2009 when the then 17th-ranked Hurricanes upset No. 8 Oklahoma, 21-20. To find the last time an unranked Hurricanes team accomplished that feat you have to go back even further, to 1998 when Edgerrin James ran for 299 yards and Miami shocked third-ranked UCLA 49-45 in a classic game at the Orange Bowl.

That Miami win snapped the Bruins' 20-game win streak. While Clemson won't bring a win streak that long to South Florida next week, the Tigers have won their last 34 games against unranked opponents.

The Hurricanes will look to end that streak and they'll do so with Kaaya playing at a high level and Miami's defense playing better than it was early in the year, though the unit will have to adjust after the loss of linebacker Raphael Kirby, who hurt his knee Saturday and will have season-ending surgery on Wednesday, Golden said.

Though Virginia Tech managed seven plays of more than 20 yards Saturday, the Hurricanes had four takeaways in the win, led by Artie Burns' two interceptions. They had three sacks of Hokies quarterback Brenden Motley, a crucial fourth-down stop in the third quarter, and held the Hokies to 3-of-10 on third-down conversions.

All are encouraging numbers as the unit prepares to face preseason ACC Player of the Year, Tigers quarterback DeShaun Watson and Clemson, which averages 35 points and 448.5 yards per game.

"I think they played better," Golden said of his defense's showing against Virginia Tech.

"They saw the ball better. Our gap integrity was better. They came to work all week. … We have to get rid of those explosive runs. We hadn't been that last year. We didn't give up many explosive runs a year ago and now we're giving up too many. Gap integrity, have good force, I thought we played hard. We were aggressive."

Added defensive end Chad Thomas, "[Clemson's] a big challenge. It's our next game, but we have to focus on heavy next week. Practice, we've got to go hard in practice. We've got to go to meeting rooms, major film [study]. That's just the next game and we've got to take the challenge. They're a [No. 6] team. We're trying to win the game."

ccabrera@tribpub.com; Twitter @ChristyChirinos

[30CINCO]

Mid-term LOF?

Offense: R. Scott
Defense: A. Burns
Freshman:K. Norton
Coach: Williams

[thirstybuzzardcane]

^^^^^I would say Corn instead of Burns, he's been more consistant.

[Ohio_Cane]

ACC Digital Network ‏@theACCDN 5m5 minutes ago

#MondayMotivation? Get fired up for @ClemsonFB vs. @CanesFootball with this hype video!

http://www.theacc.com/video/5624f1c4e4b0ac49cdb52e21?utm_source=Kevin%20Hyland%20ACC%20tw&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=ACC%20Digital%20Network …

[Go Canes]

I'd go Kaaya, Burns, Norton and Beard.

My second half predictions are Kaaya, Quan, Norton and Kehoe.

[Ohio_Cane]

I'd go Kaaya, Burns, Norton and Beard.

My second half predictions are Kaaya, Quan, Norton and Kehoe.

Posted by: Go Canes | October 19, 2015 at 10:19 AM
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Pretty sure Kaaya was ineligible

[Go Canes]

And I'd LOVE Coley to replace Kaaya on that second half list. If he does it means we had a great second half of the year.