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.
1
Posted by: 1mg of Epi | September 17, 2016 at 10:22 PM
7 Rohan Marley toughest greatest Hurricane of all time!!!! Damn we looked good!
Posted by: VA Cane | September 17, 2016 at 10:25 PM
in overtime 30-24. GT also beat them 45-42 in 2008. That 2008 Georgia Tech team pasted us for over 400 yards rushing I seem to recall. Other than that though, Georgia won the games. Most were relatively close though.
Posted by: SJMPARMAN | September 17, 2016 at 09:37 PM
I went up to GT for that 2008 game. It was a miserable experience.
Posted by: 1mg of Epi | September 17, 2016 at 10:26 PM
GC you are spot on....we are trending up....it has been so long you got to love it! This is a breath of fresh air...took a while but its great!!!!
Windy he is so tough....he was stunted by the scheme of AlPa and NoDPa...all these kids were.
I am so glad to get rid of that Yankee Pervert connection.....worst hire ever...AlPa is a JOKE!!!
Chad brought it today...as did all our kids. I was up close; I have seen every VT-UM game from the UM sidelines...every one....have not seen this kind of intensity in years....these kids want it.....but give our staff and CMR credit...they know what to do. You got to love it.
I think a lot of the bickering on here has been due to all of our frustrations from 2003 til now...Lost Years....BUT we are starting to flex some....game by game...very proud of our kids....and of or staff....and our REAL fans..GO CANES!!!!
Posted by: VA Cane | September 17, 2016 at 10:38 PM
If they were going to let Paul go they would have done it after going 3-9 last year. But I think teams in the ACC know coaching changes are expensive nowadays, and this is an elite conference. They don't expect to go 12-0 in this conference. The gimmick offense is something a college of engineering kind of enjoys, I think.
Also, the problems for GT are usually on the defensive side of the ball. For all of the talent in Georgia and the Atlanta area, they just don't seem to contend for the elite athletes when Georgia, FSU, Clemson, and others come calling.
Personally, I like the basic of the offense other than the chop blocks which should be illegal. It is interesting to watch. It is a chess battle at times. I think their fans feel the same way.
Posted by: SJMPARMAN | September 17, 2016 at 09:48 PM
Two things...
1) Ga Tech was a good team in 2014. That bought Johnson some time despite the 2015 regression
2) Some people have to know that they are in a pickle. Ga Tech is now completely built for a triple option attack. They can bring in Nick Saban next year and that does not change the fact that they simply do not have the personnel to make effective any switch to a normal passing attack. At best, the next coach would be forced to play an array of freshmen. It's no coincidence that Ga Tech has generally trended downward after the skill players that Gailey had on offense cycled out of the program.
Posted by: TonyCane | September 17, 2016 at 10:40 PM
Cant Wait Catholics VS Convicts....I love us being Convicts...bring all those alumni who played the damn Catholics... on the sidelines.......raising hell kicking them Catholic ASSES!!!!!!!
Posted by: VA Cane | September 17, 2016 at 10:41 PM
TC...get us some stats regarding the rush and pass we have has vs GT...know you got it....you genius you.....THE MAN!!!!!!!
Posted by: VA Cane | September 17, 2016 at 10:42 PM
Exactly VA! Winning will cure what ails us, and anyone predisposed to nonsense will slither away! And let's be honest while we're at it, it appears we've solved our coaching dilemma, but it will take at least a recruiting class or two before we're "back".
Posted by: Sarasota 'cane | September 17, 2016 at 10:43 PM
Unreal catch in the Luckeye game!
Posted by: Sarasota 'cane | September 17, 2016 at 10:44 PM
USC imploding yet again.
Trojans look like they're following our history by making another lazy, uninspired hire and paying the price for it.
Posted by: Go,GoCanes! | September 17, 2016 at 10:47 PM
For sure Sarasota....but there is no doubt we are really moving forward. I wish you all could see the confidence of Coley, Richards, Walton Yerby....BK...Berrios....what a catch ....we ran balls deep in the end zone out...BALLS!!!!! Our D was popping all day.....I wanted a couple late hits.....you know me Tatumizers!!!!! I was kind of emotional...I was so proud of our kids...they were tough...those kids at LB were great....Chadf really sowed up. Nice to conn3ect with Chad, richards....that Hurricane pride...hey I am a 57 year old fan...I was so proud to relate with our kids!!!!
CMR, Staff, kids.....were fantastic...you got to love them...we will be back!!!!
Posted by: VA Cane | September 17, 2016 at 10:50 PM
whos the other wide receiver that's a freshman? the one that qualified late.
Posted by: AfriCane | September 17, 2016 at 10:51 PM
TC...get us some stats regarding the rush and pass we have has vs GT...know you got it....you genius you.....THE MAN!!!!!!!
Posted by: VA Cane | September 17, 2016 at 10:42 PM
Since 2008:
GA Tech passing yards allowed:
2008: 047 yards
2009: 133 yards
2010: 101 yards
2011: 077 yards
2012: 132 yards
2013: 066 yards
2014: 053 yards
2015: 059 yards
GA Tech rushing yards allowed:
2008: 472 yards
2009: 095 yards
2010: 308 yards
2011: 134 yards
2012: 287 yards
2013: 335 yards
2014: 318 yards
2015: 314 yards
Shannon's defense after the 2008 introduction to the Triple Option (in a team largely populated by freshmen) was much more effective against GA Tech than Golden's.
Posted by: TonyCane | September 17, 2016 at 10:52 PM
I think RS knew Miami D well...he was a good DC...Golden...I mean AlPa...and NoDPa horrible....I think Manny will have us ready......TC you are so spot on...thanks for all you do my friend!!!!!!!!
Posted by: VA Cane | September 17, 2016 at 10:56 PM
Catholics back in it.....damn!!!!!!!!
Posted by: VA Cane | September 17, 2016 at 10:56 PM
Posted by: Go,GoCanes! | September 17, 2016 at 10:47 PM
I was just telling my wife the same thing.
Posted by: Dude on a Pale Horse | September 17, 2016 at 10:57 PM
I have 2 laptops and my TV working overtime right now and the 10pm games just kicked! Looks like I'm putting in another 14 hour day today!
Posted by: Sarasota 'cane | September 17, 2016 at 11:05 PM
College football is a playoff every Saturday!
Posted by: Sarasota 'cane | September 17, 2016 at 11:06 PM
whos the other wide receiver that's a freshman? the one that qualified late.
Posted by: AfriCane | September 17, 2016 at 10:51 PM
Mullins, I believe. I don't think that he's seen the field yet. Other here say he is more talented ultimately than Richards.
Posted by: TonyCane | September 17, 2016 at 11:08 PM
Hell yeah!
http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/barry-jackson/article102563667.html
Posted by: Sarasota 'cane | September 17, 2016 at 11:13 PM
Looks like UM finally has their T. Boone Pickens! What took so long?
Posted by: Sarasota 'cane | September 17, 2016 at 11:14 PM
Yeah, it's Dionte Mullins
Posted by: CoCane | September 17, 2016 at 11:14 PM
Notre dame goes down!!!!!!! It's a good day. We win and they lose.
Posted by: NicKane | September 17, 2016 at 11:17 PM
And yet Notte Dame will probably still be ranked above us, despite a 1-2 record!
Posted by: TonyCane | September 17, 2016 at 11:22 PM
can I get it one more TIME? its great to be a Miami Hurricane!!!!!! Awesome things happening!!!!!!
Posted by: VA Cane | September 17, 2016 at 11:23 PM
Miami will be around 20 I think.
Posted by: Dude on a Pale Horse | September 17, 2016 at 11:23 PM
Notre dame goes down!!!!!!! It's a good day. We win and they lose.
Posted by: NicKane | September 17, 2016 at 11:17 PM
And yet Notte Dame will probably still be ranked above us, despite a 1-2 record!
Posted by: TonyCane | September 17, 2016 at 11:22 PM
NOT GONNA HAPPEN!
Posted by: 58 Straight | September 17, 2016 at 11:25 PM
its great to be a Miami Hurricane!!!
Posted by: VA Cane | September 17, 2016 at 11:23 PM
Indeed it is!
Posted by: 58 Straight | September 17, 2016 at 11:26 PM
Thanks Soup for all you do...great article, great experience....BEST EVER BLOG! You are a Champ!!!!!....thanks to your WIFE!!!!! Mrs Soup MY LOF!!!!!! Bless you both!!!!!
Posted by: VA Cane | September 17, 2016 at 11:28 PM
Georgia just scored on 4th and 10 with a minute left in the game!
Posted by: Sarasota 'cane | September 17, 2016 at 11:28 PM
Come down to the GT game VA. It's one of the best UM away games on the slate.
Posted by: Sarasota 'cane | September 17, 2016 at 11:37 PM
You know what i love the best? the attack on D....those kids are after it.....and the Up Tempo O......where have we been for 12 years......what a change....nothing but positive.....got to love it!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: VA Cane | September 17, 2016 at 11:41 PM
Ohio State looking good with a young squad....
Posted by: raizecane | September 17, 2016 at 11:46 PM
Cal Texas looks like a chess match right now. Texas fan wanted to run Strong last year. Patience is a virtue!
Posted by: Sarasota 'cane | September 17, 2016 at 11:57 PM
UM looks good.
Kaaya looks average.
Posted by: 58 Straight | September 18, 2016 at 12:00 AM
OMG what happened to this perfectly stacked ant pile 58 skraite?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USKQ8sSNjMA
:0)
Posted by: orange 'n green in the vein | September 18, 2016 at 12:05 AM
Agreed Soup. Let's hope he's still adjusting to the new system.
Posted by: Sarasota 'cane | September 18, 2016 at 12:07 AM
Sarasota, Strong was in a similar situation as Golden (or any coach that would have taken over Miami in 2011). The bulk of top talent were upper class men. He deleted nine players his first year, hampering depth at the O line position. Two straight great recruiting classes are rebalancing the team, but now the bulk of talent is very young.
Posted by: TonyCane | September 18, 2016 at 01:07 AM
Other then the INT in the red zone and over throwing Harris on a deep pass, Kaaya was on point today. 21-27 78% over 300 yds and 3 tds...
If that is average, I'll take average every saturday...
Good team victory. Nasty fast defense. Explosive offensive plays. Snatched ASU's heart out of their chest. Love it...
Posted by: CoCane | September 18, 2016 at 02:01 AM
#11 Texas goes down to Cal
Consistency is the key
F'the Turds!
GO CANES!!!
Posted by: Keoki | September 18, 2016 at 02:40 AM
Oklahoma, Texas, ND, Ole Miss, Oregon and Iowa will likely drop out or below us in the polls. If there's any sense in the world Tennessee and the Turds are below us too.
We should be in the 15-20 range today.
Let's hope the SEC bias isn't crazy this week as usual.
Posted by: Go,GoCanes! | September 18, 2016 at 06:30 AM
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2664098-college-football-rankings-2016-bleacher-reports-week-4-top-25/page/14
The new Bleacher Report poll has the Canes at #14. Definitely should be ranked higher than Tennessee. Votes with SEC bias plus votes for the underwhelming big 12 and PAC 12 will keep us a little lower
Posted by: BigWindyCane1 | September 18, 2016 at 07:43 AM
That's about where we belong Windy.
Competition level hasn't been good but our consistency has been from snap one of game one.
Not many schools can say that about their performances this season, with plenty of Top 25 teams struggling against far inferior opponents.
Like CoCane said yesterday, a couple of small lapses yesterday before half and to start the second, but we then righted the ship and finished the blowout. Same with FAU which came out jacked because of what this game meant to them. We got through that and steam rolled them.
GT will be a test, don't know how Coach Diaz has fared or if he's even faced that offense at this level.
Think we'll know by halftime if we are in for a dogfight in that one.
Posted by: Go,GoCanes! | September 18, 2016 at 08:19 AM
Georgia Tech put 49 on Mississippi State in 2014, but coach Diaz wasnt on the Bulldog staff yet.
Posted by: Dude on a Pale Horse | September 18, 2016 at 09:14 AM
Boy I tell you what pisses me off the most about the golden era is just the constant misses on hidden gems in our own back yard. Lamar Jackson is looking mr heisman this year and just plain and simply unstoppable. So I looked him and the kid is a freakin boynton beach product! And to make it worse his lead recruiter to Louisville was our own Lamar Thomas! Golden couldn't have found as spot for a cane great in Thomas on his crew of misfits? Just makes so sick! Ok that's the last thing ever gonna post about that loser because we got CMR now and the sky's are blue and the future is so bright, wait for it, I gotta wear shades! Lol 😂😎
Posted by: NicKane | September 18, 2016 at 09:25 AM
Don't Dwell on The People that are not Here or the O be we missed out on. Golden is Gone, so Let him stay Away. I Like This Team Alot, and They're Young. Kaaya will probably stay. Let's See How Recruiting goes, and hopefully we get the offensive lineman, Linebackers and Cornerbacks we Need to go to the Next Level.
Posted by: Coolmac758 | September 18, 2016 at 09:48 AM
I think Nkosi perry is the truth coolmac. I've been singing his praises for awhile now. The kid just broke Dante culpeppers td record. The kids an elite four star with five star potential. I think he has a chance to be one of the best most dynamic qbs in cfb. I'm not sure how fast he is but he looks 4.4 when he's playing ball. To put that in perspective Lamar Jackson ran a 4.79 in highschool and was a low 3 star.
Posted by: NicKane | September 18, 2016 at 10:02 AM
Can't see Kaaya staying if projects where he's projecting on some of the sites we've seen.
Posted by: Go,GoCanes! | September 18, 2016 at 10:19 AM
Brad Kaaya's #SHHHH tweet made me laugh.
Posted by: Dude on a Pale Horse | September 18, 2016 at 10:20 AM
Can't see Kaaya staying if projects where he's projecting on some of the sites we've seen.
Posted by: Go,GoCanes! | September 18, 2016 at 10:19 AM
In July of 2015, I recall that walterfootball.com projected Brad Kayaa as the number one or two pick overall.
They presently have him going #16 in the first round to the Jets.
Posted by: TonyCane | September 18, 2016 at 10:29 AM