Miami Secures victory Over Florida, Demonstrates Resilience
Miami defeated Florida 31-17 in a game marked by offensive struggles for both teams, but ultimately showcasing Miami’s ability to close out a contest – a feat previous hurricane squads frequently enough failed to achieve. While the victory wasn’t flawless, it represented a clear step forward for the programme under head coach Mario Cristobal.
Miami’s offense, led by quarterback emory Beck, faced notable challenges against the Gators’ defense. Beck completed 17 of 30 passes for 160 yards and threw one interception. He struggled to find a rhythm, notably in the first half where he had a stretch of five consecutive incompletions. Several passes were deflected at the line of scrimmage, and receivers Elija Lofton and Xavier Restrepo dropped passes. Three illegal snap penalties committed by center James Brockermeyer further hampered the passing attack. Despite having open receivers at times,Beck was unable to consistently connect.
Wide receiver Colbie Young was targeted seven times, resulting in only four receptions for 16 yards. Though Michael Redding III had some key third-down conversions early, he finished with four catches for 40 yards.surprisingly, running back Marty Brown emerged as a key receiving threat, leading the team with four catches for 53 yards, and accounting for two of the four pass plays that gained 15 yards or more.
Miami found more success on the ground, finishing with 184 rushing yards on 46 attempts. A late-game, run-heavy drive sealed the victory, with the Hurricanes running seven consecutive times to score a game-clinching touchdown. Miami totaled 344 yards of offense.
The game also highlighted struggles for Florida’s offense, particularly quarterback Graham Lagway. Lagway completed 12 of 23 passes for just 61 yards,with no touchdowns or interceptions. This marked Florida’s lowest passing yardage total since a 2014 game against South Carolina. Lagway did demonstrate his running ability, converting a fourth-and-short and gaining five yards on another play to set up a touchdown, showcasing a facet of his game the Gators have been cautious about utilizing due to past injury concerns. He has previously missed time with hamstring, shoulder, and leg injuries.
Despite the offensive inconsistencies, the victory is significant for Miami, which has historically struggled to close out games under Cristobal. Last season, the Hurricanes squandered a 21-0 lead against Syracuse, lost a 10-point lead in a bowl game against Iowa State, and suffered late-game collapses against Duke in 2022 and Georgia Tech in 2023. this time, however, Miami responded with two touchdowns in the final four and a half minutes to secure the win, demonstrating a newfound resilience.
