DURHAM, N.C. – It only took one play to break the game wide open for No. 14 Miami in Friday night’s road game (Sept. 29) at Duke.
Up 17-6 in the second half, it was looking to go down as a defensive slugfest between the two upstart ACC programs. But at the moment when Hurricanes junior quarterback Malik Rosier found a way to get sophomore wide receiver Ahmmon Richards the ball, it was game over from there.
With 11:02 left in the fourth quarter, the Wellington 2016 alum caught a Rosier pass near the middle of the field and used his speed to outrun a host of Blue Devils for a game-sealing 48-yard touchdown. Combined with a extra point from senior kicker Michael Badgley, Miami (3-0; 1-0 in ACC play) built a 24-6 lead that would extend even further later in the final frame of its win over Duke (4-1; 1-1 in ACC play).
Richards, who sat out Miami’s first two games due to a hamstring injury, caught three passes for a game-high and team season-high 106 yards with the touchdown. The All-American wideout recorded his fifth 100-yard game of his collegiate career and has eclipsed the 1,000-yard receiving yardage mark in less than two seasons played (1,040 yards).
“They sent an all-out blitz on that play,” Richards told media members in a post-game interview session. “It’s like a quick, one-step route and they called an all-out blitz, so there was nobody in the middle of the field. When I caught it, I was just thinking about scoring.”
Rosier had a stellar outing, as he finished the night by completing 15 of 26 passes for 270 yards and two touchdowns in the air. He also added 15 carries for 45 yards and a rushing touchdown, which resulted in 315 all-purpose yards and three total touchdowns for Miami.
Rosier’s other two touchdowns came off a 27-yarder to senior wide receiver Braxton Berrios and a 1-yard run to the end zone, which put Miami up 14-0 in the opening frame.
“Malik for the most part played well,” Miami head coach Mark Richt said. “He did some really outstanding things. I think our tackle was stumbling and we didn’t protect well, but Malik hit his points, he set up in the pocket and he threw a strike for that touchdown. The touchdown to Ahmmon on that crossing route, he stood in there on a blitz as well. I thought he showed a lot to me. He made some nice runs.”
The game’s final score came courtesy of a 40-yard burst to the end zone by sophomore running back Travis Homer, which came at the 4:48 mark in the fourth and final frame. The Oxbridge Academy 2016 alum finished with three carries for 43 yards and the touchdown.
In three games this season, Homer has scored three touchdowns on 22 carries for 178 yards. He has recorded 249 all-purpose yards, second only to reigning team MVP and junior running back Mark Walton (130 all-purpose yards in ACC opening win over Duke; 494 all-purpose yards for the season).
NOTES: Miami senior offensive lineman and Palm Beach Central 2014 alum Kc McDermott has started his 24th consecutive game, most among all active players on the team.
Freshman safety and Palm Beach Gardens 2017 alum Amari Carter has nine tackles in three games played, while linebackers Zach McCloud (sophomore; Santaluces 2016 alum) and Charles Perry (junior; Royal Palm Beach 2015 alum) have seven tackles each in three games. Freshman defensive end Jonathan Garvin (Lake Worth 2017 alum) has three tackles (1 TFL) for the season, while redshirt junior wideout Darrell Langham (Santaluces 2014 alum) is still sitting at 65 receiving yards and a touchdown.
Next game for Miami: Road tilt at Florida State (0-2) on Saturday, Oct. 7; 3:30 kickoff time
