MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The Miami Hurricanes wasted little time taking control of their home opener against Florida A&M on Thursday night, using an explosive offense to build a commanding lead at Hard Rock Stadium.
Running back Mark Fletcher Jr. opened the scoring in emphatic fashion, breaking loose for a 59-yard touchdown run on Miami’s opening possession. The South Florida native continued his climb through the Hurricanes’ record books while setting the tone for what quickly became a one-sided first half.
Miami struck again on its second possession. On the first play of the drive, quarterback Darian Mensah connected with Joshua Moore for a 55-yard touchdown, pushing the Hurricanes’ lead to 14-0 just eight seconds into the possession.
Fletcher wasn’t finished.
With a little more than six minutes remaining in the first quarter, he found the end zone for the second time, extending Miami’s advantage to 21-0.
The Hurricanes’ passing attack continued to overwhelm the Rattlers as Mensah and star receiver Malachi Toney picked up where they left off in Miami’s season-opening win over Stanford. Mensah dropped a beautifully placed corner ball into the end zone for Toney, giving Miami a 28-0 advantage.
The connection added another highlight to the early Heisman Trophy campaigns of both Mensah and Toney. After their record-setting performances against Stanford, the duo continued to show why Miami’s passing attack could be one of the most dangerous in college football this season.
Miami eventually stretched its lead to 42-0, allowing the Hurricanes to pull most of their starters and give younger players an opportunity to see extended action.
Palm Beach County Spotlight: Javian Mallory
One of those players made the most of his opportunity.
Former West Boca standout Javian Mallory provided a memorable moment for Palm Beach County football fans when he scored his first career touchdown as a Miami Hurricane before halftime, extending the Hurricanes’ lead to 49-0.
Mallory flashed his explosiveness throughout the drive, including an 18-yard run that helped Miami move down the field.
He finished the first half with three carries for 33 yards and a touchdown, making his first career score even more special in front of the home crowd at Hard Rock Stadium. Mallory finished with 10 carries, 142 yards, and two touchdowns.
For Mallory, the touchdown represented another step in his journey from West Boca football to the University of Miami. For Palm Beach County, it was another example of a local product making an impact on one of college football’s biggest stages.
Miami entered the night coming off a dominant 45-6 road victory over Stanford and showed no signs of slowing down in its home opener. The Hurricanes controlled the game from the opening possession, showcasing their depth while allowing several young players to gain valuable experience.
With Fletcher powering the ground game and Mensah and Toney continuing to produce explosive plays through the air, Miami’s offense once again showed why the Hurricanes could be a serious factor nationally this season.
