MIAMI GARDENS – In N’Kosi Perry’s first start of the season, he came through when it mattered most for Miami.
Up just 10-9 over No. 20 Virginia, Perry engineered a 10-play, 75-yard scoring drive that culminated in his 3-year run into the end zone with 2:31 left. For him, it seemed to be the most satisfying moment of his collegiate career.
The touchdown run and extra point by kicker Turner Davidson sealed the eight-point win for Miami (3-3; 1-2 in ACC).
Perry finished the game with 16-27 passing for 182 yards and 1 touchdown. He also had 9 carries for 18 yards and that 3-yarder to the end zone.
“It meant a lot,” Perry said of his fourth-quarter touchdown. “I knew the game wasn’t over but, with the way that our defense was playing, in my heart I just felt like, I knew that we had to win. When we got that touchdown and went up by eight points, I knew that we were going to win the game. I saw a hole, after my first read wasn’t there, and I took advantage of it.”
After Perry’s 17-yard touchdown pass to running back DeeJay Dallas (and extra point) gave Miami an early 7-0 lead, the offense seemed to sputter from that point until the fourth quarter. They gained just 20 yards before halftime.
But the Canes defense picked them up throughout the game, as they didn’t allow Virginia (4-2, 2-1 ACC) to reach the end zone. Led by defensive lineman Greg Rousseau (7 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 sack, 1 QB hurry) and cornerback Trajan Bandy (6 tackles, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery), the defense played to a bend-but-don’t break style that worked in this low-scoring affair.
Virginia quarterback Bryce Perkins was held to just 25-42 passing for 252 yards. He did add 17 carries for 27 yards, but was constantly harassed when it mattered most.
A two-play series of pass breakups in the end zone by defensive backs Gurvan Hall (5 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 sack, 1 PBU) and Al Blades, Jr. (3 tackles, 1 PBU) thwarted Virginia’s most serious touchdown push in the second half. And timely sacks by defensive lineman Jonathan Ford (4 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 sack) and linebacker Michael Pinckney (6 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 sack, 1 PBU, 2 QB hurries) kept the once-surging Cavaliers in check to preserve the Hurricanes lead from start to finish.
Miami held Virginia to three field goals by kicker Brian Delaney (25, 21, & 44 yards).
“I just think we were relentless,” Bandy said. “Just, relentless play. The d-line was running after the quarterback. He was scrambling. They were just getting after him and we just kept our eyes on our receivers. And like I said, we just did a great job.”
Rousseau commented on how much this win meant for Miami.
“It was really a big boost for us but, personally, I never felt like any of us lost any life,” Rousseau said. “Even through those losses, we were always kept coming to practice and working hard. Our demeanor never changed. We were just ready to go get that ‘W.’”
Miami head coach Manny Diaz offered his take on how the game went for his team.
“As we all know, you can talk about culture, but we are in a results business,” Diaz said. “You got to win. As I mentioned in our small sample size, we were playing really hard and we were playing together but we weren’t getting wins. It’s not that it’s validating for me, it’s validating for the guys in the locker room. Of course, everyone can play better and everyone can execute better, but in terms of emptying the tank every week, they were doing that. They just weren’t getting the reward so, to walk into that locker room today and to see the guys get that reward, a team victory where everybody had a hand in it, was pretty awesome.”
Next game for Miami: Saturday, Oct. 19 at home vs. Georgia Tech (1-4, 0-1 ACC), 12 p.m. kickoff on ACC Network
Next game for No. 20 Virginia: Saturday, Oct. 19 at home vs. Duke (3-2, 1-1 ACC), 3:30 pm kickoff on ACC Network
PHOTO CREDITS: Keith Forde and Jeffrey Wimbrow
