Under rainy skies at Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday night, No. 4 Miami took on Florida for a battle of the Sunshine State. In a defensive clash, the Hurricanes scored 13 points in the fourth quarter, ousting the Gators 26-7.
Up 13-7, midway through the fourth quarter, Miami had the ball at its 20-yard line, looking for one final drive to put the Gators away. After an offensive struggle in the second and third quarters, the ’Canes relied on their physicality in the trenches.
The seven-minute drive spanned 13 plays, much in part to Miami’s running game featuring Mark Fletcher Jr. and CharMar “Marty” Brown. Brown came up huge with 22 receiving yards and 15 rushing yards, which was capped off with a leaping two-yard touchdown run to give the Hurricanes a 19-7 lead with less than four minutes remaining.
Brown was phenomenal all night for the ’Canes, finishing the game with 18 carries for 80 yards and two touchdowns. The North Dakota State transfer was also the leading receiver in the pass game with 53 yards on four receptions.
“The way we show up every day and compete with each other in the running back room is brotherhood,” Brown said.
Fletcher Jr. went back-to-back games with over 100 yards rushing, ending the game with 116 yards on the ground. The junior running back also scored a one-yard touchdown run to extend the lead to 25-7 and put an exclamation point on the victory.
Coming into Saturday night’s matchup, Florida had only given up two touchdowns. Miami more than doubled that by scoring three, all on the ground.
The Hurricanes made their money in the fourth quarter, going for a methodical put-away touchdown drive and then forcing a turnover on downs. With less than three minutes to go, Florida receiver Eugene Wilson III dropped a pass on 4th and 12, effectively ending the game.
UM’s offense struggled mightily in the third quarter, opening the door for UF to come back into the game down 13.
After holding the Gators to four rushing yards in the first half, Florida running backs Jadan Baugh and Ja’Kobi Jackson cut up the Miami defense in its first drive of the second half. Baugh, the sophomore, scored UF’s only touchdown of the game on an 11-yard run.
The third-quarter struggles continued for Miami after Carson Beck threw an interception on the first play of the ensuing drive into the hands of Cormani McClain, a former Miami commit.
It was an uncharacteristic performance from Beck, who was held to 160 yards against a poised Florida defense.
“I have the utmost respect for them [Florida], and that defense is really good,” said Beck.
Despite some trouble, Miami’s pass defense was outstanding. Gators signal-caller DJ Lagway had issues throwing the ball all night. The sophomore quarterback only amassed 61 passing yards and completed 12-of-23 attempts.
Florida was 0-for-13 on third downs, and Lagway was sacked four times.
Coming into the game, the Miami defensive line had a 92.0 PFF grade, which is ranked second in the country. Additionally, UM holds the fourth-best pass rush grade with 89.8.
Graduate linebacker Mohamed Toure impressed for the second straight week, eclipsing ten total tackles, five solo, and a sack.
Sophomore tight end Elija Lofton was second in receiving yards with 43 yards. Throughout the first three games, it’s been seen that Beck has not targeted his tight ends as much, but Lofton paid dividends tonight.
Following Saturday’s win, the ’Canes have won nine of their last 11 matchups against the Gators. The last time UF won in Miami was 1985. However, the two programs have yet to schedule any future matchups against each other. Miami head coach Mario Cristobal believes this rivalry game should be an annual spectacle.
“We don’t get to play these guys again,” Cristobal said. “This game should be on the schedule every year; it’s a shame that it’s not.”
The last time the Gators beat the ’Canes in Miami was 1985
Miami has a bye week upcoming, but Cristobal preached that there are still ways to go.
“We’re focused on doing our job and doing right and playing for each other and for the University of Miami. We’ve come miles, but we have miles and miles to go,” Cristobal said.
The bye week will provide opportunities for players to recover, yet still go out and work day in and day out to get ready to face Florida State in Tallahassee on Oct. 4.