No. 5 Miami trailed by 11 points midway through the third quarter but rallied to take down a pesky Duke team and continue a perfect season in a 53-31 win. Miami moves to 9-0 and 5-0 in ACC play, solidly in the thick of the College Football Playoff picture behind standout QB Cam Ward.
Ward entered Saturday as among the national leaders in most passing categories, including yardage and touchdowns. He’s likely to be a Heisman Trophy finalist.
Duke falls to 6-3 and 2-3 in league play. The Blue Devils have already clinched a bowl appearance in their first season under new coach Manny Diaz. Duke has lost three of its last four, including a 28-27 heartbreaker to SMU last week despite going +6 in turnover margin.
Miami vs. Duke Box Score
Miami Passing Stats
Miami Rushing and Receiving Stats
Miami Kicking Stats
Duke Passing Stats
Duke Rushing and Receiving Stats
Duke Kicking Stats
Miami jumped out to a 14-0 lead as Duke struggled offensively out of the gate. But the Blue Devils responded with a run to take a 21-17 halftime advantage. Duke also scored on the first possession of the second half to stretch their edge to 28-17. Miami answered with a pair of scores to retake the lead late in the third quarter and the Hurricanes then pulled away late.
Xavier Restrepo caught a trio of touchdowns from Ward, who threw for five scores on the day. With the win, Miami stays undefeated and atop the ACC, heading into next week’s trip to Georgia Tech.
Duke falls to 6-3 and has a third loss in their last four games. The Blue Devils will play at NC State next weekend.
- Miami- Xavier Restrepo 34 yard TD pass from Cam Ward (Borregales XPT), 7-0, 11:54 remaining in 1st quarter
- Miami- Cam McCormick 4 yard TD pass from Cam Ward (Borregales XPT), 14-0, 5:04 remaining in 1st quarter
- Duke- Peyton Jones 8 yard TD run (Pelino XPT), 14-7, 2:28 remaining in 1st quarter
- Duke- Sahmir Hagans 27 yard TD pass from Maalik Murphy (Pelino XPT), 14-14, 11:15 remaining in 2nd quarter
- Miami- Andreas Borregales 29 yard field goal, 17-14, 4:51 remaining in 2nd quarter
- Duke- Peyton Jones 6 yard TD pass from Maalik Murphy (Pelino XPT), 21-17, 1:47 remaining in 2nd quarter
- Duke- J. Moore 6 yard TD pass from Maalik Murphy (Pelino XPT), 28-17, 10:03 remaining in 3rd quarter
- Miami- Xavier Restrepo 3 yard TD pass from Cam Ward (Ward run for 2 point conversion), 28-25, 7:16 remaining in 3rd quarter
- Miami- E. Lofton 2 yard TD run (Borregales XPT), 32-28, 3:08 remaining in 3rd quarter
- Duke- Tony Pelino 21 yard field goal, 32-31, 13:51 remaining in 4th quarter
- Miami- Jacolby George 49 yard TD pass from Cam Ward (Borregales XPT), 39-31, 12:56 remaining in 4th quarter
- Miami- Xavier Restrepo 66 yard TD pass from Cam Ward (Borregales XPT), 46-31, 7:36 remaining in 4th quarter
- Miami- Mark Fletcher Jr. 1 yard TD run (Borregales XPT), 53-31, 5:37 remaining in 4th quarter
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