The Miami Hurricanes (2-0) kicked off their home slate in dominant fashion, overwhelming Florida A&M (2-1) with a 56-9 victory at Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday. Fresh off a win over in-state rival Florida, the No. 12 Hurricanes kept the momentum rolling, taking control early and never letting the Rattlers into the game.
From the outset, Miami’s defense set the tone. Linebacker Wesley Bissainthe intercepted a third-down pass on Florida A&M’s opening drive, setting up Miami deep in Rattlers’ territory. Just two plays later, quarterback Cam Ward found tight end Elijah Arroyo for a 17-yard touchdown, igniting the Hurricanes’ offense.
Ward wasn’t done. On the following drive, he engineered a 99-yard march down the field, culminating in a 50-yard strike to wide receiver Xavier Restrepo. The explosive play put Miami up 15-0 after a successful two-point conversion, and the Hurricanes never looked back.
Miami’s offense remained relentless throughout the first half. Ward threw his third touchdown of the day in the second quarter, hitting redshirt freshman running back Chris Johnson Jr. for a 9-yard score. Though Florida A&M managed a couple of promising drives, they had to settle for two field goals as Miami’s defense stiffened near the red zone.
Heading into halftime with a 25-6 lead, Miami came out with even more energy in the second half. Ward led a seven-play, 75-yard drive to open the third quarter, ending with a 4-yard touchdown run by Mark Fletcher Jr. Running back Damien Martinez followed with a 33-yard touchdown sprint, extending the lead to 39-6.
Ward added another highlight to his stat sheet late in the third quarter. Scrambling from the 8-yard line, he dove over the goal line for his first rushing touchdown as a Hurricane. Miami then began subbing in younger players, but the scoring didn’t stop. Freshman running back Jordan Lyle punched in his first career touchdown in the closing minutes of the game.
Florida A&M’s only offensive highlights came from kicker Michael Smith, who nailed a pair of first-half field goals and a 49-yarder in the third quarter. Despite their efforts, the Rattlers couldn’t break through Miami’s defense, which was led by defensive end Tyler Baron, who recorded three sacks on the night.
Ward finished his day with 304 passing yards, three touchdowns through the air, and one on the ground before being replaced late in the third quarter. Restrepo shined as his top target, hauling in four catches for 104 yards and a touchdown. The Hurricanes also got strong performances from their running backs, as Fletcher and Martinez combined for 132 rushing yards and two scores.
On the defensive side, Baron’s dominance off the edge, combined with the efforts of a deep Miami defensive unit, helped stifle the Rattlers’ attack. Freshmen Justin Scott and Armondo Blount also saw significant action, with Scott recording his first career sack.
Miami’s ability to mix veteran leadership with young talent was on full display. The Hurricanes’ coaching staff made a concerted effort to rotate in younger players during the second half, giving opportunities to up-and-comers like Lyle, wide receivers JoJo Trader and Ny Carr, and defensive lineman Cole McConathy.
As the game wound down, Miami’s second-string players continued to impress, with kicker Abram Murray scoring his first field goal and linebacker Bobby Pruitt snagging his first interception.
The Hurricanes now shift their focus to their upcoming matchup, with a renewed confidence after such a commanding performance. With their combination of a high-powered offense and a formidable defense, Miami appears ready to make noise in the national rankings, potentially moving into the top 10 for the first time since 2020.
For now, the Hurricanes can savor a resounding win, marking their 17th consecutive victory in a home opener and a continued strong start to the 2024 season.
Top Performers
Offense- Cam Ward 304 yards / 3 touchdowns/ 1 rushing touchdown/ 90.8 PFF
Defense- Tyler Baron- 3 Sacks/ 3.5 TFL/ 5 QB pressures/ 5 tackles/ 92.4 PFF
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