Late Fumble Crushes No. 4 Miami's Comeback Hopes in 28-23 Upset by Georgia Tech
Miami’s resilience in second-half comebacks fell short this time.
With just 1:36 remaining, Cam Ward was sacked and fumbled, sealing a 28-23 victory for Georgia Tech over previously undefeated No. 4 Miami.
On a second-down play, Georgia Tech dropped eight defenders into coverage, leaving Ward without an open receiver. Romero Height chased him down from behind, forcing a fumble recovered by Jordan Van Den Burg.
Miami’s offense never saw the field again after Ward’s fumble. On Georgia Tech’s next possession, Eric Singleton ran for a crucial first down and slid before the end zone, allowing the Yellow Jackets to run out the clock as Miami exhausted its timeouts.
The Hurricanes came into the game 9-0, sitting in the top four of the initial CFP rankings, thanks to an uncanny knack for overcoming second-half deficits. This season alone, Miami had rallied from a 10-point deficit against Virginia Tech, erased a 25-point deficit at Cal, and turned an 11-point second-half deficit into a blowout win over Duke just a week prior.
However, the magic ran out on Saturday, even as Miami briefly sparked hope for another comeback.
After a penalty wiped out a Miami touchdown, Georgia Tech stopped the Hurricanes on their third fourth-down attempt with just over 10 minutes left. Although the Yellow Jackets couldn’t extend their 28-16 lead, Miami regained possession shortly after.
In just over two minutes, Miami cut the deficit to five with a 38-yard touchdown pass from Ward to Xavier Restrepo.
Georgia Tech was then stuffed on a third-down attempt near midfield and opted to punt, giving Miami another shot at a comeback. But on the second play of the drive, Ward fumbled, effectively ending Miami’s chances.
Miami’s Defensive Struggles Continue
Ward has emerged as a Heisman Trophy contender this season, leading Miami with impressive second-half comebacks and solid play. However, the Hurricanes’ defense has proven to be their Achilles’ heel, and that was evident on Saturday.
Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King made his first start in weeks, though limited by a shoulder injury that affected his throwing. Freshman Aaron Philo rotated in on passing downs, but Georgia Tech primarily relied on a run-heavy strategy.
The ground game worked, with Georgia Tech racking up 271 rushing yards on 48 carries, starting with a 16-yard touchdown run by Jamal Haynes. Even with Miami expecting the run, the Hurricanes struggled to slow down the Yellow Jackets.
After his touchdown run, Haynes left the game with an injury, leading to eight different ball carriers for Georgia Tech. King led all rushers with 20 carries for 93 yards and a touchdown. He also completed all six of his short passes for a total of 32 yards, while Philo went 5-of-10 for 67 yards.
ACC Race Heats Up as SMU Takes the Lead
Miami’s loss has shaken up the ACC title race. SMU now stands as the only team without a conference loss, while Miami, Clemson, and Pitt each have one loss, and Louisville sits fifth with a 4-2 record. Notably, Miami, Clemson, and SMU do not face each other this season, and SMU’s remaining schedule is favorable.
This sets up a potential showdown between Miami and Clemson to determine who will face SMU in the ACC title game. SMU, who has an off-week next Saturday, will finish the season against Boston College, Virginia, and Cal. If Miami and Clemson both win out, Miami would have the edge due to their victory over Louisville and Clemson’s loss to the Cardinals last week.
+Manchester City’s losing streak extended as Brighton staged an impressive comeback to claim victory
Author: Rafael Campos
Comments
Post a Comment