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dave wilson
ARLINGTON, Texas — Mario Cristobal shares a moment with the Giants miami Coach Jimmy Johnson was on the sidelines during the storm win 24-14 above number 2 Ohio State on New Year’s Eve. The man who recruited Cristobal to The U, along with former greats Michael Irwin and Ray Lewis.
No. 10 Miami also turned back the clock on the field, fending off a second-half lead by the defending national champion Buckeyes to become the first double-digit seed to make the College Football Playoff semifinals in the 12-team playoff era.
Hurricanes, whose postseason hopes looked bleak after overtime loss smu On November 1 at Dallas, Texas returned and won two games – at No. 7. Texas A&M on Dec. 20 and Thursday against the Buckeyes – to be one game away from a trip to the national championship at their home field, Hard Rock Stadium.
Miami jumped on the Buckeyes and held them to nine yards in the first quarter, their fewest in any quarter since the game, a minus-6 total in the first quarter. michigan According to ESPN Research, in 2017. The Hurricanes rushed for 110 yards, the second most given up by the Buckeyes in the first quarter all season.
Miami then scored on a 9-yard throw. carson beck to run back Mark Fletcher Jr.of ohio state julian sign Completed a 59-yard strike to Jeremiah Smith On the first play of the Buckeyes’ next drive, and it looked like they would tie the score early. But keyonte scott Two games later, Sine was stunned, stepped in front of a screen pass, intercepted it and returned it 72 yards for a touchdown, the second-longest pick-six in College Football Playoff history.
“I hit my shot and the ball went in my hands,” Scott said. “I was full of emotions. I think I took a little time to look at it [Ohio State] Go to the side and look at everyone and tell them what was happening. So that was a great moment. …just having fun. At the end of the day, that’s what this team comes down to – just going out there, playing free and just having fun.”
After trailing 14–0 at halftime, Ohio State closed the gap to 17–14 with 13:28 remaining in the fourth quarter. But Miami’s defense, which troubled Sain with five sacks, seven tackles for loss and two interceptions, was able to withstand the Buckeyes. charmer brown Scored a 5-yard touchdown with 55 seconds remaining to end a 10-play, 70-yard drive that took 5:01.
The Hurricanes were able to pick up the win two games later by defeating Sion amid a fierce pass rush. His 24 points were the most points given up by Ohio State this season.
“Our players kept responding,” Cristobal said. “Our guys kept coming in with their counterpunches. The touchdown drive at the end and then finishing it off with the interception … they’re great counterpunches. They’re really great left hooks to the body and the head. They’re great, great counterpunches on our team.”
Miami’s offense was not flashy, but it was physical, including the play of Beck, who completed 73.1% of his passes for 138 yards and a touchdown with no turnovers. He especially showed his toughness on a third-and-11 play in the fourth quarter at the Miami 24, when he rushed for 11 yards while fighting for every yard.
“He said he was going to run someone over,” Fletcher said.
“He said so,” Cristobal said.
Beck, Stetson Bennett’s backup GeorgiaThe 2021 and 2022 national championship teams said this season’s experience with the Hurricanes was uncharted territory for them before the move to Miami.
Beck said, “Shoot, I’ve never been on this stage before.” “I’ve obviously played at Georgia and played in big games, but I’ve never had the opportunity to be the starting quarterback in the playoffs. I’ve been able to be a part of national championship teams and championship teams, but I’ve never had that opportunity. So for me, I’m taking it one moment at a time, one game at a time, and just giving everything I have for this football team.”
Beck said the chess match against Ohio State was a battle with NFL talent throughout the defense, adding that the Buckeyes had size and speed and closed out early.
“They’re probably the most talented defense I’ve ever faced,” Beck said. “Just player to player, this is a really great team, and I’m really proud of our guys that they were able to pull it out against a team like that.”
Cristobal said he is proud of how far the Hurricanes have come since the loss to SMU, continuing to believe and improve. Now they’ll await the results of Friday’s Allstate Sugar Bowl between No. 6 ole miss and number 3 GeorgiaThe winner will face Miami in the CFP Semifinals at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl on January 8,
“It’s their DNA, but it’s the way we work hard to wire our team,” Cristobal said. “Probably the most important thing is that we still have a long way to go. But we’re getting better by really good amounts and in really good increments.”
Fletcher, who led Miami with 90 rushing yards on 19 carries, said this team is fulfilling Cristobal’s promise to return the Hurricanes to prominence.
“I’ve been here since the beginning,” Fletcher said. “I just trusted his plan, trusted the vision. And he told me we would get this program back to national championship status, and we would keep going one game at a time.”
