Field Level Media
Oct 11, 2019
Quarterback N'Kosi Perry scrambled for a 3-yard touchdown run with 2:31 left in the fourth quarter, sealing host Miami's 17-9 win over 20th-ranked Virginia on Friday.
It was the first victory this year for Miami (3-3, 1-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) in four games against teams from the Power Five conferences.
Virginia (4-2, 3-1) was held to just three field goals.
Perry, making his first start of the season due to an injury to starter Jarren Williams, completed 16 of 27 passes for 182 yards and one touchdown with no turnovers.
Miami running back DeeJay Dallas ran 13 times for 63 yards and also caught a 17-yard touchdown pass.
Virginia quarterback Bryce Perkins was kept in check by Miami's defense, completing 25 of 42 passes for 252 yards. He also ran 16 times for just 38 yards.
The Cavaliers sustained a huge blow -- a leg injury to Bryce Hall. The star cornerback, who was making his 39th straight start, was carted off the field in the second quarter with an air cast around his leg. He had his leg rolled up while blocking on a punt return.
Miami safety Amari Carter was ejected in the third quarter for a targeting shot on Virginia receiver Hasise Dubois, who was injured on the play. Dubois finished with game highs in receptions (seven) and yards (93).
Miami took the opening kickoff, converted on a fourth-and-7 from the Virginia 25 and ultimately scored on the screen pass to Dallas. The 11-play drive went 78 yards in 6:05, and the touchdown was the right call to beat a blitz that nearly got to Perry.
On the first play of the second quarter, Virginia went for it on fourth-and-1 at Miami's 24, but Wayne Taulapapa was stuffed for no gain. Virginia's Brian Delaney also had his low field-goal try of 38 yards blocked later in the quarter.
The Cavaliers finally got on the board on the final play of the first half as Delaney made a 25-yard field goal. That nine-play, 57-yard drive featured a third-and-14 pass play that went for 49 yards to Dubois.
Delaney hit a 21-yard field goal on the second play of the fourth quarter -- but not until the ball bounced in off the right post. That cut Virginia's deficit to 7-6, but it was disappointing for the Cavaliers, who got to Miami's 1-yard line on third down. Perkins was then sacked for a 3-yard loss, setting up the field goal.
Miami extended its lead to 10-6 with 10:06 left in the fourth quarter on walk-on Turner Davidson's first career field goal, a 19-yarder. Davidson replaced slumping Bubba Baxa, who was benched for the game.
Joe Reed took the ensuing kickoff 72 yards, setting up Delaney's 44-yard field goal that cut Virginia's deficit to 10-9 with 7:39 left in the fourth.
But Perry then scored, and the last play of the game was Perkins' incomplete 55-yard heave into the end zone.
--Field Level Media