The Sports Xchange
Sep 29, 2017
DURHAM, N.C. -- Malik Rosier threw for two touchdowns and ran for another as No. 14 Miami defeated previously undefeated Duke 31-6 in an Atlantic Coast Conference football game on Friday night at Wallace Wade Stadium.
Rosier's 49-yard pass to Ahmmon Richards with 11:02 to play marked the first points of the second half and pushed the Hurricanes to a 24-6 lead.
There was concern for the Hurricanes (3-0, 1-0 ACC) when standout running back Mark Walton went down with an injury before walking off the field with 7:37 to play. He didn't return. It is unclear what his status is for Miami's next game in eight days at Florida State.
Backup Travis Homer ran for a 40-yard clinching touchdown with 4:48 left.
Rosier, a redshirt junior who made his first career start two years ago in this stadium, completed 15 of 26 passes for 270 yards.
The Blue Devils (4-1, 1-1) have lost their last four meetings with Miami.
Duke quarterback Daniel Jones finished 21 of 41 for 166 yards after going 1 of 9 in the fourth quarter. Johnathan Lloyd made nine catches for 82 yards, all in the first half.
Miami led 17-6 at halftime, though Duke held a 224-214 edge in total offense.
Rosier was 8-of-8 passing in the first quarter. The Hurricanes opened the second quarter in Duke territory, but back-to-back sacks thwarted that drive.
After the second stalled possession for Miami, linebacker Michael Pinckney made a diving interception of a ricocheted pass as the Hurricanes took over at the Duke 40. The Blue Devils stopped two plays from inside the 1, with Miami settling for Michael Badgley's 20-yard field goal for a 17-3 lead.
Duke countered with Austin Parker's 35-yard field goal on the last snap of the first half.
The Blue Devils drove 56 yards on the opening drive, reaching the Miami 13. But on fourth-and-1, Pinckney sacked Jones.
The Hurricanes wasted no time in scoring, with Rosier throwing as he was hit and connecting with Braxton Berrios in the end zone for a 27-yard touchdown.
The Hurricanes were back in the end zone on Rosier's 1-yard run less than four minutes later. Duke closed within 14-3 on Parker's 27-yard field goal with 1:13 left in the first quarter.
Miami called timeout 10 seconds into the game and challenged a ruling on the field, but the call wasn't overturned.
NOTES: Miami's previous trip to Durham resulted in a 30-27 victory in a controversy-filled, last-play kickoff return for a touchdown that consisted of eight laterals. ... Six of the 11 Miami players on the field for the last play in the 2015 game are still with the Hurricanes. ... Miami played its ACC opener on the road for the eighth time in the last nine seasons. ... Miami announced the suspension of WR Dayall Harris prior to the game. ... Duke was trying to improve to 5-0 for the first time since 1994. ... Miami plays a makeup game next Saturday at Florida State. ... Duke leaves the state for the first time next week with a game at Virginia.