Miami Hurricanes Improve To 2-0 With Win Over Georgia Tech

Sports Betting News - September 18th, 2009 - Written by Scott

After Miami's victory over Florida State on Labor Day, the nation was wondering if the Hurricanes were on their way back among the nation's elite.  On Thursday night, it seems as though they might be.  It was the Jacory Harris show all night as Miami hit on all cylinders and went on to defeat No. 14 Georgia Tech  33-17, redeeming themselves from last year's embarrassing loss.  The Yellow Jackets seemed to have no answer to Miami's smothering defense as they limited Georgia Tech to just 228 yards of total offense.  This win marks the first time since 2003 that Miami has won back to back games over ranked opponents.  Miami coach Randy Shannon could not be more proud of his team.

"Big win for us tonight," Shannon said. "Big, huge win. Big for this football team and this program."

Georgia Tech had problems containing the Hurricanes' offense all night.  Harris threw for 3 touchdowns and 270 yards and running back Graig Cooper rushed for 93 yards. 

"We could never get them off the field," Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson said. "In a game like that, you better maximize and we didn't. We played very poorly on offense."

The story of the night was Miami's defense.  After surrendering 472 yards rushing last year to the Yellow Jackets, Miami held them Thursday night to just 95 yards on the ground.  The majority of these yards came on the Jackets' first drive.  The ACC player of the year, Jonathan Dwyer, was held to just 7 yards on 5 carries.  The Jackets' triple option attack just could not get anything going after their first drive.

Georgia Tech scored on it's first drive of the night with a 32 yard field goal from Scott Blair.  From there, it all went downhill.  The Hurricanes answered by reeling off 24 points and the Yellow Jackets could not respond.  LaRon Byrd got Miami on the score board with a 40 yard touchdown pass from Harris to give the Canes a 7-3 lead.  On the Canes next drive, Dedrick Epps caught a touchdown pass from thirteen yards out to increase their lead to 14-3. Miami never looked back from this point and Georgia Tech was flat throughout the rest of the night. 

Miami does not have long to savor this win as they head to play Virginia Tech on September 26 in another Coastal Division showdown in the ACC.  Miami is now 2-0 overall and is in first place in the Coastal Division.  A win over the Hokies could put them in the driver's seat and possibly a berth in the ACC championship game.  It does appear that Miami has found that swagger that they have been missing since the 1980's.

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