Miami Rolls Past Cincinnati, 55-34
MIAMI GARDENS (AP) — Duke Johnson became Miami's career leader in all-purpose yards, Brad Kaaya threw three touchdown passes plus ran for another, and the Hurricanes defeated Cincinnati 55-34 on Saturday.
Phillip Dorsett caught two long touchdown passes for Miami, Clive Walford also had a touchdown catch and Tyriq McCord added a 46-yard interception return for another score for the Hurricanes — who have topped Cincinnati 11 straight times.
Johnson finished with 162 rushing yards on only 10 carries and Joe Yearby added 113 on eight carries for Miami (4-3), giving the Hurricanes two 100-yard runners in the same game for the first time since 2003. Gus Edwards had a 40-yard touchdown run with 9:02 remaining for Miami.
Playing with bruised ribs, Gunner Kiel completed 31 of 57 passes for 355 yards and three touchdowns for the Bearcats (2-3), but was also intercepted three times. Carter Jacobs had a 27-yard fumble return for a late score for Cincinnati, which got three touchdowns in the first 11 minutes of the fourth quarter.
Miami outgained Cincinnati 621-422 and got points on nine of its first 13 possessions.
Johnson had a career-long 80-yard run for a score in the first quarter for Miami. He now has 4,427 all-purpose yards, passing Santana Moss' mark of 4,394 and doing so in 14 fewer games.
Kaaya finished 17 of 24 for 286 yards, with a 79-yard scoring pass to Dorsett helping blow the game open in the third quarter. McCord made a juggling grab of an interception — the ball bounced off a receiver, then his own knee before he was able to haul it in, reverse field and find the end zone — to push Miami's lead to 31-10 early in the quarter.
Dorsett's score later in the third was his 16th catch of the year, raising his average per grab to a gaudy 34.3 yards. He also had a 28-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter, helping Miami grab a 24-10 lead at the half.
Cincinnati has ventured away from home only twice this season, and has seen its defense struggle both times. Ohio State scored 50 against the Bearcats on Sept. 27, and the Hurricanes had 48 before substituting liberally early in the fourth quarter.
Max Morrison had a 45-yard touchdown catch for Cincinnati. Shaq Washington and Mekale McKay also had scoring receptions for the Bearcats.
Ryan Williams, the presumed Miami starter at quarterback this season before tearing a knee ligament in the spring, entered in the fourth quarter for his first playing time of the season. The Hurricanes were penalized 13 times for 155 yards, their most since picking up 165 yards worth of flags against Boston College in 2000.
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