Miami Hurricanes unable to stop Virginia
As heartbreakers go, count this one as a whopper for Miami.
Just one stop. That’s what the Hurricanes needed Saturday during Virginia’s game-winning drive, and they had ample opportunities to get it done — even with three starters missing on defense.
But with six seconds left, Virginia quarterback Michael Rocco threw a perfect 10-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jake McGee, who got one foot inside the back of the end zone to shock Miami with a 41-40 victory.
As the Cavaliers rushed Rocco and McGee amid the crowd eruption at Scott Stadium, the stunned Canes walked off the field still one victory shy of bowl eligibility.
Miami (5-5, 4-3 Atlantic Coast Conference), which plays nonconference opponent USF next week at home, must defeat Duke at Durham, N.C., in the season finale Nov. 24 to win the Coastal Division of the ACC.
Virginia (4-6, 2-4) can still qualify for a bowl with victories in its final two games.
“We were fighting our tails off,” said a clearly dejected and barely audible UM coach Al Golden. “We were short-handed, with Denzel [Perryman] and Deon [Bush] out for the game. They’re dynamic guys, and that hurt.
“But we had enough talent here to win the game, and we didn’t do it. There’s no excuse. We needed to make one more play than them, and we didn’t make it.”
