Miami Hurricanes Lose Heartbreaker At Notre Dame


The Miami Hurricanes lost 30-27 at Notre Dame Saturday in a Heartbreaker. Notre Dame kicked a 23-yard field goal with 30 seconds left to come from behind in the fourth quarter for the win.
Several big plays on special teams were not enough to get the ‘Canes a victory. Miami recovered two Fighting Irish muffed punts, one in the end zone for a touchdown, blocked another and recovered an onside kick. The second recovered muff came 6:49 left in the game to give Miami its first lead of the game.
The Hurricanes offensive line let them down again allowing five sacks for a loss of 41 yards and failed to be productive enough. Taking sacks out of the equation, Miami ran the ball 30 times for 53 yards. If the line doesn’t start to play better the 4-0 start is going to be long forgotten.
Notre Dame’s five sacks nearly doubled their output for the season. The Fighting Irish came into the game with six sacks in their first seven games. That was 125th out of 128 teams nationally.
Notre Dame scored on its first three drives of the game to take a 17-0 lead. The Fighting Irish had built up a 142-2 advantage in total yards through the game’s first five drives.
Miami fell behind 20-0 just 4:29 into the second quarter before settling down and methodically beginning a comeback. The Hurricanes got on the board with a Brad Kaaya to David Njoku two-yard touchdown pass with 6:50 left in the second quarter.
The Hurricanes fourth straight loss was also their ninth in ten games all-time at Notre Dame Stadium. When the season began it was evident that the last four games were going to be a huge challenge.
We learned that Miami is a long way from being back. They are 0-4 since beginning the season 4-0 and earning the number ten ranking in both polls.
The ‘Canes took a risk after their first touchdown and attempted an onside kick. Safety Jamal Carter made a brilliant special teams play for the recovery. He was able to surround the ball, allow it to go the full ten yards and right into his hands to give the Hurricanes the ball at their own 47.
Miami was unable to capitalize after getting a first down on a16 yard Mark Walton run on the second play of the drive. The Walton run to the Notre Dame 37 put the Hurricanes within a few yards of Michael Badgley field goal range. Miami moved backwards from there.
Kaaya threw incomplete passes on first and second down and Notre Dame sacked Kaaya for a loss
of 17 on third down. That put the ball on the Miami 46. A 42 yard Justin Vogel punt and a fair catch by C.J. Sanders put the ball at the Irish 12.
Miami’s other touchdown was a one-yard Mark Walton run in the third quarter that brought the Hurricanes within 20-14.
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