MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- It didn't hit University of Miami seniors Stephen Morris and Brandon Linder that Saturday afternoon marked their final home game until they walked towards their parents during a pregame ceremony at Sun Life Stadium.
One final time through the smoke tunnel.
One final time to play with the U on their helmets.
One final time to sing the alma mater.
"It was a surreal feeling, because you don't expect it to go that fast," Morris said. "Our time is up, and hopefully your legacy will be something that is good and people remember."
As has been the case all season, a blend of newcomers and returners contributed in Miami's 45-26 victory over Virginia, snapping a three-game skid.
Early on, it was the young guys stealing the show for the Hurricanes (8-3, 4-3 ACC).
Sophomore corner Tracy Howard jumped the route on quarterback David Watford's first pass of the game, running it back 19 yards for a touchdown.
Freshman Stacy Coley caught a pass from Morris at the line of scrimmage and raced 62 yards for a touchdown later in the quarter to hand the Hurricanes a 14-3 lead.
It marked the second consecutive home game Coley scored on a play of 60-plus yards.
"This game was for the seniors," said Coley, who finished with five catches and 81 yards. "The freshmen had a player we played for, so my player was Kacy Rodgers. I told Kacy I would give it all on the line for the seniors because this game is important for the seniors."
Rodgers thanked Coley with an interception off a tipped pass in the fourth.
When asked what he hoped the senior class' legacy would be, Rodgers said a group of men that finished what they started and stuck to their word.
Blindsided by the NCAA saga, which lasted for 28 months and involved players that came before them, the seniors decided to stay put rather than transfer.
"From when we came in with Coach [Randy] Shannon, we've been through a lot," said Rodgers, who recorded two tackles. "To play with these guys and where we're going -- I'm just excited this senior class is responsible and will be known for leaving a legacy. Hopefully these guys pick up from here."
Defensive lineman David Gilbert, who graduated from Wisconsin last year and closed out his eligibility at Miami this season, recovered a fourth-quarter fumble and rumbled 72 yards for a touchdown to cap the Hurricanes' scoring.
Senior wideout Allen Hurns caught a team-high six catches for 126 yards and a touchdown, notching his fifth 100-yard receiving game this year. He is now 35 yards shy of 1,000 for the season and would become the fourth receiver in program history to achieve that feat.
"It meant a lot to me," Hurns said. "Playing with my brothers -- it means a lot -- so I wanted to give it all I have and make memories of my last home game.
Morris, who got off to a rough start on Saturday, finished 13 of 26 with 214 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He ranks fourth all-time in program history with 7,438 passing yards, 152 behind Heisman Trophy winner Gino Torretta.
With Saturday's victory, the Hurricanes have surpassed last season's win total. If they beat Pittsburgh on the road next week and their bowl-game opponent, they would finish with the program's first double-digit win season since 2003.
Miami still has a slim shot at the ACC Coastal Division that would earn the team a trip to the conference championship game for the first time. It can also look forward to its first bowl game in three years after a two-season self-imposed ban.
"The standards and expectations are high at Miami, and that's why we all come," head coach Al Golden said. "That's why we want to be a part of it. We never want to drop our expectations. But for these guys to go through what they went through, none of these guys were part of the problem, but every one of them was part of the solution.
"They took an issue that obviously was really bad. It was toxic. They paid a dear price. They adopted the problem as their own, and ultimately delivered us out of it."
You can follow Christina De Nicola on Twitter @CDeNicola13 or email her at cdenicola13@gmail.com.
