MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- A banner calling for the firing of head coach Al Golden circled Sun Life Stadium as the Miami Hurricanes warmed up for Saturday afternoon's matchup with the Cincinnati Bearcats.
Four hours later, 43,953 fans left early in Miami's 55-34 victory that set historic marks in several offensive categories.
With the help of junior linebacker Tyriq McCord's 46-yard interception return for a touchdown, the Hurricanes put up their most points against a Division I opponent since Dec. 7, 2002, against Virginia Tech (56).
After producing six games of 500-plus yards in 2013, Saturday became the first time this season the Hurricanes (4-3) were able to manage that many with 621 yards. Miami tallied 637 in a rout of Savannah State in September 2013.
Junior Duke Johnson and freshman Joe Yearby ran for 162 and 113 yards, respectively, marking the first time since Nov. 29, 2003, against Pittsburgh a pair of Hurricanes recorded 100 rushing yards.
"A game like this is something we're capable of doing week in and week out," Johnson said. "We're just all about going out there and doing it, so this is a good game we can build off of, look back on and see what it takes and how we should do it."
Last Saturday in a loss to Georgia Tech, the unit mustered just 17 points and 352 yards as fans and former players stormed social media with calls for change. Sure, most of it was on the defensive front, but the offense also struggled.
That sentiment soon changed on Johnson's 80-yard touchdown run with 11:17 remaining in the first quarter. He surpassed Clinton Portis as the program leader in all-purpose yards on the play and now has 4,427 in 27 games. Over his past three contests, Johnson has rushed for at least 100 yards.
"I think the last four games, he's playing incredible, playing with such a vengeance, so fast," Golden said. "He's really being unselfish. ... I'm really proud of the effort that he has given. He's finishing runs better. He's staying inside the guard on his power plays. He's trusting his tracks on the zone plays. He's playing good football right now."
Cincinnati's defense entered Saturday giving up 561.8 yards, most in the nation, and Miami took advantage of that fact. The Hurricanes averaged 10.4 yards per play.
The big-play capability of Miami's offense was in full effect Saturday with three offensive scores of 40-plus yards. Senior wideout Phillip Dorsett, who finished with three catches for 143 yards and two touchdowns, notched a 79-yarder. Johnson ran one 80 yards and sophomore Gus Edwards for 40.
"Lot of excitement," Dorsett said. "Try to push the tempo because the defense is out of whack when we're in motion and looked confused. We just tried to go for their throat. Offense just executed like I said every week. Everything in football is about execution. We just executed."
Though the third-down rate remains a work in progress (30 percent on Saturday), true freshman quarterback Brad Kaaya opened 5 for 5 with 78 yards and a touchdown in those situations.
For the third straight week, Kaaya found eight different targets through the air. After throwing two picks in the loss to the Yellow Jackets, Kaaya went 17 for 24 with 286 yards, three scores and no interceptions against the Bearcats.
"It feels good," Kaaya said. "Of course there's a few plays we left out on the field, some things to work on. I'm never satisfied. It was a good day overall for the offense. ...
"It's good to just click on all levels from running backs to receivers and even tight ends, too. I've always known anyone can get the job done whether it's Herb (Waters) or Clive (Walford) or Stan (Dobard). Anyone on the offense can get the job done. It's just good to really mesh everyone together."
You can follow Christina De Nicola on Twitter @CDeNicola13 or email her at cdenicola13@gmail.com.
