Quick Strike!

The Miami Hurricanes wasted no time jumping on the Houston Cougars. Tavares Gooden started off the scoring recovering a blocked punt by Anthony Reddick to give Miami a 6-0 lead only 55 seconds into the game. The Hurricanes would not trail in the game en route to a 38-13 victory pushing their record to 3-0 on the season.

Miami’s defense started out strong and was once again the story of the game. Coming into the game they had not allowed a touchdown in the first two games. Houston managed 13 points against one of the nation’s best defenses. It wasn’t an easy task for the Hurricanes facing a Houston offense running a variety of offensive formations.

Baraka Atkins scooped up a fumble and ran 52 yards for a touchdown giving the Hurricanes a 31-10 lead ending Houston’s hopes at a comeback victory. Once again Reddick was in on a big play as he caused the fumble. For his performance the ESPN analysts named him the Wrangler Player of the Game.

Greg Threat led the defense with a career-high 16 tackles. He was all over the field tackling running backs and receivers all night long.

While the defense did a good job, the offense struggled once again. The Hurricanes offense has yet to find a groove and against a lower-tier opponent it can be a cause for concern. The offense put up 24 points against a defense that has had its fair share of struggles giving up 63 points to Oklahoma earlier this season.

Tyrone Moss led the offense with a career-high 148 yards on 19 carries and two touchdowns. Moss consistently carved up the Cougar defense all night long and there were times he was on the verge of breaking open a long run. Frank Gore added eight yards on six carries.

Quarterback Brock Berlin finished the game 13-for-23 passing for 99 yards and sacked seven times. He started off the game with three straight incompletions on passes that should have been completed including an overthrown pass intended for Sinorice Moss.

Freshman wide receiver Lance Leggett recorded his first career reception on Berlin’s first completion of the game. Leggett finished the day with one catch for 16 yards. Nine players, including all six receivers that played, had receptions in the game.

Ryan Moore caught one pass as he returned to the starting lineup after relinquishing his starting duties last week to Leggett. Moore and Sinorice Moss started at the receiver positions. Moss has started the last two games for the Hurricanes after a four-catch 112-yard performance in the opener against Florida State.

Houston quarterback Kevin Kolb, the 2003 Conference USA Freshman-of-the-Year, was 11-for-28 for 153 yards. To try and confuse the Miami defense Kolb would run on and off the field to get the play call before each snap. The tactics did not seem to affect the Hurricanes, but the various offensive formations often mixed them up.

Next game: October 2nd at Georgia Tech in Atlanta, Georgia.

Notes: CB Glenn Sharpe, LB Leon Williams, and OL Rashad Butler did not make the trip to Houston due to injuries...Devin Hester made more standout plays on special teams including a nice punt return and a big hit on kickoff coverage…DE Bryan Pata is earning more and more playing time each week...QB Derrick Crudup saw action late in the fourth quarter.