Miami Hurricanes rally to stun Clemson Tigers in double overtime, 28-20
MIAMI GARDENS — Things were looking awful for the Miami Hurricanes.
Coming off back-to-back losses, and playing without injured starting quarterback Tyler Van Dyke, the ‘Canes found themselves trailing Clemson by 10 points late in the third quarter Saturday night at Hard Rock Stadium.
They found a way to pull out a much-needed win, however, rallying for a 28-20 victory in double overtime to improve to 5-2 overall, 1-2 in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
“They didn’t forget anything,” Miami coach Mario Cristobal said of the Hurricanes’ 40-10 loss at Clemson in 2022. “They scored on us with 16 seconds [left] last year as the clock was winding down. So, I think our guys came out with a lot to prove. I think it shows how much the gap has closed with one full class, a couple of transfers, and some player development within the program.”
In beating the Tigers (4-3, 2-3) for the third time in nine matchups since joining the ACC, the Hurricanes notched their first win against a conference opponent at home since Cristobal was hired in December 2021.
Here are five takeaways from the comeback win against the Tigers:
Emory Williams filled in admirably for Tyler Van Dyke.
True freshman quarterback Emory Williams was thrust into his first start after Van Dyke was ruled out pregame with a right leg bruise and performed as well as hoped, completing 24 of 33 passes for 151 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
Williams came into the game with just 15 pass attempts in three appearances this season.
“I couldn’t be more proud of a young guy to step in there and do the things he did,” Cristobal said “Early on in the game, he was a little bit fast, but as he settled, he got better and better.”
Cristobal said at a press conference Monday there was “zero” concern Van Dyke would be ready to play against Clemson. After the game Saturday, Cristobal noted, “Tyler was good to go early in the week, so I didn’t lie to you. It flared up later in the week and that’s what kept him out.”
One Canes drive changed the game’s momentum.
After Clemson scored for a 10-point lead with two minutes left in the third quarter, the Hurricanes offense, which had sputtered to that point, responded with an astounding 15-play, 75-yard touchdown drive spanning nine minutes.
Williams’ 11-yard touchdown to Colbie Young, set up by seven consecutive runs, capped a drive that included five third-down conversions.
“All of the running backs did a great job tonight, and the offensive line, those guys pushed all game,” said running back Ajay Allen, who rushed 16 times for 54 yards, including a 3-yard touchdown in the second overtime, as well as the two-point conversion. “You can’t thank them enough.”
Allen and Don Chaney Jr., who had 17 carries for 63 yards, combined to rush for 53 yards on the 75-yard drive.
That drive seemed to instill confidence in the unit, which drove 43 yards on 10 plays for a game-tying field goal the next time it got the ball. Six of the ‘Canes’ eight possessions prior to the 15-play drive lasted five plays or fewer.
Winning the turnover battle was key to UM victory.
The Hurricanes committed one turnover Saturday and forced three, including a fumble at the goal line and a fumble that eliminated a chance at a field goal. That was a welcome change for the Canes, who committed nine turnovers in back-to-back losses to Georgia Tech and North Carolina with two takeaways.
With Clemson running back Will Shipley about to score after taking a direct snap and rushing right, safety James Williams jarred the ball loose from Shipley and recovered in the end zone.
Miami’s Brashard Smith fumbled himself at the other goal line on the next play from scrimmage after ripping off an 80-yard run up the middle, but Jacolby George pounced on the loose ball in the end zone.
In the second quarter, defensive end Rueben Bain Jr. sacked Cade Klubnik at Miami’s 28-yard line forcing a fumble that linebacker Wesley Bissainthe recovered to keep the Tigers scoreless. Late in the first half, safety Kam Kinchens intercepted a deep pass from Klubnik intended for Troy Stellato.
The ‘Canes struggled to contain Clemson’s Jake Briningstool
For the first three quarters, Miami’s defense had no answer for tight end Jake Briningstool. The 6-foot-6, 230-pound junior, who had 18 catches for 125 yards and one touchdown in six games this season, snagged five balls for 126 yards and two touchdowns Saturday.
Briningstool caught a 32-yard touchdown with a defender in his face on third-and-12 for Clemson’s first score of the game in the second quarter. He then grabbed a 19-yard pass from Klubnik in the end zone in the third quarter after the two connected for a 50-yard completion down the middle on the previous play. Briningstool was initially ruled to be out of bounds on his second touchdown catch, but the call was reversed after review.
Clemson’s next two leading receivers, Tyler Brown and Antonio Williams, combined for 100 yards receiving on seven catches.
Rueben Bain Jr. is a major problem for opposing offenses.
Freshman defensive lineman Rueben Bain Jr. had eight tackles (two for loss), two sacks, two quarterback hurries, and a forced fumble against the Tigers.
“He’s a game-wrecker,” Cristobal said, proudly.
Bain set the tone for a Hurricanes defensive front that overwhelmed the Tigers with its physicality, making it impossible for running backs Will Shipley (15 carries, 44 yards) and Phil Mafah (5 carries, 14 yards) to get anything going on the ground.
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“They just took the field with an attitude of not being denied and really committed to making this a slugfest, making this a game of body blows,” Cristobal said of his players. “We talked about how games like this are 15-round heavyweight fights and rounds 11 through 15 separate you.”
On the final possession of the game, with Clemson facing first-and-goal from the 2, Shipley was stuffed for no gain and 1 yard on two rushes up the middle sandwiched around an incompletion from Klubnik.
“We knew they couldn’t run the ball up the middle on us,” said Williams, who noted he was fresh enough to play “another five quarters.” On the game’s final play, Clemson chosen to run the ball outside with Klubnik on a quarterback keeper, but linebacker Corey Flagg Jr. dragged him down for an 8-yard loss.
