Miami football received several elite defensive performances defeating Virginia
The Miami football team received several elite defensive performances in the 29-23 overtime win over Virginia on Saturday. On a day when Virginia outgained Miami 377-276, the Hurricanes did enough on defense to earn the win. Miami continues to pressure the opposition with 10 tackles for loss and six sacks versus Virginia.
Virginia ran 83 plays to 56 for the Miami football team. The huge advantage in plays led Miami to have nine players who recorded at least five tackles. Virginia had a 34:36 to 25:24 advantage in time of possession. Miami allowed Virginia to convert eight of their 19 attempts on third down.
Virginia was 0-4 on third down attempts in the fourth quarter and failed on another one in overtime. Virginia had 71 yards in the fourth quarter and only seven in overtime. Miami came up huge defensively with the game on the line. Kam Kinchens had a huge interception return for a touchdown in the third quarter.
Safety James Williams led Miami with 13 tackles, linebacker Corey Flagg had 10, Kinchens and defensive end Jahfari Harvey had nine tackles, edge rusher Rueben Bain had seven tackles, LB Francisco Mauigoa had seven stops, CB Jaden Davis and LBs K.J. Cloyd and Wesley Bissainthe had five each.
Bain continued to be dominant with 2.5 TFLs, two sacks, one pass breakup and one quarterback hit. Mauigoa showed his presence, especially in the first half, finishing the game with 2.5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks and a QB hit. Defensive tackle Branson Deen finished with two TFLs and two sacks.
Flagg had one TFL and Cloyd, Harvey, Kinchens and edge rusher Jayden Wayne each added a 0.5 TFL. Harvey added a QB Hit to the ones by Bain and Mauigoa. Wayne had a 0.5 sack. The play from Bain in the last two weeks has been critical. Miami has lost starting edge rushers Nyjalik Kelly and Akheem Mesidor for the season.
Despite struggling early, Miami had multiple positives defensively. Miami limited Virginia to only one pass play over 20 yards. The third-down defense was flawless in the fourth quarter and overtime. Bain had a critical sack on third and six from the Virginia 49. In overtime, Miami held Virginia on third and eight to force the field goal.
