NCAAF

Florida A&M Rattlers at Miami Hurricanes

Sep 7, 2024, 10:00 PM · NCAA - Football
2-1, 0-1 Away
Final
9 - 56
2-0, 1-0 Home

Cam Ward passes for 3 TDs, runs for another and No. 12 Miami rolls past Florida A&M, 56-9

Ward's first pass was a touchdown throw to Elijah Arroyo on Miami's opening possession, then he Xavier Restrepo for a 50-yard scoring pass as the Hurricanes (2-0) had a 99-yard drive on their second possession.

Ward finished 20 of 26 to help Miami win its 17th consecutive home opener. Restrepo had four catches for 104 yards and a touchdown, and Damien Martinez rushed for 90 yards and another score.

“Cam's a special player,” Restrepo said. “We've all had a really special relationship with Cam since the day he's come in here, and we're still building.”

Ward — who passed for 385 yards in Miami's Week 1 win at Florida — is the third Hurricanes quarterback in the last 25 years with at least 600 yards passing in the season's first two games, with 689 so far. The others on that list: Jacory Harris (656) in 2009 and Ken Dorsey (659) in 2001, Miami's most recent national title season.

“He is the alpha dog leader. ... He changes things,” Miami coach Mario Cristobal said. “Certain guys bring a spark and it catches with everybody. He's that guy.”

Daniel Richardson was 13 for 17 for 135 yards for FCS member Florida A&M (2-1), which saw its 13-game winning streak snapped. The Rattlers beat Miami in the programs' first meeting in 1979 and have gone 0-11 against the Hurricanes since.

“They're a bunch of really good players and tough guys,” said Cristobal, who crossed paths with Richardson after the game and lauded his play. “They're going to have a good season.”

Tyler Baron had three sacks for the Hurricanes — “he's built like an avatar,” Cristobal said — while Mark Fletcher and Jordan Lyle had rushing scores for Miami and Chris Johnson Jr. got a receiving score.

The takeaway Florida A&M: Michael Smith had a 49-yard field goal in the third quarter — and caught a break on the way. His first try from 44 yards hit the upright, but the Rattlers were flagged for a false start. They moved back 5 yards, and Smith connected with plenty of room to spare on his second attempt.

Miami: Ward was subbed out late in the third quarter and the Hurricanes went to Albany transfer Reese Poffenbarger, who made his Miami debut. Poffenbarger led FCS quarterbacks last season with 3,603 yards passing and 36 touchdowns, guiding the Great Danes to 11 wins and a trip to the national semifinals.

Poll implications With No. 5 Notre Dame losing to Northern Illinois and No. 10 Michigan losing to No. 3 Texas, it's possible that Miami might return to the Top 10 when the new AP Top 25 is released on Sunday. The Hurricanes haven't been a Top 10 team since reaching No. 9 in the poll released on Dec. 6, 2020.

Up next Florida A&M: At Troy on Saturday, Sept. 21.

Miami: Hosts Ball State on Saturday.

How To Watch

How can I watch Florida A&M Rattlers vs. Miami Hurricanes?
  • TV Channel: Rattlers at Hurricanes 2021 College Football, week 2, is broadcasted on ESPN+.
  • Online streaming: Sign up for Fubo.

Matchup Prediction

Hurricanes: 99.6%
Rattlers: .4%
*According to ESPN's Basketball Power Index

Scoring Summary

TD 1st Period 13:40 Elijah Arroyo 17 Yd pass from Cam Ward (Andres Borregales Kick)
TD 1st Period 6:40 Xavier Restrepo 50 Yd pass from Cam Ward (Riley Williams Run for Two-Point Conversion)
FG 1st Period 0:49 Cameron Gillis 22 Yd Field Goal
TD 2nd Period 12:58 Chris Johnson Jr. 9 Yd pass from Cam Ward (Andres Borregales Kick)
FG 2nd Period 5:43 Andres Borregales 37 Yd Field Goal
FG 2nd Period 0:00 Cameron Gillis 36 Yd Field Goal
TD 3rd Period 12:33 Mark Fletcher Jr. 4 Yd Run (Andres Borregales Kick)
TD 3rd Period 9:14 Damien Martinez 33 Yd Run (Andres Borregales Kick)
FG 3rd Period 7:29 Michael Smith 49 Yd Field Goal
TD 3rd Period 3:43 Cam Ward 8 Yd Run (Andres Borregales Kick)
TD 4th Period 14:23 Jordan Lyle 1 Yd Run (Abram Murray Kick)
FG 4th Period 2:00 Abram Murray 38 Yd Field Goal

Statistics

FAMU MIA
13 1st Downs 31
3-13 3rd down efficiency 8-12
0-0 4th down efficiency 0-2
190 Total Yards 549
138 Passing 324
15/28 Comp/Att 26/33
4.9 Yards per pass 9.8
52 Rushing 225
25 Rushing Attempts 38
2.1 Yards per rush 5.9
6-45 Penalties 8-58
3 Turnovers 0
0 Fumbles lost 0
3 Interceptions thrown 0
25:22 Possession 34:38

Game Information

Hard Rock Stadium
10:00 PM, Sat, Sep 7, 2024
Location: Miami Gardens, FL
Attendance: 57,886 · Capacity:

Southwestern Athletic - East

TEAM OVR CONF
Jackson State 12-2 8-0
Florida A&M 7-5 5-3
Alabama State 7-5 5-3
Alabama A&M 6-6 4-4
Bethune-Cookman 2-10 2-6
Mississippi Valley State 1-11 1-7

Southwestern Athletic - West

TEAM OVER CONF
Southern 8-5 7-1
Alcorn State 6-6 5-3
Texas Southern 5-6 4-4
Prairie View A&M 5-7 3-5
Grambling 5-7 2-6
Arkansas-Pine Bluff 3-9 2-6
Full Standings

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