Post by darjarbinx on Jul 29, 2007 22:04:49 GMT -5
(Top) Andre Brown breaks a tackle; (L to R) Kyle Wright is crushed; Willie Young sacks
Kyle Wright for the sixth time; Harrison Beck is sacked for a safety[/size]
Welcome to Heisman
From the Miami Miracle to mayhem
Coral Gables, FL (AP) – Dan Thompson and the Miami Hurricanes got their first taste of Heisman on NCAA 08, and the new level paved way for one of the greatest games in ACC history.
The first three quarters were just a warmup for what would be one of the greatest comebacks in the history of Miami Hurricane (5-3) football. The North Carolina Wolfpack (4-4) held a 7-0 lead after three quarters. The Wolfpack kicked a field goal with 5:08 left in the game and took a 10-0 lead.
The Hurricanes offense stuttered all game long and needed a huge defensive play as a catalyst for a miracle comeback. With 0:22 left in the game, former Husker quarterback Harrison Beck was tackled in the endzone by sophomore linebacker Colin McCarthy for a safety. The Hurricanes were still at a 10-2 disadvantage, but got the ball back with just enough time for a comeback.
The Hurricanes moved the ball up the field, but needed a touchdown and a two point conversion just to tie the game. With 0:04 left in the game Kyle Wright rolled out and chucked a bomb to Sam Shields. He made an impressive over-the-shoulder reception and dove into the endzone for a 58 yard touchdown as time expired. The ensuing two point conversion worked to perfection. It was billed as the Miami Miracle.
The Hurricanes were headed for their second overtime game of the season against unbelievable odds. Fans had packed their things up and left, but scrambled back to their seats to watch the Hurricanes try and finish the deal.
In the first overtime, both quarterbacks made ill-advised passes and they were intercepted. The first frame saw no points scored. In the second overtime Kyle Wright hooked up with Sam Shields for an eight yard touchdown to take a 17-10 lead. The Wolfpack responded swiftly when Beck hooked up with Andre Brown for his second touchdown of the game. The Wolfpack clawed back and tied the game at 17; forcing the game into a third overtime.
Kicker Josh Czojkowski (I tried) booted a clutch 42 yard field goal to take a 20-17 lead in the first portion of the third overtime. The Hurricanes took possession of the ball with a chance to win the game, but Kyle Wright wasted no time in going from hero to goat.
He dropped back to pass on the first play of the third overtime possession and tried to thread the needle to tight end Dajleon Farr. The pass was intercepted by defensive back Avery Vogt and downed immediately. In front of a shocked home crowd the Wolfpack had denied the Hurricanes a shocking upset.
The Wolfpack’s defense played phenomenal throughout the game. They intercepted three passes and sacked Kyle Wright ten times. Leading the pack was defensive end Willie Young with six sacks; a NC State record.
“Kyle Wright should have been given a medal. The offensive line got no push and he was on the run for the majority of the game. He’s going to be really sore…” Dan Thompson joked, “…especially since we couldn’t pull out the victory. It was a hell of a comeback at the end, but we just couldn’t finish the deal.”
The Wolfpack's defensive line had no trouble slicing through the line on passes and rushes. Javarris James averaged less than three yards a carry. "Looks like I am going to have to tweak the sliders," Dan Thompson commented. "Unless of course I have a fetish with seeing my quarterback getting sodomized."
The O.B. witnessed one of the greatest comebacks in the history of their program, but then was forced to watch Kyle Wright get sacked and throw away the game.
The loss puts the Hurricanes’ ACC title hopes on the fritz. They most likely need to win out in order to achieve that feat. Inconsistency has racked them all season long and there is no reason to believe this anemic team won’t blow that chance.
MIAMI HURRICANES NOTABLES[/size]QB Kyle Wright - 13/22 253 yds 2 TD 3 INT
HB Javarris James - 16 att 46 yds
WR Darnell Jenkins - 4 rec 123 yds
LB Colin McCarthy - 8 tkls
DE Eric Moncur - 7 tkls 2 scks
NC STATE WOLFPACK NOTABLES[/color][/size]QB Harrison Beck - 13/25 217 yds TD INT
HB Andre Brown - 23 att 75 yds TD, 2 rec 30 yds TD
CB Avery Vogt - 8 tkls 2 INT
DE Willie Freakin' Young - 8 tkls 6 scks
K Josh Czojkowski - 2/5, 42 yd FG in 4th OT
SEPTEMBER 1st - vs. MARSHALL[/size] - W 37-10
SEPTEMBER 8th - @ OKLAHOMA - L 3-6 (OT)
SEPTEMBER 15th - vs. FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL - W 31-0
SEPTEMBER 20th - vs. TEXAS A&M - L 14-17
SEPTEMBER 29th - vs. DUKE - L 26-34
OCTOBER 6th - @ NORTH CAROLINA - W 61-3
OCTOBER 13th - vs. GEORGIA TECH[/size] - W 16-12
OCTOBER 20th - @ FLORIDA STATE - W 22-6 NOVEMBER 3rd - vs. NC STATE - L 17-20 (3OT)
NOVEMBER 10th - vs. VIRGINIA
NOVEMBER 17th - @ VIRGINIA TECH
NOVEMBER 24th - @ BOSTON COLLEGE
