The Miami Hurricanes showed a significant turnaround, staging a dominant second half to secure a convincing 42-7 victory over the Stanford Cardinal on Saturday night at Hard Rock Stadium.
After a sluggish first half, which has plagued the Hurricanes in recent games, Miami’s offense finally found its rhythm and made the necessary adjustments.
Quarterback Carson Beck had an efficient outing, completing 21 of 28 passes for 189 yards along with a touchdown without any interceptions.
Running back Mark Fletcher, Jr. was a standout performer, racking up 106 yards on 23 carries and crossing the goal line three times to help propel the Hurricanes to victory.
The game initially unfolded as a struggle for Miami, reminiscent of their prior performances. After a promising first drive that ended in a missed 44-yard field goal due to a false start penalty, Stanford took control of the momentum.
The Cardinal initiated the game with a commanding drive, marching 74 yards down the field in 12 plays to take a 7-0 lead.
For much of the first half, Miami’s offense faltered. A poorly timed punt and a dropped fourth down pass from CJ Daniels kept the scoreboard inactive for the Hurricanes.
However, just before halftime, Daniels redeemed himself by catching a touchdown pass in the end zone, which leveled the game at 7-7 as the teams headed to the locker room.
The turning point came in the second half as Miami displayed a renewed energy and aggressiveness.
The defensive pass rush began to find its stride, limiting the effectiveness of Stanford’s ground game.
Malachi Toney ignited the Hurricanes with two impressive punt returns exceeding 30 yards each early in the third quarter, enabling Miami to capitalize on Stanford’s mistakes and take a 14-7 lead.
A significant moment followed when Wesley Bissainthe made a pivotal interception, setting Miami up at the Stanford 3-yard line.
Fletcher, Jr. scored from close range, extending Miami’s lead to 21-7 with the momentum clearly shifting in favor of the Hurricanes.
Xavier Lucas contributed with his first interception as a Hurricane on Stanford’s ensuing drive, and Miami wasted no time converting it into more points as Fletcher, Jr. rushed four consecutive times to cover 45 yards, solidifying a 28-7 advantage.
A dynamic touchdown run from Jordan Lyle sealed the fate of the game in the fourth quarter. Lyle showcased his speed and agility, weaving through defenders for a 17-yard score.
As the game progressed, Miami’s coaching staff began to substitute players, allowing Emory Williams to lead a final drive that concluded with a short touchdown run by Girard Pringle, Jr.
With this victory, Miami improved to 6-1 overall and 2-1 in their conference.
Looking ahead, the Hurricanes are set to face SMU next Saturday in Dallas, marking their first away game outside the state of Florida this season.
image source from：stateoftheu
