For the University of Miami, bowl eligibility will have to wait. Same goes with an ACC Coastal Division championship.
Up 10 points with less that six minutes to play Saturday against Virginia, the Hurricanes’ defense reacted in a way that’s become very familiar way this season — it wilted.
Virginia quarterback Mike Rocco threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Jake McGee in the back of the end zone with six seconds remaining to hand the Cavaliers (4-6, 2-4 ACC) a 41-40 victory that left the Hurricanes (5-5, 4-3) stunned and deflated.
The loss keeps Miami a victory away from clinching a post-season berth and means the Hurricanes will have to beat Duke in Durham, N.C. in the regular-season finale on Nov. 24 to win their first Coastal Division title.
“We needed to make one more play than them and we didn’t make it,” coach Al Golden said.
That’s been the case all season with Miami’s defense. With two games left on the schedule, the Hurricanes have already allowed 312 points — two points shy of the school record set in 1984 and 2008.
UM has made stars of opposing offensive players this year and Saturday was no different. Rocco, who had thrown eight touchdown passses in eight games, connected on four scoring throws against a depth-depleted ‘Canes defense that was missing three starters.
Of Rocco’s four touchdown passes, the biggest came after he led the Cavaliers on a 12-play, 87-yard drive in the final minutes that ended with the junior quarterback lofting a pass over the head of UM linebacker Gionni Paul and into the hands of McGee, who managed to get one foot inside the end line.
Rocco completed a school record 17 consecutive passes at one point and finished with Tom Brady-like numbers — 29-of-37 passing for 300 yards and four touchdowns. Between Rocco and backup Phillip Sims, the Cavaliers completed 76.9 percent (40-of-52) for 388 yards against a UM defense that was without linebackers Denzel Perryman and Eddie Johnson and safety Deon Bush.
Perryman and Bush missed the game with injuries. Johnson, UM’s second-leading tackler, was left home for undisclosed reasons, although team officials declined to call it a suspension. Rashawn Scott, Miami’s second-leading receiver also sat out the game and could be out longer after being suspended indefinitely for violating team rules.
“They’re dynamic guys, and that hurt,” Golden said regarding the absence of his defensive starters. “We didn’t have guys that accounted for 25-30 tackles every game. But we had enough talent here to win the game, and we didn’t do it. There is no excuse.”
Miami appeared to seal the victory after Rocco was penalized for intentional grounding in his own end zone, resulting in a safety and a 40-35 lead with 4:18 to play.
But the Hurricanes went conservative after Virginia kicked off following the safety. Three consecutive running plays failed to pick up a first down and UM was forced to punt with 2:38 left on the clock.
Rocco methodically drove Virginia the length of the field. The Cavaliers converted on two fourth downs, one on a 9-yard pass from Rocco and a second when UM cornerback Thomas Finnie was called for holding.
“We should have never put the defense in that situation,” UM quarterback Stephen Morris said. “The game was not won or lost on the last play.”
Morris blamed himself, pointing to a fumble at the Virginia 2-yard line early in the fourth quarter with UM leading 31-28.
“It killed me,” Morris said. “I took points aways. It’s still eating me up.”
The defeat spoiled a sensational effort from UM tailback Duke Johnson. The freshman threw an 8-yard touchdown pass, returned a kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown and finished with 150 yards rushing and 368 all-purpose yards. The all-purpose total was the fourth highest in ACC history.
The win marked Virginia’s third straight against Miami and its fifth victory in the last seven meetings between the teams.
“It’s a tough loss,” Golden said in a barely-audible voice. “But we have to bounce back. It’s the seniors last home game [Saturday versus USF] and we have to fight back.”
