University of Miami freshman Duke Johnson turned in one of the best performances in ACC history on Saturday against Virginia.
The speedy tailback/kick returner piled up 368 all-purpose yards, the fourth most ever in a single game by a conference player.
But memorable? Not for Johnson.
“All of that doesn’t matter if we don’t win,” Johnson said.
The Hurricanes didn’t win, dropping a bitter 41-40 decision to the Cavaliers at Scott Stadium that kept UM from moving closer to a Coastal Division championship.
While there’s plenty of blame to go around for Miami’s loss, none of it can be pinned on Johnson. The freshman sensation threw an 8-yard touchdown pass, returned a kickoff 95 yards for a score and rushed for 150 yards while serving as a one-man wrecking crew against the Cavaliers’ defense.
“That’s what he does,” senior cornerback Brandon McGee said. “He’s amazing. To have a guy like that on the team gives everybody a lift.”
Johnson has provided a boost for Miami this season in a variety of ways. He’s scored touchdowns via rush, reception and kickoff return and accounted for a passing touchdown on Saturday by connecting with Allen Hurns on a crisp throw in the first quarter.
Johnson’s 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown on Saturday was his second of the season. That tied a UM record for career touchdowns on kickoff returns with three former Hurricanes — Tim Morgan, Ottis Anderson and Suncoast High graduate Devin Hester.
With his performance , Johnson surpassed Edgerrin James in UM’s record book and now has 1,688 all-purpose yards for the season. That ranks third all-time at Miami behind Willis McGahee (2,108) and Anderson (1,708).
Johnson had 214 yards on kickoff returns, 150 yards rushing and 4 yards on a single reception against Virginia.
“Everybody knows Duke is a special player,” sophomore receiver Phillip Dorsett said. “Everybody gets frustrated trying to stop him. Teams can contain him a little bit, but I don’t think anybody can stop him.”
Not that it was a perfect night for Johnson. The 5-foot-9, 188-pounder had a chance to seal the game on a 3rd-and-6 situation on UM’s final offensive possession but was stopped for a 2-yard gain. The Hurricanes were forced to punt, leading to Virginia’s game-winning 87-yard drive.
“I gave him the ball in the end because I thought he was the guy that could make them miss and get us the first down,” said coach Al Golden, adding that calling Johnson’s number on the play seemed like “a safe bet.”
The 2-yard rush was the shortest of the game for Johnson, who had 16 carries and averaged 9.4 yards.
“Sometimes it’s like that,” Johnson said. “I was trying to do everything I could to win.”
Bunche injured: Starting left tackle Malcolm Bunche injured his left ankle in the third quarter and did not return to the game. He was replaced in the lineup by freshman Ereck Flowers.
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