The final ranked game on the Week 6 college football slate didn’t disappoint, as No. 8 Miami completed an improbable comeback to stun Cal. The Hurricanes trailed 35-10 in the third quarter and outscored Cal 21-3 in the final period to seal the 39-38 comeback win. The 25-point hole Miami overcame was the largest comeback by an FBS team this season and the second largest in program history (28 points at Boston College in 1999).
On Miami’s first play on its game-winning drive, Cameron Ward connected with star receiver Xavier Restrepo for a 77-yard gain to get deep into Cal territory. Five plays later, Ward connected with Elijah Arroyo for a 5-yard touchdown with 26 seconds left.
Ward finished with 437 yards and two touchdowns. Restrepo caught a game-high seven passes for 163 yards.
Here are three reasons Miami was able to pull off the biggest comeback of the season
Fourth quarter surge
The Hurricanes had 18 points and 297 yards through the first three quarters, then outscored Cal 21-3 in the fourth quarter, which saw them outgain the Bears 278-26. Take a look at Miami’s possessions in the fourth quarter, compared to Cal (we start with the first play of the fourth quarter, which was second down for Cal after a one-yard run).
TeamDrive NumberPlaysYardsResultTime Off ClockCal13237-yard FG42 secondsMiami11175TD3:45Cal258Punt3:46Miami2970TD2:38Cal3421Punt2:22Miami3692TD1:16Cal440Interception21 seconds
Miami averaged five yards a play through the first three quarters, then turned it up to 10.3.
Cam Ward saves his best for last
The first three quarters were an abject disaster for Ward’s Heisman Trophy chances as he showed bouts of inconsistency and bad decision-making that had stymied him at prior stop Washington State. But he sure…
Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/how-miami-engineered-biggest-comeback-of-2024-to-beat-cal-fourth-quarter-dominance-cam-wards-heroics-luck/
Author : Cameron Salerno
Publish date : 2024-10-06 16:46:35
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