LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Ajay Allen followed Cam Ward’s fourth touchdown pass with a 2-yard, go-ahead score early in the fourth quarter, Damien Martinez added a 30-yard insurance TD run with 4:05 remaining and No. 6 Miami held off Louisville for a wild 52-45 victory on Saturday.
A series recently defined by high scoring added its most exciting chapter thanks to Ward, who completed a bunch of explosive plays on the way to a school-record seventh consecutive 300-yard passing performance. More importantly, the Hurricanes (7-0, 3-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) are off to their best start since beginning 10-0 in 2017.
The Hurricanes withstood several Louisville rallies from double-digit deficits, the last of which was Tyler Shough’s 4-yard TD pass to Duke Watson that tied the game at 38 early in the fourth. Ward followed by hitting Samuel Brown for 59 yards, setting up Allen’s go-ahead score with 11:17 remaining.
“We knew it was going to be back and forth,” Miami coach Mario Cristobal said. “This is a win against a really good team.”
Martinez’s bullish TD run provided a cushion, though Shough’s 4-yard scoring pass to Ja’Corey Brooks with 54 seconds left got them within a touchdown. Ward knelt three times to close out the thrilling road win and reclaim the Schnellenberger Trophy, awarded to the winner between programs coached by legendary Howard Schnellenberger.
Ward completed 21 of 32 passes for 319 yards to break the Miami record for consecutive 300-yard games most recently held by Tyler Van Dyke in 2021. Ward is four away from the Miami all-time record for 300-yard games, a mark of 11 shared by Van Dyke and Brad Kaaya.
Xavier Restropo had nine catches for 101 yards and a TD, and Jacolby George and Brown each caught scoring passes as the ‘Canes outgained Louisville 538-448.
Shough completed 31 of 51 for 342 yards and four scores as well for the Cardinals (4-3, 2-2).
“We had some chances,” Louisville coach Jeff Brohm said. “I do think our guys played hard, but it wasn’t good enough. We definitely have not gotten off to good starts. I applaud our team for hanging in there and playing to the end, but we’ve got to play better football.”
For all the yardage compiled by both teams, their defenses contributed key takeaways that factored in the outcome. Miami linebacker Raul Aguirre Jr. might have made the biggest with an end-zone recovery of Isaac Brown’s fumble caused by Simeon Barrow’s perfectly-placed helmet hit on the ball that provided a 24-14 lead in the second quarter.
Louisville’s Thor Griffith jarred the ball from Mark Fletcher Jr. that Jordan Guerad recovered at the Miami 26, leading to Brooks’ 21-yard TD pass from Shough.
Miami: After comeback wins over Virginia Tech and Cal, the Hurricanes had to beat back Louisville a lot. Ward bought time and found receivers, and the nation’s top offense continued doing what it does with a balanced attack that also rushed for 219 yards. That keeps them in the ACC mix.
Louisville: Every time the Cardinals seemed down and out against Ward and the ‘Canes, they answered with a gutsy scoring drive. The defense certainly helped with a takeaway and key defensive stands, just not enough to stop Miami’s ground game from taking over in the fourth quarter. They’ve now lost three of four and the challenge now is salvaging the remainder of a daunting schedule.
Miami: hosts in-state rival Florida State in ACC play.
Louisville: visits Boston College on Friday night with a short turnaround.
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