After tough start, No. 3 Miami rallies for 44-28 win over Virginia

After Miami clinched the first Atlantic Coact Conference Coastal Division crown in program history, upset the then-No. 3 team in the country, claimed one of the top four spots in the College Football Playoff Rankings and after many of the national pundits that doubted the Hurricanes began singing their praises, coach Mark Richt had a question for his players.

“Can you handle any prosperity,” he asked them.

For a while Saturday against Virginia, it didn’t seem so.

UM, which was a force in back-to-back wins over Virginia Tech and Notre Dame, struggled mightily against Virginia early. Cavaliers quarterback Kurt Benkert sliced Miami’s secondary and was nearly perfect in the first half. The Hurricanes’ offense struggled to get anything going consistently and the Cavaliers even blocked a Miami punt.

It was as ugly a start as No. 3 Miami has had in weeks, but as they have so many times this season, the Hurricanes found a way to stay unbeaten, thanks in large part to its defense.

That group put together an impressive second-half effort and on the strength of a Michael Badgley field goal and late touchdown runs by quarterback Malik Rosier and running back Travis Homer, the Hurricanes managed a 44-28 win over Virginia in Miami’s regular-season home finale.

With the win, the Hurricanes extended their nation-long streak to 15 games without a loss and secured their first 10-win season since 2003.

Now they’ll look to close the regular season out on a high note at Pittsburgh on Friday before turning their attention to Clemson and the ACC Championship Game on Dec. 2.

But it wasn’t easy.

After back-to-back dominating performances in prime-time games against ranked teams Virginia Tech and Notre Dame, the Hurricanes (10-0, 7-0) looked sluggish early, quickly falling behind by two touchdowns after Benkert connected first with Olamide Zaccheaus and then Joe Reed on two long scoring plays in the first quarter.

Miami cut into the lead late in the first when Ahmmon Richards — who has been hampered all season by injuries — caught a 10-yard touchdown pass from Rosier. It was just Richards’ second score of the year, his first since a 49-yarder against Duke back on Sept. 29.

Dayall Harris, who has been used occasionally since his three-game suspension earlier this season, would tie the game early in the second quarter with his 36-yard scoring catch from Rosier.

That play was set up by an unlikely turn of events, with Miami forcing a turnover on a muffed Virginia (6-5, 3-4) punt — and Homer recovering the loose ball. The sophomore was welcomed back to the Miami sideline by teammates and coaches who, as expected, placed the Hurricanes’ famed Turnover Chain on Homer, making him the first offensive player to wear the signature piece of jewelry this season.

It was one of three turnovers Miami would force on the day, but Benkert and Virginia would not go away.

With 30 seconds left in the half, Benkert — one of just two Coastal Division quarterbacks to start a game for his team last season — hit Andre Levrone on a 33-yard scoring pass that capped a six-play, 81-yard drive and sent the Cavaliers into the locker room with a 21-14 lead.

It marked the first time Miami has trailed at the half since the Hurricanes were down 14-13 against Georgia Tech on Oct. 14. And the start of the third quarter wasn’t much better, with its first offensive possession of the second half featuring a sack, a false start and a blocked punt that led to another Virginia score, this one a 26-yard pass from Benkert to Daniel Hamm.

Benkert, a senior, finished the day 28 of 37 with 384 yards and four touchdowns, putting together one of the best performances of the season against Miami’s defense.

As well as he played though, he wasn’t perfect and with 9:57 left in the third quarter, he made one of his rare mistakes — and Jaquan Johnson made him pay.

The safety snatched his team-high fourth interception of the year and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown that tied the game at 28 with 9:57 left in the third.

It was Miami’s second defensive score of the year and after that, things turned in the Hurricanes’ favor.

They took their first lead of the game later in the quarter when Badgley hit on a 44-yard field goal and after that, there was little Virginia could do against the Hurricanes’ defense, which put together an impressive showing late.

Rosier, who has now won all 11 of his games as a starter, was 15 of 28 for 210 yards and three touchdowns, while Homer had 17 carries for 96 yards.

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ccabrera@sun-sentinel.com; On Twitter @ChristyChirinos.

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