radiorogue.com|3 minute read
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly: Miami vs Virginia Tech 2024 - A Battle to Remember
Whew! This game was a rollercoaster ride straight from hell. The Miami Hurricanes did just about everything wrong, but somehow they escaped with a hard-fought 38-34 win over Virginia Tech. It was ugly, chaotic, and filled with ‘what the f***’ moments – but a win is a win. Let's break down the good, the bad, and the downright ugly of this matchup.
The Good
First up, the good. A win – plain and simple. Miami kept their heads in the game, refusing to quit despite messing up at every turn. Cam Ward, though far from flawless, delivered when it mattered most, guiding the Hurricanes downfield with some absolute dimes. That 25-yard beauty to Jacolby George? *Chef’s kiss.* Ward finished with 400 total yards and 5 touchdowns, which is nothing to scoff at, even if it came with a side of fumbles and interceptions.
Then there's Damien Martinez, who picked up crucial yardage in the 4th quarter to keep Miami alive. Not to mention, the Hurricanes' special teams were on fire. Andres Borregales nailed a 56-yard field goal, and Malik Bryant came through with a clutch stop on Virginia Tech’s fake field goal attempt. That’s how you handle business.
The Bad
Alright, here’s where things went south. The second quarter was a total dumpster fire. Miami lost it 17-3 and could barely move the ball. Their run game was nonexistent, and to make things worse, Cam Ward gifted Virginia Tech the ball on a silver platter with a nasty interception. Turnovers like these put Miami in a tough spot all night, and if it wasn’t for some late-game heroics, this could’ve easily been a disaster.
The defense? Yeah, they allowed 394 yards and a brutal 23 first downs. You can’t expect to dominate when you let your opponent eat up the field like that.
The Ugly
Now for the real ugliness. Where do we even start? Ward's sack-fumble on the first possession? That was pure agony. Virginia Tech took advantage and scored immediately after. But it wasn’t just that. Miami’s defense missed tackles left and right. It was like watching them play a game of 'Who can whiff the hardest?' The Hokies feasted on wide zone plays, leaving Miami’s D looking like they were playing in quicksand.
To top it off, there was that ridiculous holding call that took a Miami touchdown off the board. It was one of the worst calls you’ll see all season, extending Virginia Tech’s drive and giving them momentum. Oh, and let’s not forget the tackling – or should I say, lack thereof. Miami couldn’t stop anything, and it showed with 14 chunk plays allowed.
Ultimately, the Hurricanes did just enough to scrape by, but man, this game was one they’ll want to forget quickly. Or maybe use it as a wake-up call because these mistakes won’t fly against tougher opponents.
Team Grades
Offense: B – The turnovers were killer, but Miami put up 500 yards of offense. Gotta give credit where it’s due.
Defense: C- – Sloppy. Just plain sloppy. Missed tackles, blown assignments, and way too many yards allowed.
Special Teams: A+++ – Absolute perfection. Borregales, Bryant, and the coverage unit saved the day.
Coaching: C – There were moments of brilliance, but too many head-scratching decisions for comfort.
At the end of the day, the Canes pulled off the win, but they’ve got plenty to clean up if they want to keep rolling. Survive and advance, right?
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