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Hurricanes roll over Florida A&M

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The Associated Press

Published: October 11, 2009

Updated: 10/11/2009 12:23 am

MIAMI - Already trailing the Miami Hurricanes by three touchdowns, Florida A&M tried lining up on defense with 13 players.

That didn't work either.

The referee threw a flag and sent two Rattlers to the sideline, and four plays later the Hurricanes scored another touchdown en route to a 48-16 victory Saturday night.

Jacory Harris led No. 11 Miami to 31 points playing only the first half, and the Hurricanes (4-1) made the most of the mismatch, facing an unranked team for the first time this season.

"You need a game like this," Coach Randy Shannon said. "We came out focused and started the game fast."

Florida A&M (4-1) lost to Miami for the seventh time in a row.

Among the Hurricanes reserves to see lots of action was fourth-string halfback Damien Berry, a former safety. He carried for the first time in his career and gained 162 yards in 14 attempts, including a 49-yard run and a 35-yard touchdown run on consecutive plays.

"I was a little nervous," Berry said. "My heart was going 150 mph."

Berry's rushing total was the largest by a Miami player since 2005.

Two long kick returns helped Miami take a 17-3 lead after 14 minutes, and Thearon Collier scored on a 61-yard punt runback in the second half.

"There's a reason they are No. 11 in the country," Rattlers coach Joe Taylor said. "We made some plays, but they certainly made more."

Harris went 16-for-24 for 217 yards, including touchdown passes of 5 and 7 yards. In the first half, the Hurricanes totaled 303 yards and built a 31-3 lead, moving the ball so effectively an official had to stop the clock when the sideline chains broke.

"Overall we had a good night," Harris said. "I made a couple of mistakes, but we put up points and made a lot of plays."

Harris was intercepted twice, once in the end zone, but Miami didn't punt until he was replaced by A.J. Highsmith. The true freshman made his college debut to start the second half and went 3-for-3 for 38 yards while directing two scoring drives.

"I did well for my first game," said Highsmith, whose father, Alonzo, played for the Hurricanes in the 1980s. "I didn't do everything right. I still need to improve."

Six Hurricanes scored a touchdown apiece, and 12 caught at least one pass.

"When you have games like this, you've got to stay tuned to what you need to do," Shannon said. "If a guy doesn't respond, you go to the next guy."

Miami totaled 24 first downs, 215 rushing yards and 470 total yards. Cornerback Brandon Harris led the defense by intercepting one pass and breaking up five others.

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