Georgia Tech runs over No. 23 Miami 41-23

The Associated Press

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ATLANTA | Hold off on Miami’s return to national prominence. The Hurricanes ran into a huge roadblock: Georgia Tech’s triple-option offense.

The Yellow Jackets ran No. 23 Miami ragged in a game that could have moved the one-time powerhouse to the cusp of playing for the Atlantic Coast Conference championship and a spot in a major bowl. Georgia Tech piled up 472 yards on the ground — the second-most ever allowed by the Hurricanes — in a 41-23 rout Thursday night.

Jonathan Dwyer ripped off 128 yards with just 10 carries in the first half, including a 58-yard touchdown on a play that typified a Miami defense that looked as if it had never even seen film on Georgia Tech’s unique, run-based scheme. Two linebackers got caught of position, and Dwyer was off to the end zone.

By the end, the Hurricanes, 7-4 overall and 4-3 in the conference, could do little more than huddle around heaters on a chilly night in Atlanta, totally outclassed in their first game as a ranked team in more than two years.

The five-time national champion Hurricanes, who had a losing record in 2007 but came into the game with five straight wins, could have clinched at least a tie for first in the Coastal Division with a win.

Georgia Tech, 8-3 and 5-3, took over first in the convoluted Coastal with an impressive display by the triple-option offense, which piled up the most rushing yards ever on the Hurricanes other than a 536-yard effort by Auburn in 1944.

The Hurricanes’ offense wasn’t much better. Robert Marve and Jacory Harris both got time at quarterback, but neither had much success. Each threw an interception, and Marve’s pick was returned 26 yards for Georgia Tech’s first touchdown.

Georgia Tech outgained Miami in total yards 518-388, and it really wasn’t that close. The Hurricanes trailed 27-3 before finally reaching the end zone midway through the third quarter.

Posted on Thu, Nov. 20, 2008 10:15 PM

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