Miami @ South Florida

Here is a common opponent for the Cards & Canes to compare, Louisville beat USF 34-3 and allowed the Bulls just 133 yards while amassing 485 of their own.  Miami took out the Bulls 49-21 and talled 540 yards while allowing 288.  The comparison is somewhat skewed by the fact that USF QB Steven Bench was able to finish the game against the Canes, but had to leave early against the Cards.  Also Miami allowed a 96-yard TD drive on the final possession of the game (3:06 remaining leading 49-14).

In the actual game.  Stephen Morris had a short day due to a lingering ankle injury suffered against FCS opponent Savannah State.  Morris left the game early in the 2nd quarter but still was 11 of 16 for 222 yards and 2 TD (0 INTs).  Morris overthrew a wide open Herb Waters on his final play and aggravated his ankle.  But the damage was already done as the Canes led 21-7 at the time of his departure.

Miami scored on its opening possession thanks to a balanced effort, and USF quickly matched that score on the shoulders of Marcus Shaw who had 58 rushing yards on the possession and the TD.  The Canes though went right back with the deep ball again from Morris to Dorsett for 55 yards that set up a Herb Waters TD from Morris.  Morris then scored on the Canes’ 3rd possession, this time to Freshman Stacy Coley on a 34-yard strike.

As breakouts go, this was Stacy Coley’s who is an ACC-All Freshman.  Coley finished the afternoon with 4 catches for 96 yards and 2 TDs.

After scoring on the game’s first 3 possessions Miami finally failed to score when Duke Johnson fumbled in the redzone at the 1 yard line, but the Canes would go on to score anyway when forcing a fumble of their own while sacking Steven Bench.  Miami would go on to take a 49-7 lead and they were having their way with the Bulls well into the 4th quarter.   USF finally scored again on a PICK SIX off of 3rd string QB Gray Crow….The of course Miami allowed 96 yards in garbage time.

What Do We Take Away?

Louisville & USF took care of the Bulls like they were supposed to.  I throw out the Pick Six Miami allowed along with the 96-yard final possession, and I find a similar performance in both UofL & UM.  The key difference for me is the Hurricanes allowing USF to score on their opening possession. USF only scored against the Cards after two gift-wrapped personal foul penalties started a Bull possession in field goal range without gaining a yard.

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@UofLSheriff50. Louisville native, University of Louisville Business School Grad c/o 2004. Co-Founder of TheCrunchZone.com

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