Nov. 13, 2010
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ATLANTA (AP)–Freshman Stephen Morris passed for 230 yards and a touchdown to win the matchup of backup quarterbacks and Miami beat Georgia Tech 35-10 on Saturday to stay alive in the ACC’s Coastal Division.
Morris, making his second start as Jacory Harris recovers from a concussion, completed 10 of 18 passes and did not have a turnover.
Lamar Miller, Damien Berry, Mike James and Graig Cooper ran for touchdowns and Miami had 507 total yards, including 277 yards rushing.
Miami senior Leonard Hankerson had three catches for 132 yards, including a 78-yard touchdown, his 11th of the season to tie Michael Irvin’s school record set in 1986.
Miami (7-3, 5-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) is chasing Virginia Tech in the Coastal Division and will play the Hokies next week.
Georgia Tech (5-5, 3-4) has lost three straight for the first time since the end of 2006.
Georgia Tech sophomore quarterback Tevin Washington also played well in his first start. Washington ran for 122 yards and completed 7 of 16 passes for 101 yards. Georgia Tech’s only touchdown came on Washington’s first career scoring pass, a 22-yard completion to Kevin Cone to open the second half.
Georgia Tech lost two fumbles inside the Miami 10.
Washington is replacing Georgia Tech senior Joshua Nesbitt, who will miss the rest of the regular season after suffering a broken right forearm in last week’s loss at Virginia Tech.
Morris led two 88-yard touchdown drives on Miami’s first two possessions and Georgia Tech never recovered.
Miami led 21-10 in the third quarter when Georgia Tech, driving to possibly close the deficit to four points, committed a crucial turnover. Orwin Smith fumbled a pitch on a first-down play from the Miami 6. Ray-Ray Armstrong recovered for the Hurricanes to set up an 86-yard touchdown drive.
Miller had runs of 17 and 16 yards before scoring on the 12 to cap a 10-play drive that did not include a third down.
Berry’s 5-yard run capped the second touchdown drive on Miami’s second possession. The big play of the drive was a 45-yard pass from Morris to Hankerson.
Miami appeared to be on the verge of adding a third first-quarter touchdown when linebacker Colin McCarthy picked up a fumble by Roddy Jones and ran 41 yards for an apparent score.
A lengthy review by the officials showed Jones’ knee was down before he fumbled. Georgia Tech retained possession to set up Scott Blair’s 38-yard field goal for the Yellow Jackets’ only points of the first half.
Washington’s first career TD pass early in the third quarter gave Georgia Tech hope, but Miami had a quick answer.
On its first play following the kickoff, Morris connected with Hankerson on the 78-yard scoring pass. Hankerson caught the short pass on the 30 and then outran the Yellow Jackets’ secondary for Miami’s longest touchdown of the season.
Hankerson, a senior, has 20 touchdown catches for his career, tying Andre Johnson and Reggie Wayne for third place on the school records.
