Oct. 2, 2004
By CHARLES ODUM
Associated Press Writer
ATLANTA – Brock Berlin threw three touchdown passes and Frank Gore rushed for 115 yards as No. 4 Miami beat Georgia Tech 27-3 Saturday in the Hurricanes’ first ACC road game.
Playing without P.J. Daniels, the Atlantic Coast Conference’s leading rusher, Georgia Tech was shut down by Miami’s tough defense, which forced four turnovers. Miami, fourth in the nation in scoring defense, has allowed only one offensive touchdown in four games.
Daniels was held out with a strained quadriceps.
There had been calls for Miami (4-0, 2-0 ACC) to make a change at quarterback after Berlin threw only two touchdown passes in his first three games. But Berlin was sharp Saturday, completing 10 of 20 passes for 200 yards with no interceptions.
Berlin threw two scoring pases to Roscoe Parrish.
Coach Larry Coker played freshman quarterback Kyle Wright for two first-half possessions, but Wright was held without a first down. Wright returned to play the fourth quarter and completed 4 of 6 passes for 24 yards.
Georgia Tech (2-2, 1-2) has its own issues at quarterback. Reggie Ball completed only 8 of 25 passes for 68 yards with three interceptions. Ball has six interceptions in Tech’s last two games.
Chris Woods had 12 carries for 74 yards for Tech and Ball added 60 yards rushing on 14 carries.
Miami answered Bell’s field goal with the first of two field goals by Jon Peattie, a 49-yarder.
But it was obvious Tech missed Daniels. In one second-quarter series, Ball and Damaruis Bilbo took turns running the ball on four straight quarterback keepers. The drive ended with Ball’s second interception. Brandon Meriweather picked off a pass intended for Levon Thomas.
After Meriweather’s interception, Berlin passed to Lance Leggett over the middle for a 57-yard touchdown pass and a 20-3 lead.
