Three Stars: Miami vs Ohio State
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Woo! I am fired up! The Miami Hurricanes toppled the defending champion Ohio State Buckeyes tonight in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, 24-14. The Canes jumped out to a 14-0 lead at halftime, then put together a great fourth quarter to secure the win. Wow. What a way to take in the new year. Oh yeah, I almost forgot. Happy New Year to you and yours!
Let’s get to the three stars of the game.
1. Keionte Scott
As I typed Keionte’s name above, he was just named the “Most Outstanding Defensive Player” for tonight’s game. Perfect timing. Scott’s pick-six in the second quarter was the single biggest play of the game in my opinion. Jeremiah Smith had just made a huge 59-yard catch to put that team from Ohio in scoring position. The way Keionte read the following play was just incredible. He saw it the whole way. That sequence completely changed the game. I think it deflated Ohio’s fanbase and showed their team that this Hurricanes squad was for real. Wow. I am so happy Keionte Scott chose to transfer to Miami and become the best defensive back in the country in 2025.
2. Carson Beck
Tonight is why Miami paid the big bucks to bring in the former Georgia Bulldog. Beck did not turn the ball over. He didn’t force anything downfield. And best of all, he tucked the ball and ran when there was nothing there. Those runs either picked up first downs or gave his offense more manageable second and third downs. This dude is not scared of the big stage. He does not get rattled by aggressive defenses. I am thrilled to have him as my quarterback. Beck’s numbers weren’t special: 19-26 for 138 yards and one touchdown, plus seven rushes for 23 yards. Still, he commanded the offense and executed the big plays, like the touchdown pass to Mark Fletcher and the huge third-down screen to CJ Daniels in the fourth quarter to basically seal the game.
3. Mark Fletcher Jr.
Miami’s leader on offense had a couple nice runs before losing his first fumble of the season late in the first quarter. It was a rough turnover considering the Canes were in scoring position. No problem for Mark. He bounced back and led the Canes on the ground tonight with some huge runs. He finished with 19 rushes for 90 yards, plus two receptions for 25 yards and the opening touchdown of the game. Fletcher’s 19-yard run to start the game-clinching drive in the fourth quarter was one of the biggest offensive plays of the game. It set the tone and gave his guys the momentum they needed.
Honorable mention:
Bain and Mesidor – The best defensive end duo in the country combined for eight total tackles, three sacks, and 3.5 TFL. They also provided constant pressure in the backfield. Lastly, the holding call against Bain in the fourth quarter was one of the biggest defensive plays of the game. I love these dudes!
The offensive line – The big boys up front did an awesome job tonight. They held a really good defense at bay for most of the game. They helped their running backs with some big blocks to create explosive plays while also protecting Beck from getting blown up. Great performance.
Who were your three stars of the game? Let us know in the comments below.
GO CANES!
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