Today had all of the ingredients for a classic trap game for Miami. After finding a way to escape last week’s Thursday night game at North Carolina, Miami returned home for an early afternoon game against Wake Forest before getting set to hit the road next week to take on surging Florida State. Playing in to the trap game idea, Miami has looked like a lost team against Wake Forest but a late touchdown drive may have given the Hurricanes some life. Wake Forest is up 14-10 at the half in Miami.
Wake Forest opened the game with a 16-yard touchdown drive that took up roughly half of the first quarter, and then forced Miami to go three-and-out on the ensuing possession. After Miami got on the board in the second quarter with a 34-yard field goal by Matt Goudis, Wake Forest put together another touchdown drive covering 75 yards. The second touchdown drive was given a lift on a 56-yard pass down the right sideline from Tanner Price to Tyree Harris on a long third down attempt right out of a timeout. Miami would later stop Wake Forest a yard shy of a first down inside the red zone but rather than try for a field goal Wake Forest kept the offense on the field and Price rolled left on play action and found Michael Campanaro running free in the end zone for an easy touchdown.
Miami, who finally learned their NCAA fate earlier this week and is now officially eligible for postseason play, may have found a spark on their final offensive possession. Starting from their 38-yard line quickly picked up a touchdown on a four-play drive when Stephen Morris completed a 35 yard pass or a touchdown to Herb Waters.
At the half, Miami has just 126 yards of offense to wake Forest’s 226. Wake Forest has held Miami running back Duke Johnson in check, limiting the Hurricane running back to 37 yards on ten carries.
If that late touchdown will get Miami some confidence, it could lead to some signs of life in the second half. But Wake Forest has been running a solid game plan against Miami’s defense so far and should stick with the methodic style that is eating up clock and moving down field.