No. 20 Miami Hurricanes splash past Temple to win their fourth straight game

PHILADELPHIA — The Hurricanes traveled north but still played in tropical weather.

With wind and rain from approaching Tropical Storm Ophelia making game conditions difficult, No. 20 Miami (4-0) ended its non-conference schedule with its fourth consecutive win by beating Temple (2-2) 41-7 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Saturday.

“Those are great conditions for playing football,” Miami coach Mario Cristobal said. “That was pretty refreshing. We’re in some heat every single day. … It was good. Those guys, especially the linemen, those guys were smiling. They’re like, ‘Man, we can go 100 plays out here if we had to.'”

The Hurricanes defense held the Owls to only one score, jumping out to a 24-0 lead in the first half.

Miami got on the board with a 7-yard touchdown pass from Tyler Van Dyke to Xavier Restrepo, who made his first touchdown catch of the season. Van Dyke threw his second touchdown of the game on a 28-yard toss to Colbie Young, who made a leaping grab and dove across the goal line.

“Colbie bailed me out a little bit right there,” Van Dyke said. “Went up and got the ball for me.”

After a 26-yard field goal by Andy Borregales, the Hurricanes took a 24-point lead on a 13-yard touchdown run by Henry Parrish Jr.

Miami’s defense played a key role in getting the offense the ball. The Hurricanes forced a pair of first-half turnovers. Te’Cory Couch intercepted a pass from E.J. Warner — the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Kurt Warner — in the end zone. Defensive lineman Thomas Gore got UM’s second turnover, forcing Warner to fumble. defensive lineman Jahfari Harvey recovered the loose ball. Couch picked off his second pass in the second half.

The Hurricanes turned two of the three takeaways into touchdowns.

However, Miami had difficulty stopping Temple’s passing game early in the game. They surrendered 268 yards through the air, and the Owls moved the ball at the end of the first half, resulting in Temple’s first score of the game: a 9-yard touchdown pass from Warner to wide receiver Reese Clark.

“They got some momentum there right before halftime, going down and scoring,” Cristobal said. “But then I thought our guys came out in the second half and made it a point to really take control, especially at the line of scrimmage.”

Parrish kept Miami’s offense rolling at the start of the second half, punching in his second touchdown of the game with a 3-yard score on UM’s first drive of the second half. The Hurricanes scored seven more points on their next drive, as Van Dyke tossed his third touchdown of the game to Xavier Restrepo. It was Restrepo’s first-ever multi-touchdown game.

“X had another great day,” Van Dyke said. “Finally got a couple touchdowns. He deserves that based off the work he’s put in.”

Borregales kicked his second field goal of the game early in the fourth quarter, and backup quarterback Emory Williams and the second-string players took over for Miami’s starters about midway through the fourth quarter to conclude the game.

“Guys are really executing at a high level,” Restrepo said. “Of course, we could have played way better today. But for the most part, guys are executing at a high level.”

Five takeaways

Miami dominates running game

The Hurricanes had no issue moving the ball on the ground on Saturday afternoon.

Miami ended the game with 323 rushing yards. Parrish set a career-high with 139 yards and scored a pair of touchdowns. Don Chaney Jr., who made his first career start, notched 61. Mark Fletcher Jr., returning from an injury, had 51 yards. Chris Johnson Jr. added 33, and Van Dyke had 39.

“I think the competition at running back really helps us,” Cristobal said. “You saw today: Don Chaney got the nod, but then Henry Parrish got the hot hand. That competition is alive and well, and it’s important for us to praise effort but reward performance. And then it’s right back to competing again in practice.”

Run defense stops Owls in tracks

Although Temple gave UM some issues in the air early in the game, the Hurricanes were dominant in run defense.

Miami held Temple to just 11 total rushing yards, and only 2 in the first half. Temple’s running backs accounted for 25 yards, and UM forced the Owls into -14 yards on sacks.

The Hurricanes have allowed just 48 rushing yards per game this season. They entered the game ranked Saturday’s game seventh in the nation in rushing yards allowed and that ranking will likely increase after this week.

Another solid Van Dyke game

The Hurricanes’ veteran signal-caller continued his strong start to the season.

With his three touchdown passes, Van Dyke moved past Ryan Clement and tied UM national champion Craig Erickson with 46 career touchdown passes.

Despite the wind, the fourth-year junior completed 17 of 24 passes for 220 yards and did not throw an interception. His three touchdowns give him 11 this season with just one interception. He has not thrown a pick in three games.

“Really, really windy,” Van Dyke said. “I think we dodged some rain, though, for sure. Just a little sprinkle here and there. But it was super windy out there. Made it a little bit tough, passing the ball. Good thing we can run the ball.”

Hurricanes get banged up

Center Matt Lee and Parrish Jr. left Saturday’s game with injuries on the same drive in the third quarter.

Both are key players for Miami’s offense. Lee is part of the Hurricanes’ revamped offensive line that has performed well early in the season. Parrish was Miami’s leading rusher on Saturday.

Lee’s injury did not appear serious, as he remained on the sidelines with the team. Ryan Rodriguez replaced him at center. However, Parrish went to the locker room after leaving the injury tent.

Cristobal said after the game that both players were fine.

Those injuries come as the Hurricanes are starting to get healthier, as two key players returned from injury after missing UM’s win over Bethune-Cookman.

Hurricanes’ offense rolling

Miami’s offense is off to its hottest start in years.

The Hurricanes have scored 38 points or more in their first four games. It is the first time Miami has scored 38 or more in its first four games of the season since 2002.

“I don’t think we’re anywhere, in our stages of development and growth as a program, we’re not in any way, shape or form ready to compare ourselves to any team from the past,” Cristobal said. “We try to honor past teams by the way that we play the game. That’s the best thing that we can do. And it’s got to show on a game-by-game basis that it means more to us than the guys on the other side of the field.

“We will one day be able to say, ‘Hey, we are as effective and productive as those teams,’ but the entire focus is on the 2023 Miami Hurricanes and strictly on just getting better.”

The Hurricanes ended Saturday’s game with 543 total yards — 220 passing and 323 rushing. Miami racked up more than 500 total yards for the second game in a row and set a season-high in rushing yards.

“I do believe sky’s the limit for this offense and this scheme,” Cristobal said, “and the bye week’s going to be really valuable.”