Miami Hurricanes vs Boston College Eagles Match Player Stats On Sep 01, 2012

SportsDirect Inc. staff
Sep 1, 2012

Miami 41, Boston College 32: Homegrown freshman Duke Johnson ripped off two scoring runs of 50-plus yards and the visiting Hurricanes recovered a pair of second-half fumbles to pull away from the Eagles in ACC play.

Johnson amassed 110 of his 135 rushing yards on touchdowns of 54 and 56 yards for Miami (1-0), which erased an early 14-0 deficit. Stephen Morris had 207 yards passing and his lone touchdown toss, an 18-yarder to Malcolm Lewis, gave the Hurricanes a 41-23 cushion early in the fourth quarter.

Chase Rettig threw for 441 yards and two touchdowns, but was stuffed on fourth down at the goal line in the closing minutes as he tried to rally the Eagles (0-1).

It marked the second straight game the teams met – Boston College won 24-17 last season at Miami in the finale for both teams as neither was bowl bound.

Both teams gave a more inspired performance from the start Saturday, posting as many points in the first half – Miami led 21-20 at the break – as their entire output in last year's game.

A wild first quarter culminated when Miami's Denzel Perryman intercepted a slant pass and coasted 41 yards untouched to the end zone as time expired. The score was the second for Miami in a 53-second span and evened the game 14-14.

The Eagles, whose 112th-ranked offense scored 61 first-quarter points in 2011, bolted to a 14-0 advantage midway through the first. Andre Williams' 4-yard scamper put Boston College on the board, and Rettig found Jake Sinkovec on a 15-yard scoring strike just 7:54 into the game.

The Hurricanes got on the board with an 83-yard drive capped by Eduardo Clements' 1-yard rush. Miami took its first lead when Johnson stumbled but quickly recovered to race 54 yards for a score that made it 21-17 with 9:02 before halftime.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The Hurricanes lead the series 24-5. Saturday was the first time the programs met in a season opener since Miami's 23-7 win in 1993. … Both teams averted trouble in the closing minute of the first half. Hurricanes punter Dalton Botts had to retrieve a snap that deflected off the upback and then scramble before getting away a kick. Meanwhile, the Eagles recovered their own fumble as they tried to run out the clock. … Miami travels to No. 22 Kansas State next Saturday. … Boston College stays home and hosts Maine next Saturday.