The No. 10 Miami Hurricanes were playing their first game in three weeks, had 15 players unavailable as they were still recovering from a COVID-19 outbreak on the team and were facing an opponent they only learned they would meet six days prior.
No matter.
Miami obliterated overmatched Duke, 48-0, on Saturday night at Wallace Wade Stadium in Durham, N.C., outgaining the Blue Devils 524-177 and forcing five turnovers.
Their first shutout of a Power Five-conference team since a 59-0 win over Syracuse in 2001, it was a "style points" victory for the Hurricanes (8-1, 7-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) against the Blue Devils (2-8, 1-8) after UM had won its previous three by a combined nine points.
It came on a night when the Hurricanes were eliminated from ACC Championship Game contention due to Clemson's win at Virginia Tech. While Clemson and Notre Dame — the Fighting Irish, usually independent in football, are playing in the ACC for the 2020 season — will square off for the conference title, UM can still find its way to a New Year's Six bowl game with two more wins.
Quarterback D'Eriq King, who was reported on the ACC Network broadcast to have tested positive for the novel coronavirus and recovered during UM's two-week pause of practice, was 16 of 24 for 248 yards and three touchdowns. He ran for 46 yards and scored another touchdown on the ground.
Junior running back Cam'Ron Harris went for 96 rushing yards and two touchdowns as he led a UM rushing attack that outgained Duke 220-56 on the ground.
The Hurricanes defense, minus key contributors in defensive tackles Jared Harrison-Hunte and Jonathan Ford, linebackers Zach McCloud and Sam Brooks and cornerback Al Blades Jr., recovered three fumbles — plus one on special teams — and intercepted a pass late.
Miami scored first on its third offensive series on Saturday. King connected with tight end Brevin Jordan for a 24-yard score on a post over the middle to complete a 12-play, 88-yard drive. For Jordan, who missed three games between October and November, it was his first touchdown since Sept. 26 against Florida State.
Before the end of the first quarter, the Hurricanes scored again with Harris going untouched on a 34-yard touchdown run.
King scored on the ground in the second quarter, diving to reach the ball across the plane of the goal line in front of a Duke defender to put Miami up 21-0. The Hurricanes had a chance to add to the lead before halftime, but kicker Jose Borregales had his first true miss of the season on a 43-yard field goal attempt. His one previous failure was blocked.
But UM extended the lead plenty more in the third quarter. First, King to Dee Wiggins for a 2-yard score in the flat. Then, Michael Harley got free over the top of the Duke defense for an 89-yard touchdown from King. After Miami recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff, Harris punched in a 1-yard touchdown.
The Harley touchdown was the fourth-longest pass play in program history and longest since a 97-yard pass from Kyle Wright to Darnell Jenkins in 2007.
Borregales made up for his earlier miss with field goals from 52 and 32 yards out in the fourth quarter.
Quincy Roche had a strip-sack to force a fumble that Corey Flagg recovered. Roche, who had 1 1/2 sacks like Jaelan Phillips, also recovered a fumble that Waynmon Steed forced right before Nesta Silvera came in to wallop Duke running back Deon Jackson.
Amari Carter had a fourth-quarter fumble recovery, and a freshman combo of defensive lineman Elijah Roberts forcing a fumble and tight end Dominic Mammarelli recovering it created the special teams takeaway. Freshman cornerback Marcus Clarke had a fourth-quarter interception.
Harris' night came after freshman Jaylan Knighton started over him but left with an injury after losing a fumble on Miami's second play from scrimmage.
The full list of UM players announced out ahead of kickoff in Durham: Blades, Brooks, RB Robert Burns, Ford, DB Jalen Harrell, Harrison-Hunte, TE Larry Hodges, LB Avery Huff, DE Patrick Joyner Jr., McCloud, FB Michael Parrott, WR Jeremiah Payton, QB Ryan Rizk, QB Tyler Van Dyke and OL Issiah Walker Jr.
Miami returns home for its final two games of the regular season the next two Saturdays, North Carolina and Georgia Tech.
