CORAL GABLES, Fla. _ The preseason All-ACC running back put together an impressive showing. The new starting quarterback was effective and efficient with both his arm and his legs. And while the defense gave up some points on the game's opening drive, it rebounded and held the opponent largely in check the rest of the way.
For the most part, things went as expected Saturday afternoon for the 18th-ranked Hurricanes, who opened a season of high expectations with a 41-13 win over Bethune-Cookman at Hard Rock Stadium.
It was Miami's second opener under coach Mark Richt, its first with Malik Rosier under center. And the redshirt junior wasted little time in showing the weapon he can be for the Hurricanes, breaking free for a 23-yard run on Miami's first offensive play of the year. He'd later run a similar play to open the second half, scrambling on a 15-yard run that started a drive that eventually ended with a touchdown.
But that mobility isn't the only reason Rosier emerged from a four-player race to earn the starting nod after his former roommate Brad Kaaya opted to bypass his senior year and enter the NFL draft. Rosier, who prior to Saturday had made just one start at Miami, completed 17 of 28 passes for 217 yards and three touchdowns.
While at times in the past he's been inconsistent and streaky, against the Wildcats, Rosier was consistent and smart, distributing the ball among his many playmakers. One of those players was Walton, the Hurricanes' MVP last season and the ACC's only returning 1,000-yard rusher. He recorded the seventh 100-yard game of his Miami career, finishing with 148 yards and two touchdowns, his 5-yard run in the opening minutes of the second quarter putting the Hurricanes ahead for good against the generally overmatched Wildcats.
Rosier's passing numbers were even more impressive considering the Hurricanes were without their top receiver, former Freshman All-American Ahmmon Richards, who was sidelined by a hamstring injury.
In his absence, the rest of Miami's receivers delivered, with both Lawrence Cager and Darrell Langham catching 5-yard touchdown passes in the second quarter that helped stake Miami to a 24-3 lead.
For Cager, that touchdown was his first after being sidelined all of last season with a knee injury. And for Langham, it was the first of his Hurricanes career after two years on the Miami practice squad.
Late in the third quarter, veteran Braxton Berrios got in on the fun, catching a 22-yard touchdown pass that pushed Miami's lead to 38-13. He would finish with three catches for 35 yards, while Langham led the Hurricanes with three catches for 65 yards and Cager added three catches for 47 yards.
Sophomore running back Travis Homer also had a solid effort for the Hurricanes, finishing with 11 rushes for 103 yards, giving Miami its first game with two 100-yard rushers since Walton and former Hurricanes running back Joe Young both topped that mark against FAU last September.
