Slip sliding away

By Jeff Say

Published: November 2, 2008

CHARLOTTESVILLE – The University of Miami scored with less than a minute remaining to force overtime, then forced a rare Cedric Peerman fumble to clinch a 24-17 victory over the University of Virginia Saturday.

U.Va. controlled most of the game, leading until the Hurricanes scored with 55 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 17.

“We’ve been on the other end,” U.Va. coach Al Groh said. “This was a heartbreaking loss. We had our opportunities to take the game. The game got away from us.”

U.Va. led 17-10 with 8:01 remaining the fourth quarter, and seemed poised to close out what was a dominating performance. The Cavaliers’ Jimmy Howell pinned the Hurricanes down at their own 5-yard line, his third punt of the day downed inside the five.

But the Hurricanes battled back, converting a third-and-13 from their own 2-yard line as quarterback Jacory Harris evaded a swarming Cavaliers defense to keep Miami’s drive alive.

Harris continued the onslaught as he connected with Aldarius Johnson for an 18-yard completion down to U.Va.’s 33-yard line.

Miami rolled down to the 21 before a false start penalty pushed the Hurricanes back. But, facing a third-and-15 from the 26, the Hurricanes weathered the storm as Harris evaded another strong rush to connect with Laron Byrd for the game-tying score.

Harris’ mobility and accuracy ended up being too much for the Cavs, as the Miami quarterback not only led the tying drive, but the winning one as well.

“He was a catalyst for all they did,” Groh said. “Give him a lot of credit.”

Miami took over where they left off in the first, and only, overtime as Harris connected with Johnson for a 9-yard touchdown and a 24-17 lead.

That score would hold as Peerman rumbled 7 yards off the right side, but fumbled the ball as he attempted to gain extra yards. Miami celebrated, while the Cavaliers sulked.

“You could probably count on two fingers how many fumbles Cedric has had,” Groh said.

The lost fumble just accounted for another missed opportunity for the Cavaliers. U.Va. missed two field goals that would have put the game out of reach and the Cavs’ offense struggled to find any continuity in the third quarter.

U.Va. essentially abandoned the run in the second half as they struggled to gain any ground.

“We weren’t getting much when we were running it,” Groh said. “We weren’t getting much of a push at the point of attack.”

But neither was Miami as U.Va.’s defense shut down the Hurricanes, at least until the final drives.

“This is a disappointing loss,” cornerback Chase Minnifield said. “I think we let this one slide away.”

Jeff Say can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 115 or at