Miami stuns Duke with 8-lateral kickoff return TD
It might have been the wackiest, wildest finish in Wade Stadium history.
The Miami Hurricanes stunned the 22nd-ranked Blue Devils 30-27 Saturday, winning the game in an incredible finish, with play fitting for Halloween night.
After Duke had a 27-24 lead with 6 seconds remaining, the Hurricanes took the ensuing kickoff and began to lateral the ball. Eight times. Corn Elder finally finished it off by dancing into the end zone, but there was a flag on the field. It took a lengthy review before the penalty was overturned and the Canes declared the winners on a 75-yard return.
Quarterback Thomas Sirk led a Duke rally in the second half, scoring from a yard out in the final seconds of the game. Sirk also ran for a two-point conversion for the 27-24 lead.
Trailing 24-12 in the second half, the Blue Devils (6-2, 3-1 ACC) kept their poise but couldn’t finish off a pulsating victory to stay undefeated in the ACC’s Coastal Division. Sirk also had a 13-yard TD pass to Johnell Barnes pulled the Blue Devils within 24-19 with 2:40 left in regulation.
It was a week of turmoil for the Canes (5-3, 2-2), who were hammered 58-0 by Clemson a week ago. Coach Al Golden lost his job Monday and assistant coach Larry Scott was named interim head coach.
Malik Rosier, a redshirt freshman, threw a pair of touchdowns for the Canes, who led 14-3 at the half.
Jela Duncan had a 24-yard TD run in the third quarter, and Sirk hit Barnes for a late TD for the Devils. But Miami’s defense twice stopped Duke on fourth-down plays in the second half.
Miami fumbled the opening kickoff, Duke quickly got the ball, but the Hurricanes thwarted the Blue Devils with a goal-line stand. Miami then took a 14-0 lead as Rosier hit Herb Waters for a 33-yard score and offensive tackle Sunny Odogwu recovered a Miami fumble in the end zone.
Ross Martin’s 27-yard field goal provided the only Duke points in the first half, and the Devils notched a safety in the second half. Barnes’ TD pulled Duke within 24-19 with 2:40 to play but the Canes recovered the onside kick.
Turning point
Early in the second quarter, Duke receiver Max McCaffrey fumbled after a 20-yard catch-and-run to the Miami 24. The Blue Devils believed McCaffrey was stripped of the ball after being down, but the ruling was upheld on review and the Hurricanes drove for a TD and 7-0 lead.
Three who mattered
Malik Rosier: The Miami quarterback, a redshirt freshman, was the starter with Brad Kaaya out with a concussion, but he managed the Canes offense well.
Stacy Coley: The Hurricanes junior receiver had five catches for 87 yards, and caught a 19-yard TD on a fade route to the right corner that gave Miami a 21-12 lead.
Thomas Sirk: The Duke quarterback led the comeback and finished with 258 yards passing.
272: The number of passing yards for the Canes’ Rosier, who had thrown for 66 yards this season before Saturday.
23: Miami’s winning margin might have been bigger had the Canes not had 23 penalties for 194 yards.
Eight: The number of laterals on Miami’s winning kickoff return.
Highlight reel
Jela Duncan’s 24-yard scoring run for the Blue Devils early in the second half was equal parts speed, elusiveness and determination as the junior running back kept cutting and churning until he reached the end zone.
This story was originally published October 31, 2015 at 11:04 PM with the headline "Miami stuns Duke with 8-lateral kickoff return TD."