The 12th-ranked Miami Hurricanes cruised to a dominant 56-9 victory over Florida A&M on Saturday night, improving to 2-0 on the season. Cam Ward, making his first home start at quarterback for Miami, led the charge with a commanding performance, throwing for 304 yards and three touchdowns while adding a rushing score to cap off his night.
Ward wasted no time getting Miami on the board, connecting with tight end Elijah Arroyo for a touchdown on the Hurricanes’ opening possession. He followed that with a 50-yard strike to Xavier Restrepo during Miami’s second drive, which covered an impressive 99 yards. That quick start set the tone as Miami raced ahead and never looked back.
The Hurricanes’ aerial assault saw Ward complete 20 of 26 passes. His connection with Restrepo proved particularly potent, as the wide receiver hauled in four catches for 104 yards and a touchdown. Damien Martinez complemented the passing game with 90 rushing yards and a score of his own, adding to Miami’s balanced offensive attack.
Ward’s standout night continued his strong start to the 2024 season. After passing for 385 yards in Miami’s Week 1 win at Florida, Ward now has 689 passing yards through two games. This achievement puts him in rare company, becoming only the third Hurricanes quarterback in the past 25 years to surpass 600 passing yards in the first two games of a season, joining Jacory Harris (656 yards in 2009) and Ken Dorsey (659 yards in 2001), the latter of whom led Miami to its most recent national title.
Defensively, Miami was just as impressive. Tyler Baron had a dominant night on the defensive line, recording three sacks and wreaking havoc on Florida A&M’s offense. Miami’s defense held the Rattlers to just 9 points, forcing multiple punts and keeping them out of the end zone for the majority of the game.
The victory marks Miami’s 17th consecutive home opener win, solidifying the Hurricanes’ dominance at Hard Rock Stadium. With two wins under their belt and Ward emerging as one of the top quarterbacks in the country, Miami looks poised for a strong 2024 season as they continue their pursuit of ACC supremacy and a potential College Football Playoff berth.
Up next for the Hurricanes is a tougher test as they prepare to face a top conference opponent, which will provide a clearer picture of just how far this Miami team can go under the leadership of Ward and head coach Mario Cristobal.
