Miami QB Jarren Williams sets a new school record with six touchdown passes.
Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Miami quarterback Jarren Williams set a new single-game record with six touchdown passes, as the freshman led the Hurricanes (6-4, 4-3 ACC) to a 52-27 win over Louisville (5-4, 3-3).
The win extends Miami’s bowl streak to seven straight seasons. It also snaps a three-game losing streak to the Cardinals in the all-time series, their first over U of L since 2004.
After Louisville punted on their first drive of the game, Miami scored the first touchdown on a seven-play, 92-yard drive. Deejay Dallas capped off the drive with a five-yard touchdown run up the middle.
Jarren Williams completed all four passes on his opening drive to Mike Harley, Jr. for 57 yards, which would foreshadow a spectacular outing for him. Williams was able to connect on four first half touchdown passes, including two to Dee Wiggins of 67 and ten yards. Williams also found Dallas and tight end Will Mallory on touchdown throws, as Miami put up a season-high 35 points in the first half.
Louisville’s Micale Cunningham threw two first half touchdowns; an 80-yard catch-and-run by Tutu Atwell in the first quarter, and a six-yard pass to Ian Pfeifer in the second. Cunningham had a chance at a third touchdown throw near the end of the first half, but D.J. Ivey intercepted a lob intended for Atwell and erased a much needed scoring opportunity for Louisville.
Other than Cunningham’s mostly efficient first half, Louisville’s offense struggled with pass protection and establishing the run. The Cards had 48 rushing yards in the first half and two sacks allowed, and left tackle Mekhi Becton exited the game with an injury.
Williams continued his stellar play with a 31-yard touchdown pass to Harley, Jr. on the opening drive of the second half, pushing Miami’s lead to 42-14. Louisville responded with a three-play drive that ended with Cunningham rushing in for a one-yard score.
But after Louisville’s defense forced a three-and-out, a muffed punt by Tutu Atwell gave possession back to the Hurricanes. That led to Williams throwing his sixth touchdown of the day, hitting Harley, Jr. again on a 28-yard pass. The sixth touchdown broke a single-game Miami record for touchdown passes, breaking the previous benchmark of five set by six different Miami quarterbacks (including Bernie Kosar, Steve Walsh, and Stephen Morris among others).
After Cunningham exited the game with an injury, backup Evan Conley finished the game. The Cardinals had one touchdown drive with Conley in at quarterback, a 58-yard touchdown run by Hassan Hall to cut Miami’s deficit to 52-27.
Miami’s offense was led by a historic performance from freshman quarterback Jarren Williams. Williams completed 15-of-22 passes for 253 yards and a school record six touchdown passes. Mike Harley, Jr. (six catches for 116 yards and two touchdowns) and Dee Wiggins (three catches, 85 yards, two touchdowns) led the way for Miami in receiving. The Hurricanes also had 197 yards rushing (a season-high for Miami against FBS competition), led by a split effort from Deejay Dallas (15 carries, 96 yards, two total touchdowns) and Cam’Ron Harris (eight carries, 78 yards).
Louisville’s passing game had a decent showing in the blowout loss, completing 18-of-29 passes for 328 yards and two touchdowns. But both quarterbacks — Micale Cunningham and Evan Conley — threw an interception in the process. Tutu Atwell finished with a team-high six catches for 142 yards and a touchdown, putting his season totals at 810 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. Javian Hawkins led the team with 91 yards rushing on 15 carries, and Hassan Hall had 79 yards on six carries with the lone rushing touchdown for Louisville.
Louisville will get its second crack at bowl eligibility next Saturday night at NC State. The Cards and the Wolfpack kickoff at 7:30 p.m. ET in Raleigh.
