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MIAMI (Ticker) -- On a weekend when other national title contenders fell by the wayside, top-ranked Miami did not break stride. Clinton Portis scored three touchdowns and Ken Dorsey threw three TD passes to lead the Hurricanes to a 65-7 rout over 12th-ranked Washington. Second-ranked Nebraska lost to Colorado on Friday and fourth-ranked Oklahoma fell to Oklahoma State early on Saturday, dramatically changing the national title picture. Miami (10-0) was never in danger, scoring 30 points in the second quarter, racing to a 37-0 halftime lead and extending the nation's longest winning streak to 20 games. A win over Virginia Tech next Saturday will put the Hurricanes in the Rose Bowl on January 3. "The most motivation we have is we saw Nebraska lose to Colorado and that shows you can lose to anyone," Dorsey said. "That's all the motivation we need." The last team to defeat the Hurricanes was Washington, which posted a 34-29 win in Seattle last season. A year later, Washington (8-3) was no match for a Miami team that more than made amends with yet another lopsided victory. The Huskies allowed the second-highest point total in school history, exceeded only by a 72-3 setback to California in 1921. It was the sixth time this season Miami has won by at least 31 points. The Hurricanes have scored 124 points in their last two games and posted their highest point total since a 66-17 win over East Tennessee State in 1998. "I can't explain it. We just had a great effort and were swarming the ball," Miami coach Larry Coker said. "It's down to a one-game season." The Huskies (8-3), who lost for the second time in three games and will play in the Holiday Bowl on December 28, avoided a shutout on a five-yard TD run by Rich Alexis in the third quarter. Early in the game, quarterback Cody Pickett was stopped on a fourth-and-goal at the 1. Pickett had a long evening, throwing five interceptions and completing 14-of-29 passes for 157 yards. "I forced balls I shouldn't have," Pickett said. "I did that way too many times today." Pickett was sacked four times and accounted for Washington's sixth turnover with a second-half fumble. "They tried to get in our face and jam us," Washington receiver Reggie Williams said. "The receivers were getting open but (Pickett) just couldn't get the ball to us. He was getting rushed." It fell apart early for the Huskies when linebacker Jonathan Vilma intercepted a pass from Pickett on the opening drive of the game and Portis scored on a seven-yard run just 67 seconds into the contest. On the first play of the second quarter, Portis raced 30 yards for a score to make it 14-0. Portis carried 12 times for 105 yards. Following an interception by linebacker Chris Campbell, Dorsey joined the party, throwing a five-yard touchdown pass to Portis. Dorsey was 14-of-21 for 189 yards. Special teams also collapsed for Washington. Punter Derek McLaughlin could not handle a snap and was tackled in the end zone for a safety. Phillip Buchanon returned the ensuing kickoff 60 yards and Dorsey followed with a 15-yard TD pass to Najeh Davenport to make it 30-0. The defense later joined in on the scoring when defensive end Jerome McDougle intercepted a pass from Pickett and ran 14 yards for a score. Aftrer halftime, Miami kept up the pressure on a one-yard TD run by Davenport and a three-yard TD pass from Dorsey to Andre Johnson. The scores were sandwiched around the TD run by Alexis. In the fourth quarter, Frank Gore scored on a one-yard run and backup Derrick Crudup threw a 13-yard TD pass to Jason Geathers. Washington was making its first trip to the Orange Bowl since 1994, when it ended Miami's NCAA record 58-game home winning streak with a 38-20 win. That was the only other meeting between the schools.
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