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 NCAA Football Recap (Miami Fla-Ohio St) Posted: Sun August 29, 1999 at 10:05 p.m. EDT EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- Miami's return to the big time was punctuated by big plays. The Hurricanes used a clear advantage in speed and skill in a 23-12 upset of Ohio State in the 17th Kickoff Classic. It was the season opener for both schools. New quarterback Kenny Kelly threw for 245 yards and a touchdown and ran for another score and James Jackson and Santana Moss had long TDs as Miami appeared a step faster on both offense and defense. The Hurricanes dealt the Buckeyes their first loss in a season opener since the 1986 Kickoff Classic against Alabama. Replacing the departed Scott Covington, Kelly completed 17-of-25 passes. Although he committed three turnovers, he clearly outplayed Ohio State's quarterback duo of Austin Moherman and Steve Belissari. "This will be a great learning experience for Kenny Kelly," Miami coach Butch Davis said. "He learned more today than in two years at Miami. We didn't win that game without some of the things he did today. There is no simulating game adrenaline and game speed. He will be so much better for it." Jackson had 89 yards on 24 carries, including a 44-yard TD run that set the tone on Miami's first possession. Moss had three catches for 115 yards, including a 67-yarder for a score in the final seconds of the first half that broke Ohio State's spirit. The defense also did a solid job, limiting Ohio State to just a field goal in the second half and containing tailback Michael Wiley, who had nine carries for 72 yards, 69 coming on one run. "Michael broke one early, but we didn't get any other big plays or home runs," Ohio State coach John Cooper said. "We missed two field goals and an extra point, and that's not us. We need a lot of work. You name it, we need to work on it. Sometimes, the other team is better, but I don't feel we played as well as we could today." After winning national titles in 1987, 1989 and 1991, Miami went on probation and took its lumps in the second half of the 1990s. The Hurricanes began to show signs of returning to prominence last year, knocking off UCLA and winning its bowl game. "We're not back," Davis warned. "We're still having to play some freshmen and redshirts and that's a sign you're not fully back." "We're good right now, very good right now, but to get where the UM teams of the '80s were, we'll have to go 13-0," Kelly said. "Then I'll be talking to all you guys in the Superdome." Moherman was just 10-of-22 for 107 yards and two interceptions. Belissari completed his only throw to Wiley for a three-yard loss. The pair are trying to replace Joe Germaine, who last season guided Ohio State to the top of the polls before a late loss to Michigan State. Miami's big-play capability was evident in the first half with each of its three touchdowns set up by gains of more than 40 yards. In the second half, the Hurricanes relied on their defense and running game, gobbling up valuable time by marching 81 yards on a scoreless drive early in the fourth quarter. Leonard Myers sealed the win by intercepting Moherman with 6:24 to go, giving the Hurricanes their eighth win in the last nine openers. Miami trailed in the first half, but after a fumble by Bellisari was recovered by linebacker Dan Morgan at the Hurricanes 41, Kelly found Mondriel Fulcher with a play-action pass and the fullback rumbled 42 yards to the 9. Two plays later, Kelly ran seven yards for the go-ahead score, then hit Jackson with a conversion pass for a 15-9 lead with 3:14 left in the first half. The Hurricanes got back the ball in the final minute and burned the Buckeyes again. Kelly fired up the right sideline for Moss, who came back to catch the underthrown ball, juked away from a trio of defenders and sped nearly 40 yards into the end zone for a stunning score with eight seconds left in the half. Kelly ran a bootleg for another conversion and a 23-9 lead. "I threw it up there hoping he would get his hands on it, and it worked out well," Kelly said. "Santana's so fast, you really have to get your body around and get it down there. It was great coverage, but Santana Moss made a great play. When you're in a big game like that, you don't feel the wind or hear the crowd." "We had a script to run it as long as we could and then we were going to throw it," Moss said. Miami would not have run the play had Cooper not called timeout. "The jump ball before halftime was the big play of the game," Cooper said. "I'm the guy that took a timeout, trying to stop them, and they hit that big pass and get a touchdown out of it." After an interception by Ahmed Plummer, the Buckeyes drove to a 1st-and-goal late in the third quarter. But Miami's defense stiffened and forced a 24-yard field goal by Dan Stultz. The teams traded possessions and Miami began the final period on its 11. Kelly kept the drive alive with a third-down throw to tight end Bubba Franks and Najeh Davenport hammered away at the defense, running for 63 yards on the march. "We told the guys they had to run the football to win," Davis said. "Najeh was running downhill and was really laying into them when they were tired. I was a little disappointed we didn't put more points on the board." Franks caught five passes for 52 yards and Davenport collected 81 yards on 13 carries as Miami held a 398-220 advantage in total yardage. Giants Stadium was covered by natural grass that figured to slow the Hurricanes. But on Miami's second play, Jackson went off right tackle and turned the corner, racing to the end zone for a 7-0 lead. "It was a run to the right and once I saw Reggie (Wayne) pin the man, I just took off," Jackson said. Wiley's 69-yard run set up a 23-yard field goal by Stultz that got the Buckeyes on the board. But Wiley was caught from behind by Miami free safety Al Blades, who later suffered a left forearm injury. "Their good safety got hurt early in the game and we didn't take advantage of it," Cooper said. Kelly was drilled by linebacker Na'il Diggs and fumbled, with OSU defensive end Rodney Bailey returning it nine yards to the 6. One play later, Moherman (MOCK-uhr-muhn) found Steve Wisniewski, giving the Buckeyes their only lead at 9-7.© 2000 Sportsticker Enterprises, LP
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