GAINESVILLE, Florida (Ticker) -- Miami has no trouble playing
outside South Florida. Why would its first trip to "The Swamp"
in 16 years be any different?
Ken Dorsey threw four touchdown passes and Willis McGahee ran
for 204 yards as the top-ranked Hurricanes extended the nation's
longest winning streak to 24 games with a 41-16 victory over
sixth-ranked Florida.
A visit to Florida Field, one of the most hostile venues for a
visitor in all of college football, was expected to be another
tough test for the defending national champions. But the
Hurricanes (2-0) ran all over the Gators, collecting 320 rushing
yards and improving their road winning streak to 12 games,
including bowls.
"It was a very big win for the team and for the football
program," Hurricanes coach Larry Coker said. "I am very proud of
them since it was such a tough environment to play. To put it
all in perspective, we are 2-0."
Dorsey was the winner in his personal battle with fellow 2001
Heisman Trophy finalist Rex Grossman, completing 16-of-32 passes
for 202 yards.
Dorsey completed TD passes of seven yards to Andre Johnson and
10 yards to Ethenic Sands in the second quarter to help the
Hurricanes build a 20-10 halftime lead. He added scoring tosses
of 18 and 19 yards to Jason Geathers in the second half.
Dorsey threw three interceptions but still was better than
Grossman, who was just 19-of-45 for 191 yards with two
interceptions, including one that turned the game.
"I think our defense didn't let them run away with it," Dorsey
said. "They took an early lead and we were composed and able to
play through it."
The Gators managed to stay in the game until late in the third
quarter when Grossman threw an ill-advised pass over the middle
that was returned 99 yards for a score by Maurice Sikes,
increasing Miami's lead to 34-16. Sikes added another
interception in the fourth quarter.
Miami has won its first 14 games under Coker and has not lost
since a 34-29 setback to Washington on September 9, 2000.
While the Hurricanes met another challenge, the Gators (1-1)
lost for the first time under coach Ron Zook, who replaced the
departed Steve Spurrier.
"In this position it's going to be sooner or later, mine just
happened sooner," Zook said. "Maybe it was a blessing in
disguise. Our football team is only going to get better. The
great thing about this is that it's early in the year and we
have a lot of football to play."
A victory for Zook would have gone a long way toward earning the
acceptance of Gator fans that have become accustomed to
victory. Florida hosts Ohio next week and Zook's next chance
at redemption will come September 21 when the Gators visit No. 4
Tennessee.
The Hurricanes have won 30 of their last 31 games against teams
under the helm of a first-year coach. Miami has
won the last four meetings with Florida, a streak that began
with its last visit to Gainesville in 1986.
Florida suffered its worst home loss since a 31-3 setback to
Kentucky in 1979.
Miami entered the game with questions in the running game and in
the secondary, but any doubts were erased by the end of the
night. The Hurricanes were thought to be thin at running back
with the departure of Clinton Portis and an injury to Frank
Gore. McGahee carried 24 times and was more than an adequate
replacement while Geathers carried 13 times for 72 yards.
"I feel really good about myself tonight. I had a lot of
confidence coming into the game," McGahee said.
"He won the game for us tonight," Hurricanes offensive lineman
Sherko Haji-Rasouli said of McGahee.
The Hurricanes' top five defensive backs from last season are
gone and the new group was more than ready for Grossman,
confusing the normally prolific passer and holding Florida
without a touchdown pass for the first time since November 6,
1999 against Vanderbilt.
Grossman was held without a TD pass for the first time since
November 18, 2000 against Florida State.
"Rex is a winner and a player. This may be a blessing in
disguise for him," Zook said. "Rex will come back here ready to
go. He win a winner and a competitor."
Todd Sievers kicked field goals of 53 and 38 yards to give the
Hurricanes a 6-0 lead before the Gatord answered on an 18-yard
TD run by Earnest Graham and a 35-yard field goal by Matt Leach.
Dorsey normally makes few mistakes, but he made a glaring one in
the third when Byron Hardmon returned an interception 26 yards
for a score to cut the lead to 27-16.
Sikes' interception return gave the Hurricanes an 18-point
cushion before Dorsey capped the scoring with his second TD pass
to Geathers.
Florida safety Todd Johnson had two interceptions.
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