Miami jumps all over slumping UVa

MIAMI | A defense that couldn’t stop anything a week ago was suddenly airtight. An oft-injured running back had the best game of his career. And a punt returner somehow evaded seven would-be tacklers on his way to a touchdown.

Everything worked out for No. 16 Miami.

Graig Cooper rushed for a career-best 152 yards and a touchdown, Thearon Collier cut across the field for a remarkable 60-yard punt return touchdown, and Miami eased past struggling Virginia 52-17 Saturday - finally avenging a loss that had hovered over the Hurricanes for two years.

“I’m not going to lie to you: It feels good to hang 52 on them,” said center A.J. Trump, who was a backup on Virginia’s last trip to South Florida, a 48-0 Cavaliers victory two years ago in Miami’s final game at the Orange Bowl.

Jacory Harris finished 18-for-31 for 232 yards with two TDs for the Hurricanes (7-2, 4-2). The 35-point margin of victory was Miami’s biggest in an ACC game since beating Duke 52-7 in 2005.

“We remember what they did to us at the Orange Bowl last time,” Cooper said. “It was important to get this. It was personal.”

Rashawn Jackson had a 34-yard rushing touchdown for Virginia (3-6, 2-3), which has lost 10 of 13 starting with an overtime defeat to Miami last season, a slide that has placed coach Al Groh’s future at his alma mater in doubt.

The Cavaliers were outgained 515-149 and played without starting quarterback Jameel Sewell, who warmed up but was eventually ruled out with a shoulder injury.

“Miami’s got a lot of playmakers in all phases of the game,” Groh said. “And we had a lot of difficulty controlling and matching those playmakers.”

It was a frustrating day all around for Virginia, best summed up by a scuffle late in the third quarter.

Virginia’s Cam Johnson ripped Harris’ helmet off while going for a sack, and both players were flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct. After video review, Johnson was also hit with a face-mask penalty, which helped set up Miami’s fifth touchdown and put the game out of reach.

“If they called it, I guess it was there,” Johnson said.

Groh got an explanation from the officials and chose postgame words carefully, mindful of the $30,000 fine Florida’s Urban Meyer got in recent days for criticizing SEC officials.

“Urban makes a lot more money than I do,” Groh said.

Cooper, who also had a career-long 70-yard carry, now has 2,001 yards in his Miami tenure.

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