'01 Canes sneak by '98 Arizona 23-20 on a 44 yd FG

Miami (Fla) '01 at Arizona '98. Both coaches know each other pretty well and it showed as the contest was not decided until 34 seconds were left on the clock.

Arizona played the better first half of the game and took a 13-3 lead into the locker room. A 50-yard FG (17% chance) with 46 ticks left sent the visiting team to their locker room searching for answers.

Arizona also won the battle of the 3rd quarter (7 to 3) to make it 20-6 and it really looked like the game was over and heading for blowout status.

But the boosters paid good money for the 2001 Hurricanes. How else would you be able to field a team consisting of Clinton Portis, Frank Gore, Willis McGahee, Ken Dorsey, Jeremy Shockey, Ed Reed, Andre Johnson and Najeh Davenport. You have this much talent you need to step up and quit playing like a local high school team (for the blind).

The 4th quarter saw 7 plays flagged with Arizona having 4 go against them. Roughing the passer and pass interference kept the drive alive so that Miami could pull within a TD, 20-13. Clinton Portis did the heavy lifting and Frank Gore finished the drive with a 7-yard rushing TD. With 8 minutes still to go, the Arizona fans were a little nervous. Frank Gore was the hero on the next drive, ripping off a 57-yard run on 3rd and 10. Jeremy Shockey found paydirt on a pass from Ken Dorsey to tie the game at 20-20 with a little over 4 minutes to go.

Another 3-and-out series, followed by a big punt return put the Wildcats in a bad spot. A big sack stalled the drive and Miami had its first lead 23-20 on a 44-yard FG by Todd Sievers. Still plenty of time left for Arizona to possibly tie the game, but unfortunately, they had to start at their own 8-yard line.

Coach Keller was up for the task. Arizona moved the ball to the Miami 29 with 34 seconds left. On 3rd and 2, James Lewis intercepted an errant pass by Keith Smith to end Arizona's chances at overtime.

Frank Gore was the MVP of the game, rushing for 115 yards, 1 TD with a long gain of 57. Clinton Portis had more carries and also eclipsed the 100-yard mark with 106 rushing yards as well. Arizona countered with their own 100-yard guy as Trung Candidate ran for a buck-nineteen and 1 TD.

Both teams struggled on 3rd down (MIA 4-14, ARZ 4-13). Turnovers were key as the Wildcats shot themselves in the foot with 4 turnovers, compared to 2 giveaways by the Hurricanes. 20 penalties for almost 200 yards made for a very sloppy game.

Miami will host Oklahoma, while Arizona travels to Florida.