Cam Ward’s performance Friday night was far from perfect.
But when the Miami Hurricanes desperately needed their dazzling quarterback to be dynamic against Virginia Tech, he was spectacular.
After committing his third turnover of the game, Ward engineered touchdown drives on the ‘Canes’ final three possessions, including two in the final 12 minutes, eight seconds, to overcome a 10-point deficit in a wild 38-34 win at Hard Rock Stadium.
“That guy, we saw all the stuff he went through, the times he was hit, he had [three] sacks [against him], had a bad pick, and what did he do? He just kept going and going and going,” Miami coach Mario Cristobal said. “That’s him. He’s unfazed. And I’m proud of him for being a tough ass and finding a way to win.”
Ward finished the game 24 for 38 passing for 343 yards, with four touchdowns and two interceptions. He also rushed 10 times for 57 yards and a score and lost one fumble.
In the fourth quarter, he was 8 for 11 passing for 88 yards and two touchdowns, and he also rushed twice for 28 yards.
“We have unlimited respect for and confidence in Cam,” said Xavier Restrepo, who had a game-high five catches and 60 yards receiving. “He’s the best quarterback in the nation, and I say that with everything I’ve got. That dude’s a baller. Never gives up.”
Whether Ward winds up winning the Heisman Trophy remains to be seen. But one play from UM’s final drive Friday illustrated why many consider him a front-runner for the award given annually to the nation’s top player. It’s a play ‘Canes fans will be talking about for quite some time.
“He’s that man,” said Miami tight end Elijah Arroyo. “There’s nobody else I would have seen make that play. It’s just crazy to watch live and up close.”
On first and 10 from Virginia Tech’s 27-yard line with 2:28 left, Ward avoided two sacks — escaping the clutches of Keyshawn Burgos and squeezing out of Kaleb Spencer’s grasp — and tossed the ball with two hands to Riley Williams.
The tight end caught the ball at the 35, broke a tackle at the 30, and raced down to the 1-yard line. On the next play, Ward threw a touchdown to wide-open Isaiah Horton to give Miami the lead for good.
“I tell him anytime I’m scrambling, or if you see something, don’t try to block for me. I can protect myself out there,” Ward said. “I’m looking to go make a play, I’m looking for my guys to be around me, and Riley Williams stepped up at the right time and got the first down for us.”
On fourth-and-3 earlier in the drive, Ward threw a 4-yard completion to Restrepo with the receiver lying on his back on the turf. He then hit Horton for a 12-yard completion on third-and-3 before finding Williams the ensuing play.
On the previous UM possession, Ward scrambled for 9 yards on third-and-6 and capped a nine-play, 70-yard drive with a 6-yard touchdown pass to tight end Cam McCormick.
Ward rushed 17 yards up the middle into the end zone late in the third quarter, punctuating an eight-play, 89-yard drive.
Earlier in the quarter, Ward threw an ill-advised pass that was deflected at the six-yard line by Dorian Strong and intercepted by Spencer, who returned the pick 77 yards to Miami’s 17-yard line.
Both of Ward’s two first-half turnovers — a fumble the first time Miami had the ball and an interception by Mose Phillips III at the 3-yard line as Miami was threatening to take a 21-7 lead — resulted in Virginia Tech touchdowns on the ensuing possession.
“They’re all correctable,” Ward said of his three turnovers. “Everything they did on defense, they showed on film. I’ve just got to be better next week.”
Despite Ward’s fumble, Miami’s offense rolled in the first quarter, piling up 207 yards, including 176 through the air. Ward completed a 45-yard pass to Arroyo down the right sideline and then threw a 43-yard touchdown to him deep down the middle — the two longest receptions of Arroyo’s career — on a perfectly executed play-action fake with nine Hokies defenders in the box.
“Give Cam the Heisman,” Restrepo yelled on the field after the game.
“We’re just super confident in that guy,” he noted later. “And I know tomorrow he’s going to come to work ready with hair caught on fire.”
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