Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, November 26, 1995 TAG: 9511280019
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: MIAMI LENGTH: Medium
Danyell Ferguson rushed for 163 yards and Miami scored the final 21 points to beat Syracuse 35-24 and earn a share of the Big East Conference championship.
The Hurricanes, who have won seven straight since a 1-3 start, may get a chance to renew their rivalry with Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl on New Year's night.
``Wow! How 'bout those Hurricanes, huh?'' said Miami first-year coach Butch Davis, who confessed to stealing the line from his former boss, Jimmy Johnson.
``This game epitomizes what the whole season was like. We struggled early and never quit.''
Miami trailed 24-14 at halftime before taking charge with three long touchdown drives. The Hurricanes' final score came on freshman Dyral McMillan's 25-yard halfback pass to freshman Omar Rolle.
Tremain Mack helped Miami shut out Syracuse in the second half by intercepting two of Donovan McNabb's passes and deflecting a 20-yard field goal attempt.
``We came out flat in the second half,'' McNabb said, ``and we paid for it.''
The 25th-ranked Hurricanes (8-3 overall, 6-1 Big East) tied No.13 Virginia Tech for the league title. No.22 Syracuse finished 8-3 and 5-2.
Although bowl selections won't be announced until next weekend, the Hurricanes may stay home to face Notre Dame. The teams waged one of college football's most heated rivalries until Notre Dame ended the series in 1990.
Virginia Tech likely will settle for the Gator Bowl on Jan.1, and Syracuse will play in the Carquest Bowl on Dec.30.
``We're very proud of our kids,'' Syracuse coach Paul Pasqualoni said. ``But right now it's not a good feeling. We came down here to win, not to play hard.''
Ferguson, who scored on runs of 2 and 3 yards, became Miami's second 1,000-yard rusher and the first since Ottis Anderson in 1978. The junior carried 29 times before leaving the game with a sprained right ankle and finished the regular season with 1,069 yards.
The Hurricanes' touchdown drives covered 77, 74, 77, 82 and 80 yards. In the second half, Miami stymied a Syracuse offense that had scored 124 points in the past 21/2 games.
Miami, which improved to 14-0 in Big East games at home, scored on its first two possessions after halftime. Ryan Clement's 4-yard scoring pass to Syii Tucker made it 24-21, and Trent Jones' 2-yard touchdown run gave Miami its first lead, 28-24.
Syracuse had a chance to regain the lead after earning a first down at the Miami 7 early in the fourth quarter. But Miami forced a field-goal attempt and Olindo Mare's kick was deflected by Mack before bouncing off the crossbar.
``When I'm on the field, I feel no one is better than me,'' Mack said. ``If you feel that way, you're going to make plays.''
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
Keywords:
FOOTBALL
by CNB