No. 14 Miami Hurricanes top Duke Blue Devils 31-6

DURHAM, N.C. – Malik Rosier threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score and No. 14 Miami’s defense shut down Duke in a 31-6 victory Friday night.

Rosier completed 15 of 26 passes for 270 yards, including a 49-yard catch-and-run score by Ahmmon Richards early in the fourth quarter.

Richards’ score broke it open, giving the Hurricanes (3-0, 1-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) a 24-6 lead with 11:02 left.

Mark Walton – averaging a conference-best 176 yards rushing through two games – managed only 51 yards on 17 carries against the nation’s No. 2-ranked run defense. But he added 79 yards receiving before leaving in the fourth quarter with an injury.

Linebacker Michael Pinckney had 10 tackles, a fourth-down sack on Duke’s opening drive and a second-quarter interception to lead the effort that kept the Blue Devils (4-1, 1-1) out of the end zone.

“Our defense gave up some yards and grass between the 20s,” Miami coach Mark Richt said. “But when it got in the red zone, we found ways to force field goals. … I thought our defense finished extremely well.”

Duke finished with 349 yards, but converted just 5 of 19 third downs.

“Just went south,” Duke coach David Cutcliffe said. “That’s got to be on me. I’ve got to help our players. I’ve got to find out what the circumstances are. We’re going to take a long hard look at that and we will be better.”