2001 Miami Hurricanes Recap: Week 4 vs Troy St

Nine days after Miami’s 43-21 win against Pitt, the Hurricanes returned home to South Florida, as they prepared to take on lowly Troy State. With a big matchup looming the following week against rival Florida State in Tallahassee, Miami still had to do its best to focus all of their attention on the game at hand against the Trojans.

On the games first drive, Ken Dorsey led the Canes offense into Troy territory, though was stopped on 4th down by the Trojans defense. Responding immediately, Troy quickly made its way into Miami’s territory thanks to runs by their back, Demontray Carter. However, UM defensive end Andrew Williams had two TFLs on the drive, which resulted in Troy ultimately missing a 48-yard field goal.

Dorsey and the Hurricanes came back out, and moved down the field quickly. A 28-yard completion to Daryl Jones was followed by a 30-yard pass to Jeremy Shockey. Miami then struck first with a 10-yard touchdown pass from Dorsey to Andre Johnson, the third consecutive game where Johnson had scored.

Still, Troy State responded with an impressive drive of their own. Quarterback Brock Nutter led the Trojans 80 yards down the field in 11 plays, and tossed a two-yard scoring pass to LeBarron Black for the touchdown, and just like that, it was 7-7.

Thanks to Jones and fellow receiver Kevin Beard, Miami was again threatening to score. Though their drive failed to produce any points, as Todd Sievers missed a field goal from 53 yards out.

The Trojans offense continued to move the ball well on the number-one Hurricanes, as they once again moved into Miami territory. Then, Williams, accompanied by defensive tackle Santonio Thomas, were able to bring down Nutter for a sack. Troy missed a field goal as well, this one from 45-yards away.

A 34-yard made field goal by Sievers put the Canes up 10-7, and then with under a minute to go before halftime, Miami was finally able to find the end zone again. This time, it was Kevin Beards turn, as he escaped the defense, and was wide open for Dorsey, connecting on the 22-yard touchdown.

The Hurricanes went into the locker room ahead 17-7.

Miami’s defense wasted little time putting the game further out of reach in the third quarter. On the second play, Nutter’s pass was intercepted by safety Ed Reed, who strolled 25-yards into the end zone for the score. It was the second time in the first four games in 2001, where the Canes defense had scored.

Led by Reed as well as linebacker Jonathan Vilma, Miami’s defense clamped down on Troy during the second half. The Hurricanes offense put together two scoring drives to put away the Trojans for good. The first coming off a two-yard touchdown rush by Jarrett Payton, and the second from Willis McGahee from seven yards.

Though it took them a long time to get their groove going, the Hurricanes came away with an easy 38-7 win over Troy State. Ken Dorsey was 18-for-30 on the afternoon, throwing for 299 yards and two touchdowns. Miami’s ground game wasn’t as punishing as it had been the previous three weeks, but it did the job, with two touchdowns from Payton and McGahee.

Record: 4-0

Up next: at FSU