Recap: Hurricanes top North Carolina State; win first ACC game

The Miami Hurricanes earned their first ACC victory of the season on Saturday night and snapped a two-game losing streak in the process.

The Hurricanes (3-4, 1-2) topped visiting North Carolina State (5-2, 2-1) 31-30 at Hard Rock Stadium thanks in large part to a heroic effort from freshman quarterback Tyler Van Dyke.

Van Dyke finished the game 25-for-33 for 325 yards and four touchdowns through the air. He also added 16 yards rushing in just his third ACC start.

Leading 31-30, Miami got a massive fourth down tackle from true freshman safety Kamren Kinchens to stop the Wolfpack short on a fourth down attempt with just under three minutes to go to help preserve the victory.

For the first time in recent memory, the Hurricanes got off to a fast start as they jumped out to 7-0 lead in the first quarter. Tyler Van Dyke connected with Charleston Rambo on a 25-yard touchdown to start the game’s scoring.

After an NC State field goal, the Hurricanes opened up a 14-3 lead after Jaylan Knighton caught a 53-yard touchdown pass from Van Dyke on fourth down very early in the second quarter.

The rest of the second quarter was not kind to the Hurricanes however as NC State quarterback Devin Leary threw two touchdowns in the second quarter and the Wolfpack took a 17-14 lead into the halftime break.

Van Dyke tossed his third touchdown of the game on Miami’s first drive of the second half. He connected with tight end Will Mallory on a 5-yard touchdown pass with 13:30 left in the third. After the teams traded field goals, Miami took a 24-20 lead into the fourth quarter.

Leary gave NC State a 27-24 lead on the first play of the fourth as he scampered for a 17-yard touchdown run. Miami struck right back however as Van Dyke found Rambo again—this time on a 4-yard touchdown pass—to give the Hurricanes a 31-27 lead.

Leading 31-30 after an NC State field goal, Miami lost six yards on its first two plays trying to run out the clock before Van Dyke found Mallory on 3rd and 16 for 21-yard gain. That allowed the Hurricanes to run out the clock and preserve the victory.

Knighton rushed for 83 yards (the most allowed to any individual rusher by NC State this season) and added 83 more receiving yards and a touchdown.

Rambo finished the game with nine catches for 127 yards and two touchdowns.

Miami will take on Pittsburgh on October 30 at noon on the road in its next game.