Freshman QB Emory Williams leads Miami to double-OT victory over Clemson in first start
As if making his first collegiate start as a true freshman quarterback wasn’t dramatic enough for Miami Hurricane Emory Williams, winning the game in double overtime made it unforgettable.
With injured veteran starter Tyler Van Dyke unable to play, Williams did just enough, especially in the second half, to lead the University of Miami to a 28-20 win over Clemson at Hard Rock Stadium. It was UM’s first overtime win since its four-overtime victory last year at Virginia.
“Emory got the call a little bit later in the week,’’ Cristobal said. “It was a little bit of a surprise to us. We thought we were okay with Tyler, but I couldn’t be more proud of a young guy to step in there and do the things he did. As he settled he got better and better.”
Williams was 24 of 33 (73 percent) for 151 yards and one touchdown, with one interception. He was 14 of 17 for 120 yards in the second half.
“Special game, special feeling,’’ said Williams, who took guidance from Van Dyke the entire game. “I love TVD. We have a great quarterback room. We’re all super close, and just to see his excitement for me means the world to me. I’m his biggest fan. He was with me every step of the way. I couldn’t be more proud to be his teammate.’’
After rushing on 12 of 15 plays midway through the fourth quarter to cut Miami’s deficit to 17-14 on an 11-yard touchdown pass from Williams to Colbie Young, the Hurricanes drove 43 yards on their next series to send the game into overtime with Andy Borregales’ 38-yard field goal that made it 17-17 with 1:52 left in regulation. During that field-goal drive, Williams threw his two longest passes of the game: 16 and 25 yards to Young.
The teams exchanged 31-yard (Clemson) and 35-yard (Miami) field goals in their first overtime possessions, before the Hurricanes got the winning touchown on a 3-yard run by Ajay Allen, followed by his two-point conversion run.
The Canes’ smothering defense then stopped Clemson in its final overtime possession when linebacker Corey Flagg tackled quarterback Cade Klubnik for an 8-yard loss on fourth-and-goal from the 1. UM players, coaches and staff spilled onto the field in celebration as most of the 48,562 fans roared their approval.
“Everybody talks about my touchdown,’’ Allen said, “but Corey really won the game.’’
UM snapped its two-game losing streak to rise to 5-2 overall and 1-2 in the Atlantic Coast Conference, giving coach Mario Cristobal his first ACC win at home since he took over last year.
Clemson fell to 4-3 and 2-3.
Brashard Smith led Miami with 87 rushing yards on four carries, including an 80-yard run that turned into a touchdown after Smith fumbled and Jacolby George recovered in the end zone. Smith also had five catches for 36 yards.
Young added six catches for 76 yards and a touchdown.
Besides the winning touchdown and conversion run, Allen had 16 carries for 54 yards.
Miami freshman defensive end Rueben Bain was ridiculously dominant, with eight tackles, two sacks, two tackles for loss, two quarterback hits and a forced fumble. His defense held the Tigers to 31 yards rushing and Klubnik’s 314 yards passing (with two touchdowns and an interception).
“I feel on top of the world,’’ Bain said. “I feel like I did something amazing.’’
Linebacker K.J. Cloyd described the mood as “unbelievable.”
“Great team win,’’ Cloyd said. “Tonight was a perfect example of not just making plays but people doing their jobs. That’s all you can ask for.”
At the half, UM had amassed just 139 yards. Williams was 10 of 16 (63 percent) at that point for 31 yards, with an interception and only two passes for double-digit yardage — his longest a 12-yard swing pass to Brashard Smith on UM’s first play from scrimmage. He averaged 1.9 yards per pass attempt..
The Hurricanes touchdown came after an odd sequence of events late in the first quarter. First, Clemson’s Will Shipley fumbled just before he crossed the goal line. UM safety James Williams forced the fumble and recovered it in the end zone, and the Canes took over at their own 20-yard line. All it took was a handoff to speed demon Smith, who outsprinted the Clemson defense before he fumbled at the 1-yard line. When the bodies cleared, it was UM receiver Jacolby George with the ball in his hand for the touchdown with 3:53 left in the quarter.
Thus, back-to-back fumbles resulted in Clemson losing what should have been seven points and Miami gaining them.
Clemson’s first-half touchdown, at 8:09 in the second quarter, was on Klubnik’s 32-yard line-drive beauty deep in the end zone to tight end Jake Briningstool to culminate a seven-play, 90-yard drive and make it 7-7.
After a 41-yard field goal by Tiger Jonathan Weitz made it 10-7 Clemson at 8:38 of the third quarter, Briningstool was at it again for a jump-ball touchdown in the left corner of the end, with James Williams defending. Clemson led 17-7 with about two minutes left in the quarter.
By the end of the third quarter, UM had punted on five of its eight drives, with the one interception and a turnover on downs.
The Hurricanes return to Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff (ACC Network) against the Virginia Cavaliers (2-5, 1-2), who upset No. 10 North Carolina at night in Chapel Hill.
Cristobal indicated he expects Van Dyke back soon.
“It was the right thing to play Emory because he was getting most of the reps,’’ the coach said, indicating Van Dyke, who was hit hard and hobbled last week at North Carolina, “flared up’’ later in the week and “caught us off guard.’’
“But he’s good. I feel like he’s ready to go next week, but I’ll hold comment on that until we get back to the training room so I can give you more accurate [information] then.
After Virginia, the Canes have two consecutive road games (Nov. 4 at North Carolina State and Nov. 11 at Florida State) before returning home to face Louisville. Miami ends its season the day after Thanksgiving at Boston College.
“We’ve been playing really well at home, [despite] the end of our last game at home,’’ Cristobal said. “We really want to make Hard Rock a really tough place to play, where the Canes will not be denied, and we took another step in that direction today.”
This story was originally published October 22, 2023 at 12:10 AM.
