On This Date: 2004 Clemson - 24 (10)Miami- 17 F-OT

Nov 6, 2024, 10:31 AM

11/6/2004
Coral Gables, FL

"When we needed a play, we went to Reggie. He stepped up and met the challenge." "He was Dominant."
-Charlie Whitehurst

TIGERS WIN ORANGE BOWL: CLEMSON SHOCKS No. 11 MIAMI
By TIM REYNOLDS,
AP Sports Writer

Reggie Merriweather ran for a career-high 114 yards and three touchdowns, including a 2-yard score in overtime Saturday night to cap Clemson's 24-17 comeback victory over No. 11 Miami.

Clemson needed five plays to score in the extra session, with the Tigers benefiting from a pass-interference penalty against cornerback Kelly Jennings. That moved Clemson to the 10, and Merriweather scored three plays later to cap the Tigers' rally from a 17-3 halftime deficit.

On its overtime possession, Miami moved to the Clemson 5, but three straight incompletions by Brock Berlin sealed the Hurricanes' second straight loss. Berlin's final attempt was intended for Lance Leggett in the corner of the end zone, but Clemson's Tye Hill had him well-covered and the ball bounced away.

The loss knocked the Hurricanes (6-2, 3-2) out of first place in the Atlantic Coast Conference, leaving them a game behind Virginia and Virginia Tech in the race for the league title and automatic Bowl Championship Series berth. Miami visits Virginia next weekend, and hosts Virginia Tech on Dec. 4 in the regular-season finale.

Clemson (5-4, 4-3) has won four straight games for the first time in four seasons.

Frank Gore had 105 yards and two touchdowns for Miami, which also lost on the game's final play a week ago at North Carolina. Clemson outgained Miami 215-104 after halftime, sparking the comeback.

The win marked the first for the Bowden clan against Miami coach Larry Coker; Clemson coach Tommy Bowden is the son of Florida State coach Bobby Bowden, who is 0-5 against Coker.

Miami led 17-3 at halftime and appeared to be cruising. The Hurricanes allowed Clemson only six first downs and 156 yards in the first two quarters, but Clemson seized momentum quickly after Miami missed an opportunity to build a three-touchdown lead.

Devin Hester ? who started at tailback and cornerback, plus took his usual roles as kickoff returner, punt returner and on the kick coverage team ? dropped an interception at midfield. Had he caught the ball, he would likely have scored; there was no one separating him from the end zone.

Clemson knew it caught a break, and quickly capitalized.

Charlie Whitehurst ? who completed 21 of 37 passes for 258 yards ? connected with Airese Currie for a 37-yard gain on the next play. And on the successive play, Merriweather burst past the Miami line, broke two tackles in the secondary and rumbled in for a 27-yard touchdown that cut Miami's lead to 17-10.

Following two more stalled Miami drives, Clemson used a little trickery to tie the game.

Facing a fourth-and-2 from the Miami 9, Bowden went for a fake field goal and elected to call upon kicker Jad Dean to run for a first down. Dean caught a flip from holder Cole Chason, got to the Miami 3, and Merriweather scored on the next play to tie the game.

Gore opened the scoring quickly, capping the game's first drive with a 23-yard run around the right side to give Miami a 7-0 lead. Jon Peattie's 35-yard field goal later in the quarter pushed the margin to 10-0.

Dean hit a career-long 48-yard field goal ? his only one in four attempts ? later in the quarter to get Clemson on the board. Gore pushed Miami's lead to 17-3 on a 14-yard run with 19 seconds left in the half.

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On This Date: 2004 Clemson - 24 (10)Miami- 17 F-OT

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