The Miami Hurricanes, ranked No. 7, bounced back from their first loss of the season with a 36-25 win over Duke on Saturday at Hard Rock Stadium. Freshman running back Javian Mallory scored three touchdowns, and Mark Fletcher Jr. set a school record along the way.
Fletcher’s 4-yard rushing touchdown in the second quarter gave Miami a 10-3 lead and was his 36th career rushing score, passing Stephen McGuire for the most in program history. Duke tied the game at 10 on Nate Sheppard’s 47-yard run, but Jake Weinberg’s 26-yard field goal sent Miami into halftime ahead 13-10.
Mallory broke the game open in the third quarter with a 63-yard touchdown catch on a short pass that he turned into a long gain. Sheppard answered with a 5-yard run, but Mallory added a 39-yard touchdown run after Duke quarterback Walker Eget threw an interception to cornerback Xavier Lucas. Jeremiah Hasley caught a 1-yard touchdown pass from Eget in the final minutes, but Miami held on.
Darian Mensah, the Miami quarterback, threw for 382 yards and a touchdown in his first game against his former team since transferring. Mensah completed 30 of 41 passes. Sheppard gained 131 yards on 17 carries for Duke and scored twice.
Fletcher left the game in the second half with a lower right leg injury, according to the ABC broadcast. He did not return.
Miami (9-1) hosts Virginia Tech (6-3) next Saturday. The kickoff time has not been set.
