ORLANDO – In dire need of some offense and with his team trailing West Virginia early in the Russell Athletic Bowl, University of Miami head coach Mark Richt called a simple hitch route to open the Hurricanes’ seventh offensive series.

Freshman wide receiver Ahmmon Richards caught a pass and blew by four defenders for a 51-yard touchdown, jumpstarting a dominant stretch by Russell Athletic Bowl MVP Brad Kaaya that propelled Miami to its first bowl win since 2006, 31-17 over West Virginia.

Two Oakleaf High graduates, both linebackers, Shaquille Quarterman, a freshman, and Darrion Owens, a sophomore, both excelled at their positions for the Hurricanes.

“I’m extremely proud to know that our preparations for this game; from practicing at home to practicing in Orlando, translated to playing in the game,” said Quarterman, in a post-game interview. “Things like that people may not understand the difference, but it’s very important.”

Quarterman gave the Hurricane win, a first in nearly 10 years in post-season bowl action, a springboard for momentum for 2017.

“We have high aspirations as a young team that is growing up,” said Quarterman, who was one of three freshman linebackers on the Hurricane starting defense; Micheal Pinkney and Zack McCloud being the other two with Owens a fourth linebacker. “I give my thanks to coach Manny Diaz who trusted us to put three freshmen out there. D.O. (Owens) does a great job too.”

Owens, in on pass situations for the Hurricanes’ defense, assisted in a key sack near midfield on a fourth down and four situation for the Mountaineers that prevented a West Virginia field goal attempt. Miami had four sacks and one forced fumble.

Quarterman finished with five total tackles with three solos and one tackle for loss. Owens finished with two assisted tackle and a half sack for minus seven yards.

After Kaaya hit Richards, 48,625 fans watched the junior complete 18 of his next 20 passes, a streak that included a Miami bowl record-tying four touchdown passes.

The Hurricanes (9-4) offense had strung together six straight three-and-outs and totaled just 31 yards over their first six drives.

Kaaya started 5-for-13 for 29 yards.

“One play kind of sparked the team, offensively especially, and I think helped Brad,” Hurricanes’ head coach Mark Richt said. “He was just missing some targets. Balls that may have been catchable, but not the darts that I’m used to seeing him throw.

“After that, he took off.”

The offense might never have had the chance if it wasn’t for a stout performance from the Hurricanes defense that started on the Mountaineers’ first drive and lasted the entire game.

“The game started out sorry. The defense was playing great and it started sorry offensively,” Richt said. “The defense could have started pointing fingers and getting mad and all that kind of thing. We just don’t do that here.”

The Mountaineers fumbled on their opening drive, as junior Chad Thomas stripped Mountaineers quarterback Skyler Howard on a 3rd-and-5 rush and sophomore Kendrick Norton pounced on the loose ball.

Facing one of the nation’s most explosive offenses, the Hurricanes defense held the Mountaineers to a season-low 229 yards on the night, its fewest all season.

“That’s the best defense we faced all year,” West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen said.

West Virginia (10-3) got on the board first Wednesday night, taking advantage of a short field and capping a 39-yard scoring drive with a six-yard touchdown run by Kennedy McKoy with just more than five minutes remaining in the opening quarter.

Miami’s offense compiled just 19 yards in the first, and finished 0-for-4 in the opening stanza on third down. But thanks to some stellar play by the defense, Miami trailed just 7-0, as West Virginia’s high octane offense totaled 49 yards on its four other drives of the quarter.

“I was just saying how much fun it is to win and celebrate with these guys,” Richt said. “After all these years of coaching, that is by far the most fun for me – to be in that locker room after a game like that and celebrate. There’s nothing like it.”

Excerpts from Hurricanesports.com