College football: Rosier, defense help No. 14 Hurricanes top Blue Devils 31-6

DURHAM, N.C. — Malik Rosier got off to a fast start to help Miami take an early lead. The 14th-ranked Hurricanes’ defense took care of just about everything else.

Rosier threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score and Miami shut down Duke 31-6 on Friday night.

Rosier completed 15 of 26 passes for 270 yards, including a 49-yard catch-and-run score by Ahmmon Richards early in the fourth quarter to break the game open for the Hurricanes (3-0, 1-0 Atlantic Coast Conference). And Miami’s defense kept Duke out of the end zone, repeatedly getting the better of the Blue Devils on seemingly every key-moment snap.

“Our defense gave up some yards and grass between the 20s,” Miami coach Mark Richt said. “But when it got in the red zone, we found ways to force field goals. … I thought our defense finished extremely well.”

It started well, too. Duke’s first drive marched to within reach of the end zone and had a fourth-and-1 from the Miami 13, but linebacker Michael Pinckney sprinted untouched up the middle on a blitz and took down Daniel Jones for a possession-ending sack.

“We wanted to come here and make this our house, so we had to set a tone,” linebacker Shaquille Quarterman said. “That fourth down was monumental to the whole game.”

Rosier completed his first nine passes and led Miami to touchdowns on its first two drives. He then shook off a rough stretch through the second and third quarters by connecting with Richards for the 24-6 lead with 11:02 left.

Duke’s offense, meanwhile, repeatedly stalled across midfield after halftime. The Blue Devils (4-1, 1-1) finished with 349 yards but converted just 5 of 19 third downs.

“Just went south,” Duke coach David Cutcliffe said. “That’s got to be on me. I’ve got to help our players. I’ve got to find out what the circumstances are. We’re going to take a long hard look at that and we will be better.”