MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – A close game got away from Bethune-Cookman Saturday as the Wildcats dropped a 41-13 decision in their 2017 opener to 18^th-ranked Miami at Hard Rock Stadium.


Malik Rosier threw for 217 yards and three touchdowns and Mark Walton rushed for 148 yards and two scores as the Hurricanes scored on four consecutive possessions – touchdowns on the final three – to erase an early 3-0 deficit.


Larry Brihm, Jr., called into service at the last minute as the starting quarterback, completed his first nine passes and finished 22 of 35 for 212 yards.


Bethune-Cookman scored first on a 36-yard Uriel Hernandez field goal with 7:25 remaining in the opening period. Michael Jones got the drive off to a strong start with rushes of 19 and 11 yards, with Brihm hitting Frank Brown for 11- and 12-yard completions on the 12-play march.


After tying the game, Miami pulled away on a Walton 5-yard score and Rosier's touchdown passes to Lawrence Cager and Darrell Langham.


Hernandez connected on his second field goal – a 35-yarder with 53 seconds remaining that made it a 24-6 game at halftime.


The Wildcats found in the end zone in the third quarter on Jones' one-yard run with 6:16 remaining. Brihm connected with Jamaruz Thompkins for 41 yards to get the Wildcats in the red zone then hit Donald Johnson IV for 13 yards on third down to put the ball at the one.


Jones finished with 43 yards on the ground and seven catches for 51 yards. Jawill Davis extended his pass catching streak to 22 as he caught five passes for 48 yards.