MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – No. 5 University of Miami racked up 543 yards of total offense Saturday evening as the Hurricanes defeated FCS opponent Bethune-Cookman, 45-3 in front of an announced crowd of 60,617 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
 
For Bethune-Cookman (0-2), the Hurricanes marked their highest-ranked FBS team ever faced, surpassing the previously eighth-ranked and eventual national champion Florida State in 2013.
 
With fifth-ranked Miami (2-0) leading 14- after the opening quarter, the Hurricanes pushed the lead to 21 on their opening possession of the second stanza.
 
A drive that took 5:01 off the clock saw a mixture of quarterback Carson Beck and running back CharMar Brown march 68 yards down the field for what was the third score on three drives for the Canes. Beck hooked up with CJ Daniels through the air for a 13-yard play down the middle, followed two plays later by a Beck completion to Ray Ray Joseph for 18 yards into Bethune-Cookman territory. After Beck hooked up with Elija Lofton to take the ball down to the Wildcats two yard line, it was a Brown plunge up the middle to put the hosts up 21-0.
 
Bethune-Cookman got on the board following its best drive of the game late in the second quarter.
 
Quarterback Timmy McClain went a perfect 7-for-7 passing on the drive, connecting with four different receivers, including a 21-yard strike to Josh Evans that saw the Wildcats reach Miami territory for the first time on the evening. McClain completed three consecutive passes before Marqui Johnson rushed for two yards down to the Miami 15 yard line, allowing Juan Dominguez to register his fourth field goal of the season – this one a 32-yard kick that brought the Cats to within 21-3.
 
The Hurricanes would respond to complete a half in which they never punted, driving 65 yards in just under three minutes to tally their fourth touchdown of the game. Despite Beck connecting on his first 15 passes of the game – before an incompletion on the final drive for the Canes of the first half, it was Mark Fletcher Jr. with 17 yards rushing on the drive. Beck would cap the drive with a five-yard connection with Daniels to the corner of the end zone for a leaping catch that advanced the lead, 28-3.
 
That's where the score would stand at the half.
 
Miami marched down the field 75 yards on nine plays and took 4:21 off the clock to begin the second half, as Fletcher went into the end zone for his second score of the gamer on the ground. That allowed the host Hurricanes to lead 35-3.
 
The Canes made it 42-3 at the start of the fourth quarter when a pair of Emory Williams completions to Ny Carr and Brock Schott were followed for the rushing score by a Girard Pringle Jr. 30-yard scamper through the line and to the end zone. The PAT was followed by Will Rocha.
 
It didn't take Miami long to open the scoring, as the Hurricanes took just 1:58 off the clock on their first drive of the contest, in a drive that spanned 90 yards on just five plays. Beck finished the drive a perfect 4-for-4 passing, connecting with Daniels for a 40-yard score down the middle through the air – followed by the extra-point from Carter Davis to make it 7-0 just over five minutes into the game.
 
The Canes would strike again on their next drive, using a heavy dose of Fletcher as he covered 51 yards himself on the drive, culminating in a 16-yard score up the middle for the 14-0 advantage.
 
The Canes would finish the game's scoring with two minutes remaining on the strength of a Bert Auburn 31-yard field goal to produce the 45-3 final score.
 
Miami's offense was paced by Beck's 22-for-24 passing performance for 267 yards and two touchdowns through the air. Fletcher added 86 yards and two scores on the ground. And it was receiver Malachi Toney finishing the night with six receptions for 80 yards, while Daniels tallied two touchdowns on five receptions for 63 yards.
 
The Canes defense was highlighted by Kellen Wiley Jr. with five tackles.
 
Bethune-Cookman got steady play from the quarterback dup of McClain and Cam'Ron Ransom. McClain finished 13 of 16 passing for 86 yards. Ransom turned in a team-high 39 yards rushing on just five carries. Running back Khamani Robinson had 38 yards on nine carries for the Wildcats.
 
The Cats defense used a game-high tying nine tackles from Stephen Sparrow Jr. and Gabe White, respectively. Sparrow also added a quarterback sack, while White had a pair of pass deflections. And it was Dominguez who continued his perfect start kicking to the season, now sitting 4-for-4 on field goals early in the campaign.
 
Bethune-Cookman next travels to Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) foe South Carolina State, in a battle of former conference rivals, as the cats visit Dawson Stadium in Orangeburg, South Carolina on Saturday, Sept. 13. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.
 
Follow Bethune-Cookman Football on X/Twitter (@BCUGridIron) for all the latest news and updates. For all Bethune-Cookman Athletics news, follow us on X/Twitter (@BCUathletics), Instagram (@BCU_Athletics) and BCUathletics.com.