In a stunning turnaround, the Miami Hurricanes pulled off an improbable comeback, erasing a 25-point deficit to defeat California 39-38 in a nail-biting finish. Quarterback Cam Ward engineered the dramatic victory, leading four consecutive touchdown drives in the fourth quarter, including the game-winning 5-yard score to Elijah Arroyo with just 26 seconds remaining.
Ward’s clutch performance overshadowed a shaky start, which saw him throw a pick-six that put Cal ahead 28-10 in the second quarter. However, he refused to let his team’s fortunes dwindle, instead rallying his teammates with a never-say-die attitude.
“Nobody’s perfect, but we can’t keep putting ourselves in these situations,” Ward said after the game. “We need to lock in and play our best ball from start to finish. Ugly wins are better than good losses, but we can’t rely on these comebacks every week.”
The Hurricanes’ second straight dramatic victory came on the heels of their narrow 38-34 win over Virginia Tech last week, which was secured only after a replay review upheld the officials’ call.
Cal coach Justin Wilcox was left to ponder what could have been, as his team’s promising performance was ultimately undone by Miami’s late surge. “Football is a humbling game,” Wilcox said. “We had every opportunity to win, but we didn’t get it done. This is a pivotal moment for our team, and I hope we can respond positively in the coming weeks and months.”
The officiating crew’s decision to uphold a targeting call on Cal quarterback Fernando Mendoza, which would have given the Bears a crucial first down, added to the controversy surrounding the game. When asked about the call, Wilcox declined to comment, leaving it to the media to draw their own conclusions.
Miami’s remarkable comeback marked the largest in FBS this season and the program’s biggest since 1999. Ward’s impressive stats – 35 of 53 passes completed for 437 yards, two touchdowns, and a 24-yard scoring run – will undoubtedly earn him praise, but it’s his unwavering confidence that truly sets him apart.
“Just keep playing, have belief, and when you’ve got the right guys on your team, you can do some amazing things,” Ward said, summing up his team’s never-say-die attitude.
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