Carson Beck threw a touchdown pass and caught another to lead No. 18 Miami to a 38-10 victory over Syracuse on Saturday in Miami Gardens, Fla.
The Hurricanes (7-2, 3-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) bounced back from last week’s loss to SMU, scoring all 38 of their points over the final three quarters.
The Orange (3-7, 1-6) suffered their sixth consecutive defeat.
The game was scoreless until Miami struck with 2:13 left in the second quarter on a trick play. Malachi Toney took a pitch from Beck on an end around, stopped and threw it back to Beck, who ran into the end zone for a 14-yard touchdown.
The Hurricanes’ defense did the rest, starting with Keionte Scott’s 38-yard interception of Syracuse quarterback Rickie Collins that he returned for a touchdown with 1:50 left before halftime.
Collins was sacked six times and completed just 12 of 25 attempts for 85 yards with two interceptions.
Miami forced three turnovers overall, including another with 22 seconds left in the second quarter which ended the Orange’s most promising drive of the half.
Syracuse reached Miami’s 10-yard line when Yasin Willis was stripped by Akheem Mesidor and Jakobe Thomas recovered the fumble. Willis led Syracuse with 63 yards on 13 carries. The Orange finally reached the end zone with 21 seconds left in the game when backup quarterback Joseph Filardi connected with Elijah Washington-Baker for a 17-yard touchdown.
Thomas later intercepted Collins with 1:28 left in the third quarter with the Hurricanes holding a 28-3 lead by that point.
Mesidor totaled 1 1/2 sacks and 3 1/2 tackles for loss to lead Miami’s defensive effort.
After Syracuse got on the board with a 38-yard field goal on the opening drive of the second half, Beck found Keelan Marion over the middle for a 61-yard touchdown to give Miami a 21-3 lead. Marion caught three passes for 116 yards.
Beck completed 18 of 24 passes for 247 yards and a touchdown.
The Hurricanes rushed for 124 yards, led by Girard Pringle Jr., who totaled 55 yards and a touchdown on seven carries.
