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  Saturday, Sep. 4 7:00pm ET
Miami rumbles past Florida A&M
 
  RECAP

MIAMI (AP) -- It took all of about 10 minutes for Miami (No. 12 ESPN/USA Today, No. 8 AP) to forget about its Kickoff Classic triumph.

And with the formality of beating Florida A&M out of the way, it's OK to think about Penn State (No. 4, No. 2).

James Jackson ran for two touchdowns and Kenny Kelly passed for two in a 31-point burst over 11:04 of the first half, propelling the Hurricanes past the Division I-AA Rattlers 57-3 Saturday night.

The Hurricanes, who beat (No. 9, No. 13) Ohio State 23-12 in the Kickoff Classic, trailed 3-0 midway through the first quarter until getting their offense untracked. Miami (2-0) then scored on five straight possessions and got its first team off the field.

"We learned from this game that you've got to stay focused," said Jackson, who finished with 103 yards on 19 carries. "The first couple of times we didn't score, then we got focused. We just said to ourselves, 'We've got to pick it up."'

Jackson scored on runs of 43 and 7 yards before leaving with 9½ minutes left before halftime. Kelly was 9-of-15 for 119 yards, including TD tosses of 9 yards to Santana Moss and 3 yards to tight end Bubba Franks.

Freshman Clinton Portis scored his first two college TDs on runs of 1 and 2 yards, redshirt freshman Ethenic Sands caught a 13-yard TD pass from freshman Ken Dorsey, Andy Crosland kicked field goals of 22 and 32 yards and Aaron Moser blocked a punt out of the end zone for a safety.

"You can't feel bad for a game like this," Florida A&M receiver Jacquay Nunnally said. "Miami is ranked in the top 10 of Division I-A. It's like we were playing the Green Bay Packers."

Nonetheless, the Hurricanes left knowing they must perform better next time out. Following an open date next week, Penn State visits the Orange Bowl.

"We're real excited about that game," linebacker Dan Morgan said. "For us to pull out a victory, we need two good weeks of practice. We've got to correct our mistakes."

Florida A&M, which averaged 521 yards and 45 points last year in reaching the quarterfinals of the Division I-AA playoffs, got its only points on Jeremy Edwards' 25-yard field goal on its first possession.

The Rattlers lost any offensive rhythm when quarterback Quinn Gray was hurt late in the first quarter. Gray had the wind knocked out of him on a hit by Miami's Edward Reed, was diagnosed with a bruised sternum and did not return.

Florida A&M, which had 75 yards and three first downs before Gray left, got minus-7 yards behind backups Jorade Jackson and Roland Dykstra and three first downs -- one on a roughing-the-passer penalty.

"Early in the game, I thought we had an opportunity," Florida A&M coach Billy Joe said. "But when Quinn went down, it was all downhill from there."

The Rattlers also hurt themselves by losing four fumbles on kick returns, setting up three Miami TDs. The Hurricanes started nine possessions in Florida A&M territory.

"If they were in our conference and we got got beat like this, we'd be sad," Nunnally said. "But we know they're the University of Miami."

It took the Hurricanes a few plays to get used to Florida A&M's standard four- and five-receiver sets, as the Rattlers marched 72 yards on their first series to Edwards' 25-yard field goal. A 38-yard pass from Gray to Cainon Lamb took the ball to the Miami 8 before the drive stalled.

Kelly's pass was intercepted deep in Florida A&M territory on Miami's second series, but the Hurricanes then broke loose.

Kelly found Moss alone for a 9-yard TD, putting Miami ahead 7-3 with 5:33 left in the first quarter. Gray was hurt on Florida A&M's next series, and the Hurricanes sprung Jackson around right end for a 43-yard TD five plays later, making the score 14-3 with 3:11 left in the quarter.

Demetris Bendross fumbled the ensuing kickoff, and James Scott recovered for Miami at the Florida A&M 22. Jackson cashed it in two plays into the second quarter with a 7-yard run.

Crosland kicked a 22-yard field goal with 12:20 left before halftime, and Kelly capped the burst on Miami's next possession by hooking up with Franks for a 3-yard score, making it 31-3 with 9:29 showing.

 


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AUDIO/VIDEO
video
 James Jackson finds the open alley and scores on a 43-yard run.
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN

 Kenny Kelly hits James Jackson, who takes it in from seven yards out.
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN