Jakobe Thomas intercepted two passes and returned one for a touchdown to lead a stellar defensive effort as host Miami routed NC State, 41-7, on Saturday in Miami Gardens, Fla.
The 15th-ranked Hurricanes (8-2, 4-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) won their second in a row in their regular season home finale to keep both their hopes of reaching the ACC Championship Game and College Football Playoff alive.
Miami limited NC State (5-5, 2-4 ACC) to just 149 total yards with 75 of those coming on the Wolfpack’s final drive which resulted in their only points of the game on a CJ Bailey 10-yard touchdown run.
The Hurricanes recorded their third 500-yard game on offense, finishing with 581 total yards. The Wolfpack lost for the third time in their past four games and have lost five of their last seven following a 3-0 start.
With 3:36 left in the first quarter, Thomas jumped the route on a pass to the far sideline intended for Justin Joly from NC State quarterback CJ Bailey and raced 60 yards to the end zone to push Miami’s lead to 10-0.
On the Wolfpack’s ensuing drive, Thomas again intercepted Bailey with 1:15 left in the first after Ahmad Moten applied pressure.
Bailey was held to 17 of 30 passing for 120 yards and NC State mustered only 23 rushing yards.
Thomas has a team-leading four interceptions this season for Miami. The Wolfpack did not cross the 50-yard line until Bailey completed a pass to Terrell Anderson to the Miami 47 with 5:39 left in the fourth.
On offense, Carson Beck completed 21 of 27 passes for 291 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions to lead the Hurricanes. Freshman Malachi Toney showed off his versatility once again, hauling in a pair of touchdown passes among his five catches for 54 yards. Toney also threw a 44-yard pass on a wide receiver option to Joshisa Trader to set up CharMar Brown’s 1-yard touchdown with 11:16 left in the second quarter.
Keelan Marion led Miami in receiving with seven catches on seven targets for 96 yards. Freshman Girard Pringle made his first collegiate start and totaled 116 rushing yards on 17 carries.
–Field Level Media
