MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Cam Ward found Isaiah Horton for a 1-yard touchdown pass with 1:57 left for the game-winning score, and No. 7 Miami prevailed, beating Virginia Tech 38-34 in the Atlantic Coast Conference Kickoff for both teams on Friday evening.

The ending was controversial: Officials deemed Da’Quan Felton to have caught a 30-yard Kyron Drones touchdown pass amid a crowd of players from both teams as time expired, which would have given Virginia Tech the victory. The call was canceled after a long review.

Ward threw for 343 yards and four touchdowns and extended his national lead to 18 scoring throws so far this season. The Hurricanes (5-0, 1-0) have trailed by double digits three times, the last time when the Hokies took a 34-24 lead with 12:05 left.

But Miami ultimately found a way — just barely — to win its ACC opener and remain undefeated for the first time in four years.

Drones threw two touchdown passes while Bhayshul Tuten rushed for 141 yards and another score for Virginia Tech (2-3, 0-1).

John Love made field goals of 52 and 56 yards for Virginia Tech. The Hokies turned three Miami turnovers into 14 points and appeared poised to oust a team ranked No. 7 or higher in the AP Top 25 for the first time since Oct. 2, 2004, a 19-13 win over then-No. 6 West Virginia.

But Virginia Tech, needing a touchdown on its final drive to pull off the upset, reached the Miami 30 and nearly scored the winning score.

At the start, Miami escaped disaster twice. Xavier Restrepo fell to the ground on a four-and-3 play with the ball already heading his way, and he somehow caught it on the ground to extend the possession. And on first down a few minutes later, Ward was pulled down by Virginia Tech’s Keyshawn Burgos in what looked like a very specific sack.

But that wasn’t it. Ward broke free of that tackle, fended off another one, and threw the ball to Riley Williams for a 26-yard gain to the 1-yard line. The Hurricanes scored on a late play and the defense closed it out.

The snack bar

Virginia Tech: The night could have been worse. Defensive lineman Antwaun Powell-Ryland — who entered the game leading the national team with six sacks, increasing Friday’s total to seven — left the game in the second half with an injury. He went to the locker room accompanied by a Hokies employee for the evaluation.

Miami: The Hurricanes failed in the second half on a fake field goal attempt that came from Virginia Tech’s chip shot range. If the Hokies had gotten the three points there, they would have only needed one more field goal on the final drive and not a touchdown. There was another big special teams play: Andy Borregales’ 56-yard field goal to end the first half stood out for the rest of the night.

Impact on the survey

Miami avoided a devastating loss in the AP Top 25 when the poll is updated on Sunday. The Hurricanes should stay in the top 10.

Next

Virginia Tech: Visit Stanford on October 5th.

Miami: Visit Cal on October 5th.

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