College Sports

Harris leads Miami to season-opening win over UAB

Posted September 10, 2020 7:00 am

By SANTOS PEREZ

Miami running back Cam'Ron Harris (23) runs the ball in the third quarter against UAB during an NCAA college football game in Miami Gardens, Fla., Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020. (Al Diaz/Miami Herald via AP) The Associated Press

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) - Cam'Ron Harris ran for 134 yards and scored twice to lead Miami to a 31-14 season-opening win over UAB Thursday night.

Harris' second touchdown from 4 yards late in the third period gave Miami a 24-14 lead after the Blazers of Conference USA got within three on Spencer Brown's 6-yard run.

Houston graduate transfer D'Eriq King threw for a touchdown and scored one for Miami, which became the first school from a Power 5 conference to begin the game-depleted 2020 season. ACC, SEC and Big 12 schools will play football while the Big Ten and Pac-12 cancelled fall sports because of coronavirus concerns.

King's 4-yard pass to Brevin Jordan with time expiring in the third quarter gave Miami its final margin.

The Hurricanes snapped a 7-7 tie and took the lead for good on King's 12-yard run early in the second quarter. Jose Borregales' 25-yard field goal in the Hurricanes' first possession of the second half increased their lead to 17-7.

The Blazers (1-1) struck first on Tyler Johnston's 16-yard pass to Austin Watkins with 2:40 remaining in the first quarter.

The lead was short-lived after Harris' 66-yard run on the next drive. Miami opted to go for it on a fourth-and-1 at its 34 and Harris broke through the UAB line untouched for the longest touchdown run of his career.

Despite getting the go-ahead to play this season, Miami will be without highly regarded defensive end Greg Rousseau. Projected as a high NFL draft choice next spring, Rousseau opted to sit out the season.

UAB coach Bill Clark told a Birmingham radio station that a few of his reserves tested positive for coronavirus and didn't make the trip to South Florida.

Thursday's attendance of 8,153 at Hard Rock Stadium fell short of the 20 percent cap allowed at the 65,000-seat venue's capacity in compliance with coronavirus social-distancing guidelines. Spectators were scattered throughout the stadium's lower and upper decks.

Miami safety Gurvan Hall Jr., bottom, dives for UAB's Austin Watkins JR. (6) during an NCAA college football game in Miami Gardens, Fla., Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020. (Al Diaz/Miami Herald via AP) The Associated Press

UAB's Austin Watkins Jr. (6) advances the ball in the first quarter against Miami hosts during an NCAA college football game in Miami Gardens, Fla., Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020. (Al Diaz/Miami Herald via AP) The Associated Press

Miami cornerback Al Blades, Jr. (7) defends against UAB's Austin Watkins Jr. (6) during an NCAA college football game in Miami Gardens, Fla., Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020. (Al Diaz/Miami Herald via AP) The Associated Press

Miami running back Cam'Ron Harris (23) runs for a first-quarter touchdown against UAB during an NCAA college football game in Miami Gardens, Fla., Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020. (Al Diaz/Miami Herald via AP) The Associated Press

Miami's Cam'Ron Harris (23) displays touchdown rings after scoring a first-quarter touchdown against UAB during an NCAA college football game in Miami Gardens, Fla., Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020. (Al Diaz/Miami Herald via AP) The Associated Press

Miami quarterback D'Eriq King (1) leaps for a second-quarter touchdown against UAB during an NCAA college football game in Miami Gardens, Fla., Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020. (Al Diaz/Miami Herald via AP) The Associated Press

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