By STEVEN WINE
AP Sports Writer
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Brad Kaaya threw for 296 yards and led a 75-yard touchdown drive in the final minutes Saturday to help the Miami Hurricanes beat Virginia Tech 30-20.
Kaaya also took the Hurricanes 89 yards in the final 42 seconds of the first half for the touchdown that put them ahead to stay.
Miami’s defense, which has struggled for much of the season, forced four turnovers and had three sacks. The Hurricanes allowed 160 yards rushing, but Tech’s Brenden Motley threw two interceptions and lost a fumble, which led to 10 Miami points.
The Hurricanes (4-2, 1-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) bounced back from a loss a week earlier at Florida State and beat Virginia Tech (3-4, 1-2) for the second year in a row.
After Tech scored a touchdown to cut Miami’s lead to 23-20 midway through the fourth quarter, Kaaya led a nine-play drive and capped it by throwing a 2-yard touchdown pass to Rashawn Scott with 2:44 to go.
Artie Burns then sealed the victory with his second interception of the game.
With the score 13-all late in the first half, it appeared the Hurricanes were trying to run out the clock. But on third and 20 from the Miami 11, Virginia Tech jumped offsides, and Kaaya took advantage of the free play by hitting Herb Waters with a 45-yard completion.
Five plays later, Kaaya threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Scott with four seconds left in the half for a 20-13 lead.
Kaaya finished 19 for 30, and the Hurricanes had no turnovers.
Motley went 14 for 23 for 136 yards. He was replaced midway through the second half by Michael Brewer, who played for the first time since he broke his left collarbone in Tech’s season-opening loss to No. 1 Ohio State.
Brewer threw a 33-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Ford, but the Hurricanes answered with their final touchdown drive.
Miami played the last 20 minutes without middle linebacker Raphael Kirby, who was carted to the locker room with a right knee injury.
Hurricanes sophomore Michael Badgley made a career-long 49-yard field goal, and was also successful from 24 and 21 yards.
Miami’s victory should slightly ease pressure on coach Al Golden, with fan sentiment about him divided. Before the game, small planes flying over the stadium tugged banners that supported Golden and others called for his firing.
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