History Fails to Repeat as Miami Survives, 19-14

Once again, Doug Flutie watched a last-second pass float into the end zone against Miami. This time, however, he wasn’t the passer and Boston College didn’t pull off the miracle victory.

On the seventh anniversary of Flutie’s game-winning Hail Mary pass in Miami, the top-ranked Hurricanes breathed a sigh of relief Saturday night as Glenn Foley’s long toss fell harmlessly in the end zone as time ran out on a 19-14 victory over the Eagles.

Boston College (4-7) moved to the Miami 26 in the closing seconds, but one play after taking a sack, Foley’s final pass was incomplete, giving the Hurricanes their 40th consecutive victory over an unranked team.

Flutie, who plays in the Canadian Football League, watched the game from the sidelines.

“I was 14 years old and in the ninth grade when Flutie threw that pass,” Miami quarterback Gino Torretta said. “I saw it on television and when they threw that pass I said to myself, ‘Oh, oh, not another Flutie.’ ”

The Hurricanes (10-0) lost leading ground-gainer Stephen McGuire and also were hit with 18 penalties that cost them 138 yards.

But they managed to win their 16th consecutive game, the longest streak in Division I-A.

“You’ve got to give them credit, they played well and we didn’t,” Miami Coach Dennis Erickson said. “They played their hearts out, hard from start to finish.

“The closeness of the game didn’t surprise me. I told the team after watching films of their games that they can play. Losing McGuire hurt us. Now it looks like he’s out for the year.”

Torretta said the Hurricanes may have suffered “a little letdown” after beating Florida State, 17-16, a week earlier.

Miami fell behind in the first quarter for the first time this year, but rebounded to take a 16-7 halftime lead despite the loss of McGuire, who ran for 49 yards in six carries before being helped off with a leg injury.

Martin Patton tried to pick up the slack in McGuire’s absence, carrying 21 times for 64 yards. However, Torretta was forced to the air often, throwing 41 times and completing 22 for 242 yards.

Foley completed 21 of 36 passes for 241 yards and two touchdowns.