Miami’s Mack Is Unstoppable in Carquest Bowl

The Miami Hurricanes started shoving Virginia around during warmup drills, then relied on Tremain Mack to deliver the biggest blows.

Mack scored twice on turnovers and blocked a kick Friday to help Miami defeat Virginia, 31-21, in the Carquest Bowl claim its first bowl victory in five years.

Mack’s 79-yard fumble return and 42-yard interception return gave Miami a 24-7 halftime lead, and he blocked Rafael Garcia’s 29-yard field goal attempt to protect a 10-point lead in the third quarter.

“This is the way I expect to play all the time,” Mack said.

No. 19 Miami (9-3) finished the season with three consecutive victories.

“Next year we’re definitely going to contend for the national championship,” said Ryan Clement, who threw for a career-high 274 yards.

Unranked Virginia (7-5) fell to 0-8 in Florida.

“It’s like any other loss; it’s tough to take,” Cavalier Coach George Welsh said. “A lot of work is put into these bowl games.”

“Tremain was truly terrific,” Miami Coach Butch Davis said. “I don’t think I’ve ever been around a guy who can make so many big plays in so many different areas.”

The bowl victory was the Hurricanes’ first since beating Nebraska in the Orange Bowl to clinch the 1991 national title.