CI Week 3 Football Highlights
9/21/2020
Check out this week's Coaches Inc. Highlights below:
Explosive, big-play Miami Hurricanes unleash spread offense to dominate Louisville
Since RB Jaylan Knighton committed to Miami last November, joining fellow top-10 RB commit Donald Chaney Jr., Hurricanes RB Coach Eric Hickson (@CoachEHickson) has been itching to get the dynamic duo on the field for the U. In their college debuts last week, the pair did not disappoint, combining to rush for 111 yards on 17 carries (6.5 ypc). Against Louisville, they showed that their Week 1 performance was no fluke, highlighted by Knighton’s two scores, including a 75-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter. Not to be outdone, the elder statesman of Hickson’s running back corps, junior Cam’Ron Harris, continued to set the pace as he gained 134 yards and one touchdown on just nine carries. In total, the Hurricane offense gained 485 yards and had 10 plays that gained at least 18 yards in rolling to a 47-34 win over the Cardinals in the ACC opener for both teams. Congratulations to Hickson on the win! Hickson is in his second year at Miami, returning to South Florida in 2019 after having coached at the high school level in the area from 2003-11. He spent the 2018 season coaching running backs at his alma mater, Kansas State, where he helped RB Alex Barnes earn First Team All-Big 12 honors and lead the conference in rushing. Hickson previously spent three years in the same role at Akron and has also served as the interim head coach at Garden City Community College in Kansas.
No. 25 Pitt defeats Syracuse, 21-10
Elsewhere in the ACC, Pitt joined Miami at 2-0 (1-0) as the Panthers overcame some mistakes to emerge victorious over Syracuse. A week after taking care of Austin Peay, 55-0, Pitt still had some rust to shake off against the Orange, missing three field goals, committing two turnovers and several penalties. Fortunately for the home team, wide receivers Jared Wayne and Jordan Addison were nearly flawless, combining to catch 12 passes for 116 yards and two touchdowns. Addison’s score in the first quarter put Pitt up 7-3 while Wayne’s touchdown at the end of the third provided the necessary breathing room as neither team scored in the fourth quarter. With the win, the Panthers moved up to #21 in the AP Poll, their highest in-season ranking since 2009, heading into next week’s matchup versus #24 Louisville. Congratulations and good luck to Pitt WR Coach Chris Beatty (@BeattyCoach)! Prior to arriving at Pitt last year, Beatty spent three seasons at Maryland where he served as the Terrapins' associate head coach, co-offensive coordinator and receivers coach. In 2017 and 2018, he was named one of the Big Ten's top 16 recruiters by 247 Sports. Over the course of his career, Beatty has served as offensive coordinator and as a position coach for quarterbacks, receivers and running backs during stints at Virginia, Wisconsin, Illinois, Vanderbilt, West Virginia and Northern Illinois.
No. 19 Louisiana-Lafayette rallies to get past Georgia State in OT; improves to 2-0
As difficult as it is to pull off a major upset, sometimes avoiding a letdown and performing well the following week is equally challenging. After routing Iowa State and earning the program’s first top 25 ranking since 1943, Louisiana found itself in a 21-7 hole in the third quarter against Georgia State. Fortunately for the Cajuns, QB Levi Lewis helped ignite a comeback, leading three touchdown drives to force overtime. In the extra session, UL Safety Percy Butler came up with a key stop, holding the Panthers to a field goal and setting up UL RB Elijah Mitchell to score the game winner four plays later. For the game, Butler was one of the Cajuns’ top players, finishing with six tackles, two pass breakups and one fumble recovery. Congratulations to UL Defensive Analyst Keith Barefield (@rkbarefield) on the win and strong start to the season! Barefield is in his first year at Lafayette following a season at Quincy where he served as the Hawks’ offensive coordinator. He also spent a year working with the receivers at Central Arkansas.
One more CI coach will be in action tonight as the Saints and Offensive Coordinator Pete Carmichael travel to Vegas to take on the Raiders. Go New Orleans!
Check out this week's Coaches Inc. Highlights below:
Explosive, big-play Miami Hurricanes unleash spread offense to dominate Louisville
Since RB Jaylan Knighton committed to Miami last November, joining fellow top-10 RB commit Donald Chaney Jr., Hurricanes RB Coach Eric Hickson (@CoachEHickson) has been itching to get the dynamic duo on the field for the U. In their college debuts last week, the pair did not disappoint, combining to rush for 111 yards on 17 carries (6.5 ypc). Against Louisville, they showed that their Week 1 performance was no fluke, highlighted by Knighton’s two scores, including a 75-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter. Not to be outdone, the elder statesman of Hickson’s running back corps, junior Cam’Ron Harris, continued to set the pace as he gained 134 yards and one touchdown on just nine carries. In total, the Hurricane offense gained 485 yards and had 10 plays that gained at least 18 yards in rolling to a 47-34 win over the Cardinals in the ACC opener for both teams. Congratulations to Hickson on the win! Hickson is in his second year at Miami, returning to South Florida in 2019 after having coached at the high school level in the area from 2003-11. He spent the 2018 season coaching running backs at his alma mater, Kansas State, where he helped RB Alex Barnes earn First Team All-Big 12 honors and lead the conference in rushing. Hickson previously spent three years in the same role at Akron and has also served as the interim head coach at Garden City Community College in Kansas.
No. 25 Pitt defeats Syracuse, 21-10
Elsewhere in the ACC, Pitt joined Miami at 2-0 (1-0) as the Panthers overcame some mistakes to emerge victorious over Syracuse. A week after taking care of Austin Peay, 55-0, Pitt still had some rust to shake off against the Orange, missing three field goals, committing two turnovers and several penalties. Fortunately for the home team, wide receivers Jared Wayne and Jordan Addison were nearly flawless, combining to catch 12 passes for 116 yards and two touchdowns. Addison’s score in the first quarter put Pitt up 7-3 while Wayne’s touchdown at the end of the third provided the necessary breathing room as neither team scored in the fourth quarter. With the win, the Panthers moved up to #21 in the AP Poll, their highest in-season ranking since 2009, heading into next week’s matchup versus #24 Louisville. Congratulations and good luck to Pitt WR Coach Chris Beatty (@BeattyCoach)! Prior to arriving at Pitt last year, Beatty spent three seasons at Maryland where he served as the Terrapins' associate head coach, co-offensive coordinator and receivers coach. In 2017 and 2018, he was named one of the Big Ten's top 16 recruiters by 247 Sports. Over the course of his career, Beatty has served as offensive coordinator and as a position coach for quarterbacks, receivers and running backs during stints at Virginia, Wisconsin, Illinois, Vanderbilt, West Virginia and Northern Illinois.
No. 19 Louisiana-Lafayette rallies to get past Georgia State in OT; improves to 2-0
As difficult as it is to pull off a major upset, sometimes avoiding a letdown and performing well the following week is equally challenging. After routing Iowa State and earning the program’s first top 25 ranking since 1943, Louisiana found itself in a 21-7 hole in the third quarter against Georgia State. Fortunately for the Cajuns, QB Levi Lewis helped ignite a comeback, leading three touchdown drives to force overtime. In the extra session, UL Safety Percy Butler came up with a key stop, holding the Panthers to a field goal and setting up UL RB Elijah Mitchell to score the game winner four plays later. For the game, Butler was one of the Cajuns’ top players, finishing with six tackles, two pass breakups and one fumble recovery. Congratulations to UL Defensive Analyst Keith Barefield (@rkbarefield) on the win and strong start to the season! Barefield is in his first year at Lafayette following a season at Quincy where he served as the Hawks’ offensive coordinator. He also spent a year working with the receivers at Central Arkansas.
One more CI coach will be in action tonight as the Saints and Offensive Coordinator Pete Carmichael travel to Vegas to take on the Raiders. Go New Orleans!
