MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) – Brad Kaaya returned from a one-game absence to pass for 286 yards and two touchdowns, and Miami became bowl-eligible by topping Virginia 27-21 on Saturday.
Kaaya connected with Stacy Coley for a 67-yard score and David Njoku for a 5-yard TD. He missed last week’s win over Duke with a concussion.
Coley finished with 132 receiving yards, while running backs Joe Yearby and Mark Walton combined for 137 rushing yards for Miami (6-3, 3-2 Atlantic Coast Conference). Interim coach Larry Scott is now 2-0, making him the fourth Miami coach since World War II to win the first two games of his Hurricane career.
Matt Johns passed for 280 yards for Virginia (3-6, 2-3), which lost its 14th consecutive road game and needs to win out in order to reach a bowl for the first time since 2011. Ian Frye kicked four field goals, including a 47-yarder with 35 seconds left – but Miami recovered the ensuing onside kick and ran out the clock.
