Boxscore

SHREVEPORT - The University of Miami showed it still is a national championship caliber team as the Hurricanes stormed past Louisiana Tech 48-9 Thursday night at Independence Stadium.

A Tech home-record crowd of 43,279 joined a national television audience on ESPN for the season opener for both teams.

Miami totaled 467 net yards compared to Tech's 310, but the Bulldogs struggled in the red zone and managed only three field goals from Josh Scobee on the night. Scobee connected on field goals of 35 and 27 yards before closing out Tech's scoring with a career record 52-yarder.

The starting quarterbacks put up similar stats as Tech's Luke McCown hit on 16-for-26 passes for 195 yards with two interceptions while Miami's Brock Berlin, playing before a hometown crowd, connected on 14-of-28 attempts for 203 yards and one interception. But Berlin did manage to throw two touchdown passes while the Hurricanes added one score on the ground while also scoring on a punt return, a fumble recovery and an interception return.

"When all was said and done, (Miami's) defensive line was the key," McCown said. "They had so much speed. I think our receivers' speed matched their defensive backs but I thought their defensive line was going to be younger. They played very aggressive."

Miami defensive back Antrel Rolle had a big night with a 66-yard punt return for a score and a 78-yard fumble return for another touchdown.

The Hurricanes didn't waste any time as they opened scoring on a 24-yard scoring strike from Berlin to Ryan Moore before Rolle's scoring punt return put Miami up 14-0 only five minutes into the contest.

Scobee's 35-yard field goal with 1:03 left in the opening period put Tech on the scoreboard, but the Hurricanes stretched the halftime advantage to 21-3 on Leon Williams' 78-yard fumble return.

"When it got to 14-3 we could have gotten blown out in a hurry," Tech coach Jack Bicknell said. "I'm proud that the team settled down at that point and started playing better."

Miami moved out to a 24-3 lead on a Jon Peattie field goal from 23 yards out with 10:56 left in the third quarter before Scobee and Tech countered with his 27-yarder just over three minutes later.

The Hurricanes made their move to ice the game late in the third quarter as Berlin hit Kellen Winslow on a 6-yard scoring strike with 3:28 left in the period before Rolle's interception put Miami up 38-6 with 1:56 remaining in the quarter.

Jarrett Payton's 4-yard scoring scamper with 13:13 left in the game pushed the Hurricanes' lead to 45-6 before Scobee hit on his record 52-yarder to make it 45-9.

Peattie closed out scoring with a 32-yarder with 4:16 remaining as the Hurricanes moved to 3-0 in all-time games against the Bulldogs.

Ryan Moats led Tech rushers with 44 yards on three carries, including a long burst of 41 yards while Danny Wilson added 27 yards on three carries for the Bulldogs.

"You have to get your running game going against a team like that," Bicknell said. "After Moats got hurt we started getting tired and got away from our run game."

Frank Gore led Miami with 118 yards on 21 carries.

Freddie King topped Tech receivers with four catches for 27 yards while D.J. Curry added three receptions for 13 yards. Moore led Miami with four catches for 67 yards while Winslow added four catches for 35 yards.

The Bulldogs return to action on Sept. 6 with a 7 p.m. contest at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette.