Boxscore

MIAMI, Fla. - Miami's defense held Louisiana Tech to 183 total yards and off the scoreboard as the Hurricanes stormed to a 48-0 win Saturday before a crowd of 53,721 at the Orange Bowl Saturday afternoon.

It marked the first time a Louisiana Tech squad had been shut out since falling to Tennessee 50-0 in the 1993 season opener, a string of 127 games.

Ironically, head coach Jack Bicknell and Co. will venture back to Knoxville next weekend to face the No. 13 ranked Vols.

Miami's defense stifled Tech all day long as the Bulldogs only advanced into Hurricane territory on three possessions, two of those coming in the fourth quarter.

"Miami has a great defense," Tech coach Jack Bicknell said. "They're scary good. They did a great job of stopping the run by putting extra guys (in the box). We had opportunities to go deep and we tried, but we just didn't make the plays."

Tech quarterback Donald Allen hit on only 3-of-10 passes for 15 yards before giving way to Matt Kubik in the third quarter. However, Allen was barely able to breathe due to a heavy Hurricane pass rush as Miami sacked him five times in the first half and consistently kept him on the run.

"We just didn't execute offensively," Allen said. "You don't want to point fingers. I could point a finger at myself because of the fumbles. This is a team game. Our defense made some stops and gave us an opportunity, but we just didn't execute."

The Bulldogs lone opportunity to generate some points in the opening 30 minutes was foiled after junior running back Ryan Moats fumbled in Hurricane territory. Moats, who entered the game as the nation's leading rusher, rushed for 81 yards on 14 carries but did not see the field coming out of the halftime locker room with the Bulldogs trailing 34-0.

Miami jumped out to a 14-0 lead at the end of the first quarter on a pair of touchdown runs by running back Tyrone Moss. Two Jon Peattie field goals book-ended a Brock Berlin touchdown pass and a Devin Hester 51-yard punt return in the second quarter to give the Hurricanes a commanding 34-0 advantage at the half.

Kubik played well in the second half for Tech, completing 5-of-10 passes for 116 yards, including a 79-yard strike to Johnathan Holland in the fourth quarter, the longest pass play for Tech since Luke McCown hit Tramissian Davis for an 80-yard pass against SMU in 2002.

The Bulldogs had chances to avert the shutout when freshmen kickers Brad Oestriecher and Danny Horwedel each had opportunities to connect on fourth-quarter field goals. However, Oestriecher's 30-yard attempt went wide left while Horwedel's 46-yarder - his first career attempt -- also sailed wide left.

Holland had a career-day with the personal best 79-yard reception and his first career 100-yard receiving performance (2-100).

Berlin hit on 10-of-14 passes for 122 yards, a touchdown and an interception while Miami backup Derrick Crudup hit on 1-of-5 attempts for 39 yards.

Safety Lee Johnson led the Bulldogs with nine tackles while cornerback Corey Brazil added six tackles and Tech's lone interception on the day.

Travon Brown and Gregory Hollins each recorded a sack for Tech while Brazil and Love added half-a-sack each.

The Bulldogs return to action next Saturday when they travel to face Tennessee in a 6 p.m. kickoff at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville.