CLEMSON, S.C. - Tyrone Moss practically saved Miami's season with a performance that left no question about his ability to be the Hurricanes' next star runner.
Moss rushed for 139 yards and three touchdowns, including a 25-yarder in the third overtime that lifted No. 13 Miami to a 36-30 win over Clemson and allowed the Hurricanes to avoid their first 0-2 start in 27 years.
There were some who doubted whether Moss could live up to the recent legacy of Frank Gore and Willis McGahee, even after he rushed for 102 yards against Florida State in his first start.
"I know I can be the man," Moss said. "I can get the job done. There was no doubt in my mind."
Or coach Larry Coker's mind, as the Miami attack turned more to Moss on the ground down the stretch than sophomore Kyle Wright's passes.
"Tyrone's not a surprise," Coker said. "He's a load to stop."
After Moss bounced out the right side for his game-winning score, safety Kenny Phillips intercepted Charlie Whitehurst's pass when the 20th-ranked Tigers (2-1, 1-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) got their chance in the third extra period.
Phillips' play ended the game and gave the Hurricanes (1-1, 1-1) a reason to forget their miserable 10-7 loss at Florida State nearly two weeks ago.
Almost every Hurricane rushed Phillips, a freshman, after he took a knee.
It was Clemson's first overtime defeat after coming in 5-0, including a 24-17 victory at the Orange Bowl over Miami a year ago.
Miami seemed like it would have its Death Valley revenge after Moss' 1-yard touchdown run made it 20-10 with 14:20 left in the game.
But the Tigers (2-1, 1-1), who had already rallied in the fourth quarter to beat Texas A&M and Maryland this season, did it again to force overtime.
"There's no quit in them," Clemson coach Tommy Bowden said. "I told them I was disappointed they lost, but extremely proud of the effort."
Whitehurst had a 1-yard quarterback sneak touchdown to cut the lead to three points with 2:58 to go. Then after forcing the Hurricanes to punt, Whitehurst led a 46-yard drive that ended with Jad Dean's tying field goal from 27 yards out.
Miami was fortunate to get the tie. On third-and-10 with 19 seconds remaining, Clemson receiver Chansi Stuckey was by himself on the left side of the end zone. But Whitehurst badly overthrew him.
"Game time," Stuckey said about the play. "I thought, 'This might be the game.'"
The Augusta Chronicle ©2012 Morris Communications, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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