Miami Hurricanes ©	West Virginia Mountaineers
Played October 26, 2002 at Mountaineer Field Morgantown, West Virginia

  

 

Teams' Belt Records

 

Team	Belt Reigns	Overall Record				Home Record				Away Record				Neutral Record
		W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT
Miami, FLA ©	2	28	7	0	.800	15	1	0	.938	10	3	0	.769	3	3	0	.500
West Virginia	0	0	2	0	.000	0	1	0	.000	0	1	0	.000

 

The top-ranked, 6-0 Miami Hurricanes of coach Larry Coker traveled to Morgantown to meet the 5-2 West Virginia Mountaineers of coach Rich Rodriguez.  The Mountaineers were dominated the previous year in a 45-3 loss but they believed they had a shot at the upset at home this season.  The teams played evenly through the first 3 quarters but Miami's defense shutdown the West Virginia offense in the 4^th quarter as the Hurricanes retained The Belt with a 40-23 win.  After West Virginia punted, Miami took their opening possession 66 yards in 5 plays with All-Big East QB Ken Dorsey hitting All-Big East WR Andre Johnson on a 42-yard touchdown pass.  The Mountaineers responded with an 80-yard, 9-play drive capped by a 7-yard touchdown run from All-Big East RB Avon Cobourne, the nation’s leading rusher.  Hurricanes' All-Big East PK Todd Sievers hit a 47-yard field goal as Miami closed the 1^st quarter with a 10-7 lead.  Hurricanes' All-American RB Willis McGahee finished a 69-yard, 12-play drive with a 1-yard touchdown run as Miami stretched their lead to 17-7.  Mountaineers' PK Todd James hit from 24 yards as the teams went to the half with Miami leading 17-10.  The Mountaineers recovered a McGahee fumble at the Hurricanes' 13-yard line on the first play from scrimmage in the 3^rd quarter &, three plays later, QB Rashe Marshall scored from 12 yards out tying the score at 17-17.  McGahee’s second touchdown came on a 2-yard run at 8:51 to play in the 3^rd quarter & gave the Hurricanes a 24-17 edge.  The Mountaineers responded with a 64-yard, 8-play drive with RB Quincy Wilson scoring from 1 yard to finish the drive.  James missed the extra point though & Miami held a 24-23 lead.  Dorsey connected with Johnson from 11 yards for their second touchdown & the Hurricanes lead 31-23 as the 4^th quarter started.  McGahee scored his third touchdown on a 1-yard run & Sievers added a 37-yard field goal as Miami’s defense shutout West Virginia in the final quarter on their way to a 40-23 victory.  Dorsey finished with 422 yards passing with 2 touchdowns, McGahee had 112 yards rushing with 3 touchdowns, Johnson had 6 catches for 111 yards with 2 touchdowns, & WR Quadtrine Hill added 6 catches for 108 yards.  For West Virginia, Marshall finished with only 60 yards passing but 131 yards rushing with a touchdown while Cobourne added 175 yards rushing with his touchdown.  Miami finished the season 12-1; Big East Champions, ranked 2^nd nationally while the Mountaineers finished 9-4 & ranked 25^th nationally.  West Virginia has not played for The Belt again.