During a 2020 game at Hard Rock Stadium, Xavier Restrepo caught his first college pass for the University of Miami, an innocuous slant over the middle that picked up 12 yards in the middle of a 48-0 blowout of the Duke Blue Devils.
Four years later, on the same field against the same opponent, Restrepo caught another slant over the middle. This one however, was historic. Restrepo, a Coconut Creek native, broke a tackle and sprinted 66 yards to the end zone, simultaneously tying the school record for career receptions (182) and setting a new mark in career receiving yards (2,573) for the hallowed program. Restrepo’s family was in the crowd to see it.
“They’ve seen a lot of what the world hasn’t seen. They’ve heard a lot of what the world hasn’t heard. I didn’t know it, but my mom after the game got emotional and even my dad a little bit,” Restrepo said. “It’s definitely a special one for them. It means a lot to do it in front of them.”
The catch also helped No. 4 Miami (9-0) complete yet another double-digit comeback to beat 6-3 Duke, 53-31, in part due to Restrepo’s eight catches for 143 yards and three touchdowns.
Restrepo wasn’t the only record breaker for Miami on Saturday. Quarterback Cam Ward continued his incredible offensive season, throwing for 400 yards and 5 touchdowns. He tied the school’s single season record for passing touchdowns (29) and broke the school’s record for touchdowns responsible for (32) in just nine games. Ward though was quick to downplay his personal achievements.
“It doesn’t mean anything,” he said. “We talk about a player who gets to come into a situation like this, with a head coach like this, with guys arriving like this. It’s going to end up working out as long as we play together.”
The two record breakers will be key the rest of the way as Miami looks to be in pole position to win its first ever ACC championship- and secure an automatic berth into the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff.
With No. 19 Clemson’s loss to No. 25 Louisville this week, the Tigers have likely forfeit their spot in the ACC title game. Miami and No. 13 SMU are the only remaining unbeatens in ACC play and barring a slip up on either side will match up Dec 7 in Charlotte.
But before any of that happens, the Hurricanes need to take care of business against Georgia Tech (5-4). Coach Mario Cristobal, in his Monday media availability, said his team is blessed to be playing meaningful games in November, but cautioned against looking ahead.
“I think we’ve understood the blessing and the importance of focusing on 1-0 and nothing else,” he said. “Nothing else matters behind this or beyond the current opportunity.”
Last year’s game against Georgia Tech was perhaps the low point of Cristobal’s tenure in Miami. Instead of kneeling the ball to secure a victory, Miami ran a play, fumbled, and gave Georgia Tech enough time to score a game winning touchdown. When pressed, he refused to answer questions about that play call this week.
Aside from clock management, Cristobal will also be wary of Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King. Cristobal was quick to praise the Georgia Tech offense on Monday.
“Haynes King and that offense is really good. Yards per play, they’re up there with some of the tops in the country. They are really good at generating chunk plays. They protect him really well,” he said. “They certainly do a great job of also getting him loose. He’s a really good runner as well and he’s got explosive playmakers.”
Miami will take on the Yellow Jackets on Saturday in Atlanta at 12 p.m.
