Mario Cristobal opens up on impressions of first game

Mario Cristobal saw Miami start out slow, but the Hurricanes ran away with their season opener against Miami of Ohio.

As far as impressions of the first game, the Redhawks gave the Hurricanes some challenges. In the end, Cristobal’s crew overcame some early adversity.

The 38-3 win didn’t come easy right away, according to Cristobal.

“Well, I figured they were going to be tough to run the ball against again because you know, you watch them play Kentucky, they Kentucky to 50 yards rushing,” Cristobal said. “They made it difficult to score and they’ve got a big offensive line over there. So we felt that you know, it’d be a physical battle and you have to just keep working on them, the defense is going to have to make some stops.

“The penalty to prevent us from scoring down the red zone was a monster penalty. Certainly gave them some life and put three points on the board for them and gave them hope.”

Cristobal noted his team turned it around after it looked like the Redhawks were about to seriously climb back into the game.

“But after that, it felt like we started taking control of the game,” Cristobal said. “We had some opportunities early and we didn’t (capitalize), so it was good to see our team respond and start you know, making enough plays, moving the sticks enough, making enough stops to start taking control of the game.”

Quarterback Tyler Van Dyke had a decent game, going 17-of-22 passing for 201 yads, one touchdown and one interception.

The run game eventually found lanes as three different backs scored touchdowns on the ground. Henry Parrish Jr. led the way with nine carries for 90 yards and a score.

“It was what coach Tim Harris was talking about all week, they have been competing hard,” Cristobal said of his running back group. “It was hard to tell who was separating and you saw that tonight. Henry’s run looked good and then look at Don’s run at the end and Ajay breaks a run off to the side and Mark Fletcher is rumbling for a touchdown. 

“That is the way it should be. When Miami was good, you remember what those running back rooms were like with Edgerrin James and Najeh Davenport and James Jackson and then Willis McGahee, Clinton Portis, and Frank Gore. I am not saying we are there yet, but we benefit from that type of competition.”