Rece Davis credits Cam Ward for helping Miami survive upset scares in recent weeks

Where would Miami be without Cam Ward? While it’s a question you could’ve asked all season long so far, it’s been especially interesting with how he has helped to save them in each of their last three.

Rece Davis discussed Ward’s heroics again during the ‘College GameDay Podcast’ on Monday. In a third straight game, he had to rescue the Hurricanes from themselves to keep them undefeated this fall.

“How about Miami again?” Davis asked. “The recipe for disaster for losing on the road happened after Cam Ward seemingly had given Miami a very comfortable situation. They were up 31-17, he had just led them on a touchdown drive. Okay – Caullin Lacy returns the kickoff for a touchdown, then Miami fumbles the ensuing kickoff and Louisville scores again.”

“You go from Cam Ward seemingly having led your team to put this game in really good shape with a 14-point lead in the second half to, before he gets back on the field? Your 14-point lead is gone and you’re tied!” said Davis. “They just kept playing and kept scoring.”

After a third touchdown pass out of halftime, Miami got that largest lead of the game at 14. However, less than a minute and a half later, it was tied again at 31. From there, it became a second-half shootout that, with Ward, The ‘U were able to win at 52-45.

Ward finished 21/32 (65.6%) for 319 yards, four touchdowns, and no interception. It was another outing that powered the nation’s second-best offense that averages 48.3 ppg.. It also kept him at the top of contention for The Heisman Trophy.

Again, though, this is the third consecutive game in which Ward has had to do this. After winning their first four by an average of 42, Miami has won by a combined total of a 12 against Virginia Tech by four in the final moment, California by one with less than a half minute to go, and then by seven in the fourth quarter over Louisville. The difference? Cam Ward as he has a 64.9% completion rate for 366.3 yards per game with a dozen total touchdowns and three picks in the trio of close calls.

That difference has been everything this fall from what some usually expect to happen to the Hurricanes.

“You keep waiting for the misstep because we’ve sort of been conditioned to expect that from Miami. They’ve avoided it twice – I wouldn’t say not to the degree on Saturday they had to in the previous two games but they’ve avoided it twice and they’ve got a dude who can get you out of trouble,” said Davis. “It might be that that is the perfect antidote for the Hurricanes to avoid stepping on a rake and hitting themselves in the face. They’ve been able to – the rake handle has flown up twice, and almost three times, and ‘ole No. 1 just steps to the side and throws another touchdown pass, you know. It’s a good quality to have for the ‘Canes.”‘

Ward has been one of the best players in college football this season. That’s been so as he’s been invaluable, specifically over the last month, at Miami.

“I mean, when you have a dude like that at quarterback, they can just figure it out,” said Davis.