Miami vs. Virginia Tech: Andre Ware takes strong stance on controversial ending

With three seconds left in Friday’s game against Miami, Virginia Tech quarterback Kyron Drones threw up one final prayer. He heaved a pass toward the back of the end zone, which the officials initially ruled a touchdown – but a replay review overturned it, and ESPN analyst Andre Ware shared a strong reaction to the controversial ending.

Ware disagreed with the decision to overturn the call and deem it an incomplete pass. By doing so, Miami improved to 5-0 on the season with the 38-34 victory over Virginia Tech.

ESPN rules analyst Matt Austin said he didn’t know if there was enough to overturn the call, and Ware agrees. He thought it should’ve stood as called, no matter what the officials initially decided.

Catch or no catch?👀

(via ESPN)pic.twitter.com/6LFMzXPX9q

— On3 (@On3sports) September 28, 2024

“A lot of conversations about that because I just don’t know where you see it on the replay to reverse the call on the field,” Ware said. “And had it been called incomplete, see it that way. I just thought the ruling – whatever was called on the field should stand. That’s tough.”

Friday night’s matchup saw plenty of big-time momentum swings as Virginia Tech aimed to pull off the Top-10 upset. The Hokies struck first, taking a 7-0 lead after a strip-sack of Cam Ward gave them good field position. But Ward helped lead Miami on back-to-back scoring drives to take command right back, throwing for two touchdowns to take a 14-7 lead.

But Virginia Tech didn’t back down. A 55-yard touchdown from Bhayshul Tuten tied things up, and Jaylin Lane’s 20-yard score put the Hokies back out in front, 21-14. The lead grew to 24-14 on a field goal late in the half, but Miami answered back with one of its own to keep it 24-17 into halftime.

Another Virginia Tech Field goal made it a 27-17 ballgame, but a key decision from Brent Pry helped shift the momentum back in Miami’s favor. In the third quarter, the Hokies faked a field goal and were stopped short – giving the Hurricanes the ball back with 5:50 left in the period. They turned it into a touchdown drive and got that much closer to taking control right back.

Virginia Tech scored another touchdown to make it a 34-24 game, but Miami didn’t back down. The Hurricanes put together back-to-back touchdown drives to take a 38-34 advantage as Virginia Tech got the ball back with 1:57 to play. Drones led the Hokies down the field and threw up the Hail Mary with three seconds to go.

However, Miami did just enough to help it fall incomplete. That meant the Hurricanes avoided the upset and improved to 5-0 on the season – with a bit of suspense as officials looked over the replay.