MKRob Sports

The most discussed body part leading up to Saturday’s game was a thumb.

In the end, all the Miami Hurricanes could talk about were a pair of legs. After a slow start, a second-half boost from third-string running back Damien Berry helped UM capture a 34-16 victory against Duke. The Hurricanes (8-3, 5-3 in the Atlantic Coast Conference) now can say they are most successful team in Randy Shannon’s three-year tenure, surpassing last season’s win total (7).

“It was a huge win because it lets us finish (strong) in the ACC,” UM coach Randy Shannon said. “We’ll be finishing on top, at 5-3, which is huge for us. That’s a starting point. We’re better than we were last year.”

The news of the week was how UM quarterback Jacory Harris would play with an injured thumb on his right throwing hand, but it was Berry who sparked the Hurricanes. Down 16-10, Berry carried 10 times for 58 yards on the momentum-changing drive that lasted 7 minutes, 9 seconds. He finished it with a two-yard touchdown run, putting the Hurricanes in front for good. The announced crowd of 38,200 chanted “Ber-ry, Ber-ry” throughout the drive.

“We were in the shower and they were saying it,” Berry said of his teammates mocking the chant. “It was kind of funny … I mean, I love these guys. We’re going to get it done the rest of the season and give these seniors a good note to go out on.”

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