
TAMPA, FL — Miami Hurricanes Mexican-American running back Damien Martinez took over the game early on Saturday night and led the charge all over the gridiron as a receiver against South Florida University at Raymond James Stadium. The 20-year-old born in Lewisville, Texas, began his evening within Miami’s first drive by converting on a key third-and-six with a 14-yard catch from quarterback Cam Ward, who is the favorite to win the elusive Heisman Trophy.
Moments later, Martinez broke two tackles and ran it two yards up the middle to give the Canes a 7-0 lead, which set the tone for the game.
6 for 6 🫡#GoCanes pic.twitter.com/iOr3dGs5Lm
— Miami Hurricanes Football (@CanesFootball) September 21, 2024
Former NFL running back and Hurricanes’ star Clinton Portis talked to Latino Sports about Damien Martinez:
“I like him and how he plays hungry because of the intense running back competition with Mark Fletcher Jr. and even Chris Johnson Jr,” Portis said. “I love it when everyone eats in the offense and all the running backs get theirs. That’s how we did it when I was at the U.”
Portis played for Miami from 1999-2001 and was a key part of the Hurricanes last championship in 2001. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft and was traded to the Washington Redskins before the 2004 season. He played his final seven NFL seasons with the Redskins.
Speaking of the current running back group, Fletcher Jr. only had three carries for two yards while Chris Johnson Jr. didn’t touch the ball. Jordan Lyle stole the show with a 91-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter. Throughout the program’s history, the Hurricanes have had a long line of great running back traditions with Frank Gore, Willis McGahee, who he both spent time with Portis in 2001, along with Edgerrin James, and many more before and after Portis.
The longest run from scrimmage in program HISTORY 🙌@jlyle0’s 91-yard touchdown run was one to remember 🔥#GoCanes pic.twitter.com/Uhdk2sPYZK
— Miami Hurricanes Football (@CanesFootball) September 22, 2024
But currently at the U, Martinez leads the crowded backfield this season with 40 carries and four touchdowns. He has 190 yards rushing, which is just under five yards per carry. He has also been their top pass-catching back with four catches for 65 yards. The junior-student is 6-foot 230 pounds and has given the Hurricanes everything they could’ve hoped for as Martinez transferred from Oregon State this offseason. He broke out with Oregon State last year rushing for 1,185 yards and scoring nine touchdowns on the ground.
Not 1…Not 2…BUT 3️⃣ TUDDYS for @damienfor6 tonight!
📺 @espn x @CanesFootball pic.twitter.com/ZiUOUegqsj
— ACC Football (@ACCFootball) September 22, 2024
Additionally, Martinez made his longest catch of the night for 36 yards when Miami was trailing 9-7 with 4:40 remaining in the first quarter. The dual-threat back had an open field for around 30 yards and lowered his shoulder to gain a few more yards at the end of the run. Miami capped off that drive with a touchdown to retake the lead at 14-9.
The first half was a lot of back-and-forth action with injuries and penalties making it last over two hours — including a 19-play drive from USF that took eight minutes and 30 seconds of game time to take a 15-14 lead over Miami. The Hurricanes responded quickly with a 76-yard touchdown from Ward to wide receiver Samuel Brown.
1 ➡️ 11 🎯
📺: ESPN#GoCanes pic.twitter.com/PDMylXgMqL
— Miami Hurricanes Football (@CanesFootball) September 22, 2024
Martinez came through again with a two-point conversion catch that boosted the Hurricanes a 22-15 lead. A missed field goal from USF kicker John Cannon gave the Canes all the momentum they needed going into the second half of the game.
Nico Gramatica makes history
USF has another kicker with a familiar name around the parts of Tampa in Nico Gramatica, who is Argentinian, and the son of former Tampa Bay Buccaneers legend Martin Gramatica. His uncle, Bill Gramatica, holds the USF record for the longest field goal at 63 yards.
Nico made history by drilling a 58-yarder and 51-yarder in the first half of the game — to become the first kicker in USF history to make two 50-yard field goals in the same game.
Nico nails the second-longest FG in school history!
And the first? Nico's uncle, Bill Gramatica. https://t.co/zxBmh8ObUl pic.twitter.com/kmXiDtcakR
— USF Football (@USFFootball) September 22, 2024
The Canes came out fired up in the second half with a three-and-out on defense and a scoring drive capped by a one-yard run by Martinez. It was 29-15 and at that point, Miami had complete control of the game, and it felt like the air was sucked out of the sails of the USF ship.
Martinez added yet another one-yard touchdown with under a minute left in the third quarter for his third touchdown of the day.
And at 36-15, there was no doubt that the eighth-ranked Miami Hurricanes would win again. Miami shut out USF in the second half and scored two more touchdowns to win the game by a final of 50-15.
In totality, Martinez is a great running back because he can play all three downs, be physical up the middle, run outside, and catch the ball out of the backfield. He has a strong chance to be playing on NFL Sundays in the next year or two. Another player who is going to generate a lot of buzz in NFL circles is Ward. Miami Hurricanes great and former NFL quarterback Vinny Testaverde spoke with Latino Sports about Ward before Saturday’s game.
“He’s an exciting player and a really good prospect,” Testaverde said.
Testaverde won the Heisman for Miami in 1986 and Ward is hoping to follow in his footsteps. Testaverde was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the first overall pick in the 1987 NFL Draft and enjoyed a long 21-year career with various NFL teams. If Ward keeps up his good play, he could also find himself selected in the first round of the upcoming NFL Draft.
Ward was sensational, throwing for over 400 yards and three touchdowns. The 25-year-old senior has good size at 6-foot-2 and 223 pounds. He has the arm strength to make any high level throw and also has mobility with seven yards per carry, 89 yards, and one rushing touchdown this season. He transferred from Washington State last season.
The Heisman candidate was ELECTRIC vs. South Florida 🔥
Cam Ward and Miami's offense looked unstoppable 😤 pic.twitter.com/EMenDqi3ku
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) September 22, 2024
Ward leads Division I Football with 14 touchdowns and has thrown just two picks. He is also second in yards (1,439) and quarterback rating (204.9) respectively. Ward and Martinez have helped change the culture of the Hurricanes program and have led them to a 4-0 start.
More Latinos on the Canes
Another key contributor to Miami’s offense is Mexican tight end Elijah Arroyo, who was born in Frisco, Texas, but also spent some time in Mexico when he was young. Arroyo caught two passes for 25 yards in the win. The six-foot-four, 245-pound tight end is a big play waiting to happen, averaging over 20 yards per catch. He has nine catches for 184 yards and two touchdowns this season.
Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal is a second-generation Cuban-American and he has done a great job getting all his new players to buy in and play together. Cristobal is in his third season as the Canes’ head man, signing a 10-year $80 million contract before the 2022 season.
Just
Keep
Bringing it HURRICANE FAMILY!!!
THANK YOU!!!
See you at Hard Rock Friday… https://t.co/tXgnmhvm5G— Mario Cristobal (@coach_cristobal) September 22, 2024
Miami moved up to seventh in the latest College Football AP Top 25 rankings. Their next game will be the start of their ACC conference play on September 27 against un-ranked Virginia Tech at home in Hard Rock Stadium.
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