Miami rips W. Virginia

MIAMI -- Top-ranked Miami overcame a slow start and a sloppy field Thursday night against West Virginia.

Ken Dorsey threw two touchdown passes, tying the school record of 48 held by Steve Walsh and Vinny Testaverde, as the Hurricanes beat the Mountaineers 45-3 for their 16th consecutive victory.

Miami, fourth in the Bowl Championship Series standings, hoped to win impressively and possibly gain ground on the leaders. The Hurricanes needed more than a quarter to get on track.

West Virginia's Avon Cobourne ran for 95 yards in the first half as the Mountaineers held tough. The game was tied at 3 after one quarter, and West Virginia was looking to tie it at 10 when James Lewis intercepted a pass and returned it 74 yards for a score.

The Hurricanes (6-0, 3-0 Big East) ran away from there, scoring 28 second-half points behind backup running back Frank Gore and dominating the Mountaineers (2-5, 0-3) defensively.

Gore, a freshman from Miami, had six carries for 124 yards and two touchdowns. He had a 45-yard run in the third quarter and added a 49-yarder in the fourth.

Clinton Portis had 76 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries before giving way to Gore. With the game in hand, Portis sat out most of the fourth quarter -- as did most starters, including Dorsey.

Dorsey didn't look particularly sharp in the steady rain. He was 16-of-27 for 192 yards and threw an interception. He also fumbled once.

Miami's defense, led by safety Ed Reed, picked up the slack. Reed had two interceptions for the second consecutive game and recovered a fumble. Reed had two interceptions against Florida State on Oct. 13 and also blocked a punt that Miami returned for a touchdown in the 49-27 win.