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Oct 16, 2009 5:52 pm US/Eastern
Hurricanes Hope To Avoid Letdown on the Road
By Solange Reyner
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
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MIAMI - NOVEMBER 23: Linebacker Darryl Sharpton #50 of the University of Miami Hurricanes celebrates a drive ending interception in the fourth quarter by the Boston College Golden Eagles at the Orange Bowl Stadium on November 23, 2006 in Miami, Florida.
Doug Benc/Getty Images
Darryl Sharpton's game-changing interception against Central Florida last season capped off Miami's sloppy 20-14 win over the Knights.
The ninth-ranked Hurricanes are hoping this time around won't be close.
"We knew FAMU wasn't to our level, but we took those guys seriously and we didn't take off a quarter," linebacker Sean Spence said.
"We understand that it's going to be a hostile crowd. We have to go in there, beat them and take them seriously."
Miami (4-1) will have to do so without six starters.
Wide receiver Aldarius Johnson (shoulder), safety Randy Phillips, and defensive end Eric Moncur are out for Saturday's matchup in Orlando and linebacker Jordan Futch, defensive tackle Marcus Forston, and tight end Richard Gordon will miss the rest of the season with injuries.
Miami's depth at defense is especially wearing thin.
The linebacker corps is down to two veterans: an oft-injured Colin McCarthy and Sharpton, and Phillips' absence opens the door for true freshman Ray Ray Armstrong and redshirt freshman Vaughn Telemaque to get more snaps.
The defensive line has taken the biggest hits, leaving the Hurricanes with a seven-man rotation which includes one senior: Joe Joseph.
"Somebody has to step up and be ready to play," Coach Randy Shannon said.
UCF has been close to cracking the big win.
The Golden Knights (3-2) almost beat Texas in 2008 before losing by a field goal and took South Florida to overtime last year.
And, oh yeah, that near-victory against the Hurricanes last year.
"Anytime you play the ninth-ranked team in the country, it would sure be a great signature win, whether it's Miami or anybody else," Knights coach George O'Leary said. "And anytime it's in-state, I think there's extra incentive to go out and make sure you have your best foot forward, too."
Shannon hasn't talked about let downs.
"We don't even talk about it. We played Central Florida last year. They were a tough team. You don't have to talk about let downs. We don't look at it from that standpoint."
Running back Brynn Harvey is hoping to change the Golden Knights' fortune.
Harvey has 536 yards this season with six touchdowns.
"We lost last year, but it was a real close game," Harvey told the Orlando Sentinel.
"We're going to go into the Miami game real pumped up, knowing we almost beat them last year. We're going to come at them this year. It's going to be a hard, smash-nosed football game. We're just going to come after them and they're going to come after us too."
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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