Receiver turns into Brock Berlin's favorite target to spark second-half comeback.
By MICHAEL SNYDER
Published September 7, 2003
MIAMI - The lights on the Orange Bowl scoreboard did not really start to illuminate on the Miami side until late in the third quarter.
That's when Kevin Beard began to shine as well.
Beard, a senior receiver, caught five passes for 143 yards in the second half to help spark Miami's revival as the Hurricanes came back from a 33-10 deficit to beat Florida 38-33.
In the first half, Beard was limited to two receptions for 21 yards. The offense was going nowhere, and quarterback Brock Berlin was being booed in his first home start as a Hurricane.
But in the second half Berlin caught fire, and Beard was the spark.
"He said "give me the ball,' and I tried to give it to him as much as I could," Berlin said.
The Hurricanes took over at their 15-yard line in the third quarter. Beard, who tore the ACL in his right knee against Pittsburgh last season, caught a 17-yard pass. Later, facing a crucial third and 3, Berlin again looked Beard's way, and he hauled a pass in for a 13-yard gain to Florida's 26.
On the next play, Beard scored his first TD of the season.
After Berlin completed a pass to Ryan Moore for the two-point conversion, it was 33-18 and things didn't appear so hopeless.
On the second play of the next drive, Berlin found Beard behind the secondary and launched a spiral. Beard caught it and clutched it tightly as he ran down the right sideline. He was pushed out at the 1-yard line, and Frank Gore plunged in on the next play. The comeback was on, and Miami won its 23rd straight at the Orange Bowl and 34th consecutive regular season contest.
That wasn't all for Beard.
On the winning drive, Beard split a pair of defenders to get Miami out of the shadow of its goalposts to the UM 36.
That drive ended with Gore's 12-yard TD run that sealed Miami's fifth straight win over Florida.
"We're going to have to lean on Kevin for his leadership and knowledge of the offense," Berlin said. "He's the leader of the receivers."
Berlin started looking Beard's way because the Gators seemed preoccupied with tight end Kellen Winslow, who had five catches for 35 yards and dropped a pass in the end zone in the first half.
"My teammates made huge plays," Berlin said. "They just stepped up and did an incredible job."
And Beard led the way.
"I don't think it was a breakout game," Beard said. "I've been here for five years ... and once I get going, the young guys kind of follow my lead."
