Van Dyke’s profession day overshadowed by UM loss to UNC. ‘None of the stats matter if we lose’

Two weeks in the past, Tyler Van Dyke discovered himself heading to the bench within the third quarter of the Miami Hurricanes’ upset loss to Middle Tennessee State. The considered a quarterback competitors loomed over the Hurricanes’ bye week as they ready to start Atlantic Coast Conference play earlier than coach Mario Cristobal doubled down on Monday that Van Dyke is his starter.

On Saturday, Van Dyke almost orchestrated a fourth-quarter comeback and put any squabbling a couple of quarterback controversy to relaxation.

While it got here in a 27-24 loss to North Carolina, Van Dyke threw for a career-best 496 yards, three touchdowns and an interception whereas competing 73.7-percent of his passes. He set UM single-game data for cross makes an attempt (57) and completions (42). His passing yards have been essentially the most by a Hurricanes quarterback since Stephen Morris threw for 566 yards against N.C. State on Sept. 29, 2012.

But Van Dyke wasn’t within the temper to speak particular person efficiency, even when the quarterback’s efficiency landed him within the Hurricanes’ report e-book.

Not when Miami’s rally on Saturday fell quick. Not when UM is on a three-game dropping streak.

“None of the stats matter if we lose the game,” Van Dyke mentioned. “I didn’t do enough to win the game for the team.”

Instead, Van Dyke centered on what may have been and the place the Hurricanes can — and must — enhance in the event that they wish to snap this dropping streak and compete for the ACC Coastal title.

First, there was the drive within the second quarter when the Hurricanes had first and purpose from the 2-yard line whereas trailing 7-0. They ran 4 performs, received one yard and gave the ball again to North Carolina. The Tar Heels responded with an eight-play, 99-yard landing drive.

“Gotta punch it in there,” Van Dyke mentioned.

And then there was his closing drive of the sport.

Van Dyke and the Hurricanes had the ball at Miami’s 10-yard line with 1:13 to play and no timeouts whereas trailing by three. A discipline purpose will get the Hurricanes to extra time. A landing completes the comeback.

After eight performs and 40 seconds, Van Dyke had the Hurricanes on the UNC 47-yard line, Van Dyke’s 57th and closing cross sailed excessive. Tar Heels defensive again De’Andre Boykins intercepted the cross, sealing Miami’s loss.

“It’s tough,” Van Dyke mentioned, “but that’s what you play quarterback here for. You’ve got to fight those situations. I wish I could have had that one back.”

In between, the Hurricanes went up tempo and Van Dyke thrived.

After Miami went scoreless on its first three drives and fell behind 14-0, Van Dyke threw touchdowns on back-to-back drives — a 20-yard strike to Key’Shawn Smith and a 7-yard cross to Henry Parrish Jr. whereas North Carolina defensive lineman Myles Murphy was hanging from the quarterback’s left aspect. Miami tacked on a discipline purpose one drive later to get inside 21-17 at halftime.

Van Dyke threw for 174 yards on 12-of-15 passing on these three drives and entered halftime with 289 yards — already a season excessive and greater than twice the yards than he threw within the loss to Middle Tennessee State (138).

“Tyler got so hot,” Cristobal mentioned, “that we said, ‘let’s just go with it.’ He did a really good job.”

Miami’s first three drives of the second half stalled and UNC pushed its lead again as much as 10 earlier than Van Dyke put collectively a seven-play, 63-yard drive capped by a 16-yard landing to Colbie Young with 2:20 left in regulation. A fast cease by the protection gave Van Dyke his closing alternative that fell quick.

Van Dyke will use that closing drive as motivation going into subsequent week. He mentioned the bye week gave him time to deal with positivity, to “keep leading instead of getting down on myself” when performs don’t work out.

“I had probably the best practices that I’ve had that week,” Van Dyke mentioned. “It really reflects on the offense.”