No. 5 Hurricanes Rip McNeese

Ken Dorsey threw three touchdown passes and Santana Moss gained 204 all-purpose yards as fifth-ranked Miami beat Division I-AA McNeese State 61-14 on Thursday night.

The Hurricanes totaled 630 yards, most of it coming in the first half. Dorsey, Moss and many other starters sat out much of the second half while their backups picked up playing time.

It was a good start to what should be Miami's most productive season in recent years.

In Butch Davis' five seasons at Miami, the Hurricanes have as many losses (19) as they had in the 12 years before he arrived. They also won four national championships in that span.

After enduring NCAA sanctions and 31 lost scholarships between 1995 and 1997, the program has been rebuilt and reloaded with talent at every position.

Miami scored on six of eight first-half possessions, including five touchdowns.

Dorsey, a sophomore, hit Reggie Wayne on a pair of perfectly thrown fade passes in the same corner of the end zone in the first quarter. Dorsey also hit Daryl Jones on a 23-yard pass in the second to give Miami a 34-7 lead.

Dorsey completed 17 of 29 passes for 248 yards, winning for the fourth time in as many starts. In his four starts, Dorsey is 81-for-120 for 966 yards with 12 TD passes and just one interception.

He has plenty of weapons surrounding him, like Moss.

The speedy 5-foot-10 receiver returned a punt 77 yards late in the first quarter, putting the 'Canes ahead 20-7. He picked up the bouncing kick at the 23, cut right toward the sideline, turned upfield and sprinted untouched into the end zone. He got two key blocks on the play, one from Andre King and another from Al Blades.

Moss added a 75 yard run on an end around, skirting outside the defense and cutting back across the field for the score. Moss finished with 35 yards receiving, 75 yards rushing and 94 return yards.

He sat out the second half with a sore right foot.

The Cowboys (0-1) nswered Miami's opening-drive score with a nine play, 65-yard drive that they kept alive by converting a fourth-and-3 play at the Hurricanes' 36. Jessie Burton scored two plays later, breaking three tackles en route to 21-yard run.

McNeese State added a late touchdown, converting a Miami turnover into a 27-yard scoring pass from Slade Nagle to Jermaine Martin. The Cowboys tallied 409 yards.

But they just couldn't stop Miami.

The 'Canes added two late touchdowns. Ethnic Sands connected with Andre Johnson on a 32-yard pass play, and Clinton Portis outran the defense 82 yards for the final score.

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