Miami Hurricanes: Malik Rosier, Mark Walton key in rout of Bethune-Cookman

No. 1 did his thing today. pic.twitter.com/MCz3ppSIFd

— Canes Football (@CanesFootball) September 2, 2017

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- Junior quarterback Malik Rosier passed for 217 yards and three touchdowns and junior running back Mark Walton rushed for 148 yards and two scores to lead No. 18 Miami to a 41-13 opening victory over Bethune-Cookman on Saturday at Hard Rock Stadium.

Making his second career start, Rosier was 17 of 28 passing and had completions of 46 yards to Darrell Langham, 33 to Lawrence Cager, and 22 to Braxton Berrios (for a touchdown) and also rushed four times for 41 yards, including a run of 23 yards on his opening play from scrimmage. Langham and Cager had five-yard touchdown receptions.

Rosier was lifted midway through the fourth quarter.

The Hurricanes outgained the visitors 555-350 in total offense, amassing a 322-121 advantage in rushing.

The Wildcats scored first on Uriel Hernandez's 36-yard field goal on the first series of the game. But the Hurricanes scored on each of their first four possessions (field goal and three touchdowns) before running out of time on their fifth after fumbling at Bethune-Cookman's 21-yard line. They went to the locker room up 24-6 at halftime.

They Hurricanes scored on their first series of the second half and added another touchdown late in the third period on Rosier's strike to Berrios to go up 38-6.

Bethune-Cookman got its only touchdown in the final period, cashing in on a 75-yard touchdown drive that was kept alive by a delay of game penalty that nullified a Miami interception.

NOTES: After expectations earlier in the week of having temperatures near 90 or above, the temperature at game time was only 78 degrees under partly cloudy skies and only a slight wind. Humidity was 88 percent, and the sun broke through in the second quarter. ... The Hurricanes had three penalties for illegal blocks (one in the back) their first two drives, overcoming two to convert their first touchdown drive in the second quarter. ... Miami's 92-yard touchdown drive in the second quarter actually covered 96 yards because it started with a penalty for a false start on the first play. ... Bethune-Cookman quarterback Larry Brihm completed his first nine pass attempts on his way to a 22-of-35 (212 yards) day. ... Junior Miami running back Mark Walton had recorded his seventh career 100-yard rushing game by late in the second quarter. He had 124 yards on 12 carries in the first half.