Miami Does It With Defense : 5 Sacks, 5 Interceptions Overwhelm BYU, 41-17

MIAMI —  The University of Miami’s devasting defense had 5 sacks and 5 interceptions Saturday as the second-ranked Hurricanes beat Brigham Young, 41-17, at the Orange Bowl.

Bobby Harden intercepted 3 passes, and Donald Ellis returned an interception 64 yards for a touchdown to help Miami (10-1) score 34 first-half points.

“Their quarterbacks were pressured into throwing the ball before they wanted to,” Harden said. “The defensive line got great pressure on them. It helps us back there.”

The Hurricanes, who will play No. 6-ranked Nebraska in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 2, remained in contention for the national championship with the victory.

“I’m pleased with the win,” Miami Coach Jimmy Johnson said. “I’m pleased with the 10-1 regular season. We’re just one 2-point conversion away from three straight 11-0 seasons.”

Miami’s only loss was to No. 1-ranked Notre Dame, 31-30.

Steve Walsh of the Hurricanes threw a 33-yard touchdown pass to Randal Hill to tie Vinny Testaverde’s school record of 48 career touchdown passes. Walsh, a junior who finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting announced Saturday, completed 20 of 36 passes for 237 yards with 2 interceptions.

“We weren’t as sharp as we’re capable of being,” Walsh said.

Freedom Bowl-bound BYU (8-4) lost for the third time in four games.

“Again the turnovers are killing us,” BYU Coach LaVell Edwards said. “We must have had 20 turnovers in the last two games.”

Ellis intercepted a Ty Detmer pass in the middle of the field and raced untouched to the end zone with 35 seconds left in the first half to give Miami a 34-3 lead.

Detmer threw third-quarter scoring passes of 27 yards to Matt Bellini and 5 yards to Darren Handley to cut the margin to 34-17. But his third interception, to Bernard Clark, set up Miami’s final score, a 20-yard pass from Craig Erickson to Dale Dawkins.