Cam Ward passes for 3 TDs, runs for another and No. 12 Miami rolls past Florida A&M, 56-9

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Cam Ward passed for 304 yards and three touchdowns in his first home start for Miami, then he capped his day with a rushing score and the 12th-ranked Hurricanes beat Florida A&M 56-9 on Saturday night.

Ward's first pass was a touchdown throw to Elijah Arroyo on Miami's opening possession, then he found Xavier Restrepo for a 50-yard scoring pass as the Hurricanes (2-0) had a 99-yard drive on their second possession.

Ward finished 20 of 26 to help Miami win its 17th consecutive home opener. Restrepo had four catches for 104 yards and a touchdown, and Damien Martinez rushed for 90 yards and another score.

“Cam's a special player,” Restrepo said. “We've all had a really special relationship with Cam since the day he's come in here, and we're still building.”

Ward — who passed for 385 yards in Miami's Week 1 win at Florida — is the third Hurricanes quarterback in the last 25 years with at least 600 yards passing in the season's first two games, with 689 so far. The others on that list: Jacory Harris (656) in 2009 and Ken Dorsey (659) in 2001, Miami's most recent national title season.

“He is the alpha dog leader. ... He changes things,” Miami coach Mario Cristobal said. “Certain guys bring a spark and it catches with everybody. He's that guy.”

Daniel Richardson was 13 for 17 for 135 yards for FCS member Florida A&M (2-1), which saw its 13-game winning streak snapped. The Rattlers beat Miami in the programs' first meeting in 1979 and have gone 0-11 against the Hurricanes since.

“They're a bunch of really good players and tough guys,” said Cristobal, who crossed paths with Richardson after the game and lauded his play. “They're going to have a good season.”

Tyler Baron had three sacks for the Hurricanes — “he's built like an avatar,” Cristobal said — while Mark Fletcher and Jordan Lyle had rushing scores for Miami and Chris Johnson Jr. got a receiving score.

Florida A&M: Michael Smith had a 49-yard field goal in the third quarter — and caught a break on the way. His first try from 44 yards hit the upright, but the Rattlers were flagged for a false start. They moved back 5 yards, and Smith connected with plenty of room to spare on his second attempt.

Miami: Ward was subbed out late in the third quarter and the Hurricanes went to Albany transfer Reese Poffenbarger, who made his Miami debut. Poffenbarger led FCS quarterbacks last season with 3,603 yards passing and 36 touchdowns, guiding the Great Danes to 11 wins and a trip to the national semifinals.

With No. 5 Notre Dame losing to Northern Illinois and No. 10 Michigan losing to No. 3 Texas, it's possible that Miami might return to the Top 10 when the new AP Top 25 is released on Sunday. The Hurricanes haven't been a Top 10 team since reaching No. 9 in the poll released on Dec. 6, 2020.

Florida A&M: At Troy on Saturday, Sept. 21.

Miami: Hosts Ball State on Saturday.

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Miami quarterback Cam Ward (1) is defended by Florida A&M defensive back Simion Hines, center, and defensive lineman Allen Smith Jr. (23) during the first half of an NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Florida A&M running back Thad Franklin Jr. (23) is stopped short of the goal line by Miami linebacker Francisco Mauigoa, center, during the first half of an NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Florida A&M head coach James Colzie III, right, talks with an official during the first half of an NCAA football game against Miami, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Miami wide receiver Xavier Restrepo (7) celebrates with wide receiver Samuel Brown (11) after scoring a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA football game against Florida A&M, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Miami tight end Elijah Arroyo, left, celebrates with offensive lineman Markel Bell, second from left, after after scoring a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Miami tight end Elijah Arroyo (8) scores a touchdown in front of Florida A&M defensive back Deco Wilson (11) during the first half of an NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Florida A&M quarterback Daniel Richardson (10) looks to pass during the first half of an NCAA football game against Miami, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Miami fans cheer before an NCAA football game between Miami and Florida A&M, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Miami head coach Mario Cristobal watches from the sideline during the first half of an NCAA football game against Florida A&M, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Miami offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa, left, lifts quarterback Cam Ward (1) after Ward threw a touchdown pass to running back Chris Johnson Jr. during the first half of an NCAA football game against Florida A&M, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Carolina Panthers have benched 2023 No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young after the second-year quarterback’s rough start to the season.

Andy Dalton will take over as the starter for Carolina’s next game on Sunday at Las Vegas.

Panthers head coach Dave Canales said he made the decision after watching game film from Sunday's 26-3 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.

He informed both QBs of the decision on Monday after consulting with general manager Dan Morgan and vice president of football operations Brandt Tillis.

“After watching the film and taking in all of the information I feel like Andy gives us the best chance to win,” Canales said.

Canales wouldn't say if Dalton will remain the starter beyond this week saying “right now the focus is on this week.”

Canales also wouldn't say exactly what led to the decision to bench Young.

“I don't want to get into the specifics as those are private conversations,” Canales said.

Canales had worked with Geno Smith in Seattle and Baker Mayfield in Tampa Bay, helping turn their careers around. He was hired in part to get the most out of Young, who struggled last season as a rookie with nearly as many interceptions (10 ) as touchdown passes (11).

But Young's struggles as a rookie have carried over to this year.

He's completed just 31 of 56 passes for 244 yards with three interceptions as the Panthers have started 0-2 this season for the second straight year and have been outscored 73-13 by the New Orleans Saints and Chargers. Young has run for one touchdown, the only one of the season for Carolina.

When asked if Young still has the support of the locker room, Canales said “that's a loaded question. Right now our focus is to make sure that we fix the film from yesterday and get ready for the Raiders.”

Young is 2-16 as a starter overall since the Panthers traded up eight spots in the 2023 NFL draft to get him.

The Panthers made a significant investment in that deal with Chicago, sending wide receiver D.J. Moore and four draft picks to the Bears — one of which turned out to be the No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft after the Panthers finished a league-worst 2-15 last season. The Bears used that pick to take quarterback Caleb Williams.

Young becomes the first quarterback selected No. 1 overall in the common draft era starting in 1967 to be benched for non-injury reasons in his second season.

He hasn’t looked much like a No. 1 overall pick since his arrival, continually looking flustered in the pocket and often making poor decisions and throwing into double coverage. His first throw this season was an interception against the Saints in the opener and things only seem to have gotten worse.

Young was booed repeatedly by the home crowd on Sunday after the offense stalled time and time again.

Carolina was 1 of 12 on third down conversions and the Panthers were outgained 349-159.

When asked about his confidence after the game, Young said, “I draw my confidence from the Lord. I’m very blessed. I’m grateful for this challenge. Not an ideal start, but God does everything for a reason. I have faith in that.”

Young said he needed to do a better job with his decision-making.

“You always want to make a play. You want to do something,” Young said. “Obviously, part of the position is being the game manager. Some bad instances of that on film today. I definitely take accountability for that.”

Dalton is 83-78-2 as a starting quarterback in the NFL, including one last season with the Panthers. He has thrown 246 touchdown passes and 144 interceptions since coming into the league in 2011 with Cincinnati.

Dalton said Monday he was surprised by the move, but is excited about the opportunity to start again in the NFL.

“When I came here, I wasn’t sure if I was going to get another opportunity, and so I’m really looking forward to it," said Dalton, who missed a portion of training camp with a quad injury. "I’m excited about what’s ahead. And, you know, it’s a tough situation. I’ve been on both sides of it, and it’s hard. I mean, it’s hard on everybody, but for me, I mean, I’m looking forward to it.”

Panthers tight end Tommy Tremble said he still feels Young is a great quarterback and said the blame shouldn't fall all on the QB's shoulders.

“We haven’t done the best (as teammates) to help him show his ability,” Tremble said. “I’ve seen the flashes and what he does on a daily basis in practice. I think just together as a group I feel bad that we couldn’t show that on Sundays.”

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young and Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert hug on the field after an NFL football game on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Rusty Jones)

Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young leaves a news conference after their loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in an NFL football game on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Erik Verduzco)

Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young hands off to running back Miles Sanders during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Erik Verduzco)

Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales right talks to quarterback Bryce Young (9) during the second half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)

Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young passes against the Los Angeles Chargers during the first half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Rusty Jones)