Cam Ward and Xavier Restrepo connect on a crazy tip-drill TD against Duke

Cam Ward, the perennial escape artist, added his highlight reel in the opening minutes of Saturday's Week 10 match against Duke.

The Miami quarterback took a first-and-10 snap from the Duke 34-yard line and almost immediately had pressure in his face. He tried to climb up, saw an avenue quickly closing, and then turned to flee to the right. Ward found some green grass, stood up and shot into the end zone.

Duke safety Trey Moore waited and deflected the ball away from Miami wideout Jacolby Georgia. But Xavier Restrepo was waiting right behind the action and was able to react in a split second to catch the pass for a touchdown.

WARD ➡️ RESTREPO

This duo is ‍

ABC x @CanesFootball pic.twitter.com/JLLhHxIZKd

– ACC Football (@ACCFootball) November 2, 2024

The result gave Miami a 7-0 lead. It gave Restrepo his seventh touchdown of the season and extended Ward's lead as the ACC's leading touchdown passer. Ward entered Saturday with 24 touchdown passes this season.

Since the Hurricanes beat Florida in Week 1, Ward has been a fixture in the Heisman Trophy conversation. If he makes it to New York City as a finalist, expect Saturday's opening touchdown to be nominated for the highlight reel.

Miami and Duke play on ABC. The fifth-place Canes look to continue their unbeaten streak.