How Mark Fletcher became the engine powering Miami's run - ESPN

COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson's game plan for Miami's first College Football Playoff appearance was to throw the kitchen sink at Texas A&M, to run every twist on every play he could imagine until something broke. He would leave no stone unturned.

By the fourth quarter, however, the score was tied at 3, and both offenses had traded blows in a battle of attrition. All the gadget plays and misdirection had amounted to nothing. A swirling wind at Kyle Field had stunted the passing attack and played havoc with the kicking game, as Miami missed three field goal attempts. The last hope, Dawson figured, was to do the thing he had been criticized for most this season.

He would run the ball — power run, A-gap, right down the Aggies' throats until Miami was in the end zone.

Dawson found his tailback on the sideline before Miami's final drive, and he issued an edict to Mark Fletcher Jr.

«We're riding you down the field,» Dawson said.

Fletcher grinned — that smile that has become so familiar to everyone around Miami for the past three years. Fletcher is always happy, always an optimist, but this was different. It wasn't optimism. It was certainty.

Fletcher found his O-line and explained the game plan for that final drive.

«I know what I'm going to do,» he told them. «Now you just get 'em out of the way, and I'll handle the rest.»

Fletcher took a handoff on the first play of the drive, surged up the middle, dashed toward the sideline, fought off a pair of defenders and marched 56 yards downfield before he was dragged to the ground.

Mark Fletcher Jr. is able to break free to set Miami up in field goal range.

He followed with runs of 2, 12, 3 and 2 yards to set Miami up for what became the decisive