Noles win 3rd game in a row
For a former three-star recruit and project, Nelson’s third season has been really solid. He has given up three sacks and 13 pressures while starting all six games at left tackle and ranking as one of the Hurricanes’ top 10 players, according to Pro Football Focus.
For a potential firstround pick and NFL prospect, Nelson’s third season has been underwhelming. He doesn’t rank among the top 45 players in the country at his position, according to Pro Football Focus, and Miami ranks outside the top 40 in scoring, yardage and yards per play.
The good news for the 6-5, 316-pound sophomore is he truly is getting better as the season goes on. He gave up just one pressure in the Hurricanes’ 45-42 loss to North Carolina on last week as Miami scored its most points against an FBS opponent so far this season.
He had minor knee surgery in the preseason — a “scope,” he said — and he feels better now than he did when the season began.
“As the games have gone on, game after game I’m slowly getting to where I want to be,” Nelson said. “But I still have a lot of room.”
David Wilson: 305-376-3406, @DBWilson2
Jordan Travis, Jashaun Corbin, Treshaun Ward, D.J. Williams and Lawrance Toafili each had touchdown runs as host Florida State routed UMass 59-3 on Saturday.
The Seminoles (3-4) have won three consecutive games for the first time since the end of the 2017 season.
Corbin ran for 127 yards on 11 carries. Florida State ran for a season-high 365 yards, the sixth time this season the Seminoles have surpassed the 200-yard mark on the ground.
Florida State scored on eight of its 10 drives and matched its season high in points for a game this season with 38 in the first half alone.
The Seminoles also grabbed two interceptions. Jarvis Brownlee had a 70yard interception return for a touchdown, and Jammie Robinson had an interception in the end zone.
Cameron Carson made a 45-yard field-goal attempt for UMass (1-6) after FSU fumbled the opening kickoff. UMass managed just 241 offensive yards in Walt Bell’s return to Tallahassee. Bell was Florida
State’s offensive coordinator in 2018 before leaving to become the UMass head coach.
FSU won its ninth straight homecoming game and scored its most points against an FBS opponent since the Seminoles knocked off Texas State 59-16 in Sept. 2015.
Prairie View 35, Bethune-Cookman 29: Jawon Pass threw for 290 yards and three touchdowns and visiting Prairie View beat winless Bethune-Cookman.
Que’shaun Byrd’s 8-yard touchdown run brought the Wildcats within 28-22 with 7:56 left. Prairie View responded with a six-play, 75-yard drive that ended with Pass’ 30-yard scoring pass to Tre’jon Spiller with 5:21 remaining.
Bethune-Cookman countered with a four-play, 71-yard drive that took 78 seconds and concluded with Devin Black throwing a 16-yard touchdown pass to Cameron Overton to reduce the deficit to 35-29 with 3:57 left.
The Panthers (5-1, 4-0 Southwestern Athletic Conference) took the ensuing kickoff and held the ball for the rest of the game.
ALATE FRIDAY
UCF 24, Memphis 7: Ryan O’Keefe rushed for one touchdown, caught a pass for another and host UCF defeated Memphis on Space Night.
On a night themed to honor UCF’s ties to the nation’s space program — complete with the unveiling of special uniforms — the Knights were somewhat low orbit as Mikey Keene completed 11-of-19 passes for 63 yards — his lowest yardage since the season opener.
Meanwhile, the Knights gained 215 yards on the ground with Isaiah Bowser rushing for 111 yards on 26 carries, his second 100yard rushing game of the season.
Peter Parrish, starting for Memphis’ injured Seth Heniga, went 31-for-48 passing for 215 yards but threw three interceptions. His final pick came with less than five minutes remaining. An unnecessary roughness penalty against UCF advanced Memphis to a first down at the 27 and Parrish’ shot to the end zone was intercepted by Dyllon Lester.
A