Miami prevails in another tight game

Louisville defeats Florida State on FG

NO. 8 MIAMI 27, SYRACUSE 19

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — By Miami’s new standards, this game was decided early.

That means with a couple of minutes to spare.

Travis Homer’s 33-yard touchdown run with 2:48 left was the latest entry in No. 8 Miami’s growing list of fourth-quarter magic moments this season, and the Hurricanes extended their longest winning streak in 15 years by holding off Syracuse 27-19 on Saturday.

“Well, we found another way to make it really exciting,” Miami Coach Mark Richt said. “Part of the reason was Syracuse is a really good football team. We, for some reason, can’t find a way to play really good on both sides of the ball at the same time.”

The Hurricanes (6-0, 4-0) needed last-second plays to beat Florida State two weeks ago and Georgia Tech last week. This one wasn’t so down to the wire, but had plenty of drama until Syracuse turned the ball over on downs near midfield with 1:31 left and Miami kneeled three times to run out the clock.

Malik Rosier threw for 344 yards and two touchdowns for Miami, which has won 11 in a row and has won its first four ACC games for the first time since joining the league in 2004. Christopher Herndon had a career-best 10 catches for 96 yards and a touchdown, and Jeff Thomas caught a 48-yard TD pass for

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Blanton Creque’s first game-winning field goal at any level of football came at the opportune time for Louisville.

The sophomore’s 34-yard field goal with five seconds remaining lifted the Cardinals to an emotional 31-28 victory over Florida State on Saturday. The Cardinals (5-3, 2-3) took over on their own 24 with 2:05 remaining after Henry Famurewa recovered a James Blackman fumble. They then drove 59 yards in eight plays before Creque’s kick.

“That’s the first time I’ve ever had a kick to win or tie a game [late]. I just tried to treat it like any other kick,” Creque said. “We needed that win bad. It’s been a rough week.”

It was Louisville’s first victory at Doak Campbell Stadium since 1952, snapping a nine-game losing streak. It also broke a twogame losing skid for the Cardinals who lost 45-42 to Boston College a week ago.

“This was very huge. We needed this to boost our momentum,” said quarterback Lamar Jackson, who had 334 yards of total

the Hurricanes, who haven’t had a winning streak this long since winning 34 in a row from 2000-2002.

“It’s always a good feeling to win,” Homer said. “But seeing your team stay strong and pull through, it’s the best. We’re 6-0, but that’s not our final goal. That’s not going to get to our head.” offense and accounted for two touchdowns.

Florida State trailed 28-14 going into the fourth quarter before rallying on two Nyqwan Murray touchdowns. The junior recovered a fumble in the end zone to bring the Seminoles within a touchdown and then tied it when he hauled in a 20-yard pass from Blackman with 8:58 remaining.

It was not enough though as the Seminoles’ nightmare season continues. After being ranked third in The Assocoiated Presss Preseason Poll, FSU (2-4, 2-3) has dropped its first three home games for the first time since 1974 and is off to its worst start since Bobby Bowden’s final season in 2009.

Even more important is that the Seminoles are in danger of missing a bowl game for the first time since 1982.

“It was a hurt locker room because they knew they were that close, but you play a guy like Louisville, Bobby [Petrino] and Lamar and those guys when you got them down you can’t let them up,” Florida Coach Jimbo Fisher said.

Cole Murphy kicked four field goals for Syracuse (4-4, 2-2), including a career-best 53-yarder with 5:23 left to get the Orange within 20-19. But Miami answered with a nineplay, 85-yard drive capped by Homer’s TD run that helped the Hurricanes escape.

Miami harassed Syracuse quarterback Eric Dungey throughout, intercepting four of his first-half passes and holding him to a 13-of-41 passing, 137-yard effort. His last hope was a fourth-and-7 try on the last Orange drive, but his throw to Ervin Philips was incomplete.

“There’s a lot of positives,” Syracuse Coach Dino Babers said. “It’s just, it’s hard to swallow when you don’t win. We’re 4-4, we’ve got the toughest schedule in the country and we’re 4-4. And guess what? We’ve got two more on the road and two more at home in the loud house, and I guarantee you we’re going to be ready to play those four games.”

Dungey rushed for 100 yards for Syracuse and Steve Ishmael and Philips — the nation’s No. 1 and No. 3 receivers coming into the weekend — were held to 9 catches for 98 yards, on 25 targets.

NO. 14 VIRGINIA TECH 59, NORTH CAROLINA 7

BLACKSBURG, Va. — Josh Jackson threw three touchdown passes and Virginia Tech scored on a fumble, interception and punt return.

Jackson passed for 132 yards and the Hokies (6-1, 2-1 ACC) dominated in sending the Tar Heels (1-7, 0-5) to their fifth consecutive loss.

Off last week, Virginia Tech looked rested and focused and played that way, scoring in all three phases in the first half and bolting to a 35-0 halftime lead. Virginia Tech scored twice on defense, getting the first score of the game on defensive tackle Ricky Walker’s 12-yard fumble return.

The Hokies added Greg Stroman’s 91yard punt return for a touchdown — his second punt return for a score this season — and defensive back Reggie Floyd’s 69yard interception return for a score.