South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Sunday)
Hurricanes’ comeback foiled in end
TALLAHASSEE — The Hurricanes-Seminoles football rivalry has been defined by close outcomes, often determined in the game’s final moments. Saturday’s matchup at Doak S. Campbell Stadium was no different.
After trailing by 17 early in the first quarter and facing a 13-point deficit at halftime, Miami scored three second-half touchdowns to take a 28-20 lead early in the fourth quarter and seemingly were in control of the game after keeping the Seminoles’ defense in check for most of the second half.
But FSU made a comeback of its own to end Miami’s winning streak in the rivalry at four games.
The Seminoles made a 29-yard field goal with 4:43 left in the fourth quarter to reduce the Hurricanes’ lead to 28-23. After forcing a Miami punt and getting the ball back with 2:19 left in the game, Florida State quarterback Jordan Travis led an eight-play, 80-yard drive that ended with Travis scoring a 1-yard touchdown. That gave the Seminoles a 31-28 lead with 26 seconds in the game, after Florida State converted a 2-point attempt.
The Hurricanes, who didn’t have any timeouts left, ran out of time on their final possession to suffer the three-point loss and their first defeat to Florida State under coach Manny Diaz.
Miami, which is now 5-5 and 3-3 ACC, had its winning streak end at three and the Hurricanes were eliminated from the Coastal Division race with the loss, while Florida State (4-6, 3-4 ACC) keeps its bowl eligibility hopes alive.
Quarterback Tyler Van Dyke went 25 of 47 for 316 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions, with the Hurricanes only rushing for 43 yards on 23 attempts. Travis, who grew up in West Palm Beach and graduated from Benjamin, finished 18 of 26 for 274 passing yards to go along with 62 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
Early in the game, Miami resembled the version of itself from earlier in the season, in contrast to the way it performed in recent weeks.
The Hurricanes committed a season-high 14 penalties, including eight in the first quarter and five on FSU’s first drive.
UM had three turnovers (two interceptions and a fumble) and three punts — including two threeand-outs — on their first six drives, leading the Seminoles to take a 17-0 lead midway through the second quarter.
Miami’s first turnover: FSU defensive back Omarion Cooper intercepted Van Dyke on a deep pass attempt intended for wide receiver Key’Shawn Smith into double coverage early in the first quarter with the Hurricanes already down 7-0.
Van Dyke threw his second interception on UM’s next drive, when Seminoles defensive back Jammie Robinson picked off Van Dyke’s pass intended for Harley on FSU’s 46 with 3:08 left in the first quarter.
The Seminoles didn’t take advantage of their early takeaways, going three-and-out on both drives following both turnovers, but capitalized on Miami’s third giveaway on the Hurricanes’ next possession.
FSU defensive end Jeremiah Johnson beat UM right tackle Jarrid Williams at the line of scrimmage on third-and-15 and brought Van Dyke down with a strip-sack, with fellow defensive end Derrick McLendon II recovering the ball at UM’s 12.
The Seminoles scored on the next play with a Jashaun Corbin
12-yard rushing touchdown to take a 14-0 lead late in the first quarter. Ryan Fitzgerald made a 22-yard field goal on the Seminoles’ next drive early in the second quarter to give FSU a 17-point lead.
After not getting the ball past FSU’s 46 on its first six drives, Miami’s offense found its rhythm with the help of a trick play — a
45-yard pass from Van Dyke to Will
Mallory — to get into the red zone for the first time toward the end of the second quarter. The Hurricanes finished the drive with a
5-yard TD pass from Van Dyke to Key’Shawn Smith to reduce their deficit to 17-7 with 3:35 left in the first half.
Florida State put together a nine-play, 66-yard drive that ended with a Fitzgerald 27-yard field goal to give the Seminoles a 20-7 lead at halftime.
After having a three-and-out on their first second-half drive, the Hurricanes scored touchdowns on their next three drives to take control of the game for the first time. Corbin’s fumble and Nesta Jade Silvera’s recovery at FSU’s 38 helped set up a Van Dyke 10-yard touchdown pass to Mike Harley with 8:07 in the three quarter to reduce their deficit to 20-14.
Miami marched down the field
97 yards in 11 plays on its next drive, with Van Dyke connecting with Mallory on an 11-yard touchdown pass to give the Hurricanes a
21-20 lead early in the fourth quarter before Jaylan Knighton caught a 35-touchdown pass on UM’s next drive to give Miami an eight-point lead that the Seminoles eventually overcame.
The Hurricanes will play their final regular-season home game against Virginia Tech next Saturday.