’CANES BREAK STREAK Miami’s late score denies wobbling Seminoles 8th consecutive win in rivalry

TALLAHASSEE — The Florida State Seminoles have hit a new low in the Jimbo Fisher era, but the eighth-year head coach is trying to remain positive after his team’s demoralizing loss.

Miami quarterback Malik Rosier threw a 23-yard pass to receiver Darrell Langham with six seconds remaining and the feisty No. 13 Hurricanes (4-0, 2-0 ACC) handed Florida State a 24-20 defeat on Saturday, breaking FSU’s seven-game win streak in the storied rivalry.

Fisher suffered his first loss to the Hurricanes since taking over for Bobby Bowden in 2010.

The Seminoles (1-3, 1-2) also started their season with two consecutive home losses in front of an announced crowd of 78,169 people at Doak Campbell Stadium for the first time since 1974, two years before Bowden’s legendary tenure.

“I was proud of our team. I think we really grew today in a lot of ways and got better,” Fisher said after the disappointing loss. “We’re still 1-3, and I understand that, but we’re still getting better. … There’s a great season out there to be had.”

While the Seminoles coped with another painful loss, the Hurricanes enjoyed finally defeating FSU.

“We had a wonderful celebration in the locker room,” UM coach Mark Richt said. “It was a long time coming.”

Florida State dropped to 1-3 for the first time since Bowden’s first season in 1976, and will need five wins in the final eight games of the season — featuring matchups at Duke next week, and Louisville, Clemson and Florida — to become bowl eligible and keep a 35-year bowl streak alive.

“We’re all heartbroken,” FSU kicker Ricky Aguayo said. “To lose in the last 10 seconds, it’s definitely heartbreaking.”

Added FSU running back Jacques Patrick: “There’s still a lot to play for. We just have to go out there and work.”

FSU true freshman quarterback James Blackman led his second touchdown drive of the fourth quarter, finding junior receiver Auden Tate for a 20-yard touchdown with 1:24 remaining, nearly assuring the Seminoles would extend their winning streak to a record eight games over their heated in-state rivals.

Instead of tying the game with a field goal to force overtime, Miami had other plans to end the streak receiver Braxton Berrios deemed “inexcusable” earlier in the week.

Langham’s touchdown, which was under a lengthy review by referees, was confirmed as the feisty Hurricanes trumped the Seminoles in dramatic fashion, shifting the one-sided rivalry in Miami’s direction.

“We felt like we won the game,” said senior linebacker Matthew Thomas of Miami. “We’re going to keep our head up and move forward. We’re not the type of team that’s going to [roll] over and die.”

Added Fisher: “We didn’t make all the plays, and they made one more.”

FSU’s comeback started in the fourth quarter as Blackman found tight end Ryan Izzo for a 15-yard touchdown to tie the game at 10. FSU kicker Ricky Aguayo nailed a 38-yard field goal with 6:55 left to give the Seminoles their first lead, at 13-10, since the first quarter.

Blackman and the FSU offense, which continued to stall mightily at inopportune times, led its second late comeback in as many games, after their first victory of the season last week against Wake Forest. Blackman completed 17 of 28 passes for 203 yards with two interceptions.

“I was very proud,” Fisher said of Blackman, an 18-year-old who was thrust into the starting lineup after Orlando native Deondre Francois was sidelined with a season-ending knee injury. “For a young guy to be able to bounce back and lead us on two touchdown drives, and make two touchdown throws… He’s growing and making great plays.”

But Miami’s offense, which was held scoreless by FSU’s defense, had the last laugh by outscoring FSU 24-17 in the second half.

Rosier found Berrios for two touchdowns in the second half, their first connection giving UM a 10-3 lead in the third quarter, and their second to give the Hurricanes a 17-13 lead with five minutes remaining.

As Hurricanes players huddled together, bouncing up and down in unison before the start of the fourth quarter, the Seminoles were scattered among themselves on the sideline, with the first-team defense on the field trying to catch its breath after carrying the team all afternoon.

Rosier found Langham, who beat FSU All-American cornerback Tarvarus McFadden in the final seconds, to help the Hurricanes beat the Seminoles in a game that was postponed from Sept. 16 due to Hurricane Irma.

“We’ve got to learn to play smarter, and we got to take advantage of those opportunities, keep executing right there,” Fisher said. “You’ve got some young guys in situations. That ain’t no excuse. There ain’t no excuses. You either get it done or you don’t.

“But we got to continue, and we’ll keep doing it. I’ll coach them better. It’s my fault. Put it on me.”