Seventh Heaven: Seminoles rally, extend win streak over UM with 20-19 win
MIAMI GARDENS -- Despite falling into another early hole and sustaining a slew of injuries, the No. 23 Florida State football team rallied for a 20-19 victory over No. 10 Miami on Saturday night at Hard Rock Stadium.
The Seminoles (4-2, 1-2 ACC) now have defeated their rival Hurricanes (4-1, 1-1) seven straight times, which ties a record in the storied series. FSU also accomplished the feat during a run from 1963-72; the teams did not play in 1965, '67 and '68.
Miami actually had a chance to tie the game in the final minutes when wide receiver Braxton Berrios hauled in an 11-yard touchdown pass, but FSU defensive end DeMarcus Walker blocked the ensuing extra-point attempt to secure the win.
In what was expected to be a high-scoring affair, both defenses stood tall in the first half.
Miami opened a 13-0 lead late in the second quarter on a pair of field goals and a 21-yard pass from quarterback Brad Kaaya to receiver Stacy Coley. That marked the fourth time in six games that the Seminoles trailed by double-digits in the first half.
FSU chipped into the deficit just before halftime with a 31-yard field goal by freshman kicker Ricky Aguayo, making it 13-3 at the intermission. Then early in the third quarter, the Seminoles made it 13-10 with a 59-yard pass from quarterback Deondre Francois to tailback Dalvin Cook.
Florida State finally claimed the lead for the first time with a short pass from Francois to Kermit Whitfield, which the senior turned into a 20-yard score. Then the Seminoles extended their advantage to 20-13 early in the fourth quarter with another short Aguayo field goal.
The Seminoles prevailed despite losing safety Nate Andrews to an arm injury and offensive guards Landon Dickerson and Kareem Are undisclosed injuries -- Dickerson later returned. Francois also missed time in the first half with an apparent shoulder injury. And linebacker Matthew Thomas was ejected in the third quarter for targeting.
FSU returns home this Saturday to face Wake Forest, which defeated Syracuse to improve to 5-1 on the season.
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