TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — In a game reminiscent of Miami-Florida State old-time battles, the Seminoles came roaring back — after Miami had come roaring back — to score 11 points late in the fourth quarter Saturday and defeat the Hurricanes, 31-28, at Doak Campbell Stadium.
FSU (4-6, 3-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) snapped Miami’s four-game win streak in the rivalry series and three-game overall win streak that began with UM victories over then-top-20 NC State and Pitt.
With the loss, the Hurricanes (5-5, 3-3) are eliminated from ACC title-game contention and still need to win one of their last two regular-season games to qualify for a bowl.
“Tough one to swallow there,’’ UM coach Manny Diaz said. “Proud of the way our team fought. ...
“This is what this rivalry is all about. That was a proper Miami-Florida State game. It’s been a few years since we had one.’’
Added Diaz: “There’s a lot of hurt in that locker room now.’’
Trailing 28-23, Florida State took over at its own 20 with 2:19 left, and quarterback Jordan Travis fired a 59-yard completion to Ja’Khi Douglas. Fast forward to fourth-and-14 from the UM 25, and Travis’ 24-yard completion down the middle of the field to Andrew Parchment gave FSU a first-and-goal from the 1.
Miami took a timeout with 50 seconds left, FSU came back with an unsuccessful quarterback sneak and Miami called its last timeout.
After an offside call on UM, this time, on second-and-goal from the 1, Travis plunged in for the touchdown, the crowd of 71,917 went wild and FSU went ahead 29-28 — then sealed its stirring victory with a 2-point Travis conversion run.
UM had 26 seconds to do what would be impossible from their own 25-yard line, the game ending after a 20-yard completion from quarterback Tyler Van Dyke to Charleston Rambo left the Canes stranded and done for the day on the 45.
“Frustrated, sad, especially for those guys who were in their last year,’’ said Canes tight end Will Mallory, whose 4-yard touchdown catch on fourth down with 14:56 left put UM ahead, 21-20, for the first time all game.
“This one sucks. “This was a must win for us. We have to beat FSU. It didn’t happen.’’
A big reason it didn’t happen was because the Canes, despite their own eventually futile comeback, were horribly sloppy and mistake-ridden in the first half. They finished the game with a season-high 14 penalties for 105 yards, including five penalties in the first drive, eight in the first quarter and nine by halftime.
UM’s Van Dyke threw two interceptions and lost a fumble that led to an FSU touchdown. He finished 25 of 47 for 316 yards and four touchdowns. He was 9 of 21 for 96 yards and a touchdown the first half, with the two picks and fumble.
Travis finished 18 of 26 for 274 yards.
Down 20-7 at the half, the Canes finally took advantage of an FSU mistake when Seminoles running back Jashaun Corbin fumbled the quarterback exchange and UM defensive tackle Nesta Silvera recovered.
Miami took over at the FSU 38-yard line with 9:51 left in the third quarter and scored seven plays later on Van Dyke’s bizarre, third-down pass. The line-drive throw bounced off Key’Shawn Smith’s hands near the goal line and skipped into the back of the end zone, where teammate Mike Harley was waiting for the touchdown. FSU’s lead was cut to 20-14 with 8:07 left in the third quarter.
After FSU punted, the Canes drove 97 yards, converting two fourth downs along the way, including a 4-yard touchdown pass from Van Dyke to Mallory to make it 21-20 with 14:56 left in the game.
UM struck again with three huge plays in a six-play, 73-drive drive. In the first, Van Dyke scrambled to buy time and completed a 15-yard pass to Charleston Rambo. The quarterback followed it with a 19-yard scramble. Then, after losing 9 yards on a sack, Van Dyke dumped a short pass off to Jaylan Knighton, who bounced off FSU cornerback Jarvis Brownlee and ran 35 yards into the end zone.
UM led 28-20 with 11:04 left in the game.
Ryan Fitzgerald’s 29-yard field goal for FSU with 4:43 left made it 28-23.
The Canes have taken one step back as they head home to face Virginia Tech on Nov. 20 in their final 2021 game at Hard Rock Stadium. After that it’s the regular-season finale at Duke the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
