Oct 8, 2016; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles running back Dalvin Cook (4) carries the ball during the first half against Miami Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium. Photo Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Florida State’s DeMarcus Walker blocked an extra point attempt by Miami’s Michael Badgley with 1:38 left and the No. 23 Seminoles escaped with a 20-19 victory over the 10th-ranked Hurricanes on Saturday night.
Miami (4-1, 1-1 ACC) scored what looked to be the potential tying touchdown on Brad Kaaya’s second scoring pass to wide receiver Stacey Coley after Braxton Berrios’ 43-yard punt return set up Miami at Florida State’s 16-yard line.
The Seminoles (4-2, 1-2) picked up a pair of first downs to run out the clock.
Dormant for much of the first half, the Seminoles’ offense came alive in the second, getting two touchdown passes from quarterback Deondre Francois in the third quarter to overcome a 10-point deficit.
The Seminoles added a field goal goal early in the fourth quarter, and that proved to be the difference.
Running back Dalvin Cook rushed for a game-high 150 yards and also scored on a 59-yard pass from Francois as the Seminoles posted their seventh consecutive victory over their South Florida rivals.
Francois was 20 of 31 passing for 234 yards and the two touchdowns.
Kaaya completed 19 of 32 passes for 214 yards and the two touchdowns to Coley but also had a key end zone interception early in the third quarter with his team holding a 13-3 advantage.
What was expected to be an offensive show turned into a defensive struggle in the first half which ended with Miami holding onto a 13-3 lead.
After going three-and-out their first two possessions, the Hurricanes moved into position for Badgley’s 37-yard field goal on their third with 1:16 left in the first quarter.
They added a touchdown on Kaaya’s 21-yard pass to Coley and a 51-yard field goal by Badgley to take a 13-0 lead with just 1:16 left in the first half. But Francois’ 28-yard pass to wide receiver Kermit Whitfield ignited a drive that resulted in Ricky Aguayo’s 31-yard field goal in the closing seconds of the half.
NOTES: After fears that the game could be played in a downpour because of the passing of Hurricane Matthew along the East Coast, weather conditions were virtually perfect for the game. At game time, the temperature under partly cloudy skies was 84 degrees with humidity of 74 percent and only a 6 mph wind. … This was the 24th time in 61 meetings that Miami and Florida State met as ranked teams but the first time since 2013 that they both came into the game in the Top 25. That season, then-No. 2 Florida State beat the No. 7 Hurricanes 41-14. … Miami has outscored its first five opponents 45-0 in the first quarter after leading the Seminoles 3-0 after one period.
