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Miami Gardens, FL– On fourth down with under a minute to play, Miami’s junior quarterback Brad Kaaya needed to make a play and he did. Kaaya found wide out Stacy Coley for a great throw-catch combo to bring Miami within one point of tying the home rivalry game against No. 23 Florida State.
FSU’s Kermit Whitfield scores winning TD against Miami
But a blocked extra point by Florida State’s defensive lineman, DeMarcus Walker allowed Florida State to escape 20-19.
Florida State charged ahead late in the game, fueled by a screen pass from Deondre Francois to slot receiver, Kermit Whitfield.
The key moment in the game was an interception thrown by Kaaya with Miami leading 13-3 in the third quarter. Tarvarus McFadden picked off pass in the end zone and that turnover ignited FSU to go on a run.
First Dalvin Cook caught a 59-yard pass from quarterback Deondre Francios after the a brilliantly executed play action pass. Cook was wide open and walked in for the score bringing FSU to within three. The Whitfield touchdown put them ahead 17-13 and then a Ricky Aguayo field goal put the Seminoles ahead 20-13.
Miami had seemingly come back to at least tie the game after Coley snuck behind McFadden for an excellent catch. But the blocked extra point was not only Miami kicker Michael Badgley’s first missed try, it also sealed seven consecutive victories for Florida State in this storied rivalry.
Miami will now have to regroup fast as Atlantic Coast Conference Coastal Division foe North Carolina comes calling next weekend, again at home. They suffered a bruising defeat to Virginia Tech earlier in the day. Florida State gets the bounce back game they sorely needed after losses to North Carolina last week and being blown out by Louisville earlier in the season.
The Seminoles defense, under much fire coming into the game, stood strong. They limited Miami to under 100 yards rushing and forced several turnovers.
