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MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The Canes returned home after their win against the Hoos in a touchdown-less 4OT affair in Charlottesville. And this was no ordinary home game. This was Florida State at Miami, and it was the University of Miami’s Homecoming. Hard Rock Stadium was SOLD OUT, the fans were excited, and let’s just say a lot of beverages were consumed beginning at 3:30 PM (kick-off was at 7:30 PM).
Canes fans were looking forward to the return of QB Tyler Van Dyke, after a right shoulder injury sidelined him the past two games. All was well… until the game started.
On the Seminoles’ opening drive, QB Jordan Travis hit WR Ontaria “Pookie” Wilson for a 56-yard TD to cap off a 3-play, 75-yard opening drive.
Van Dyke started the game but freshman QB Jacurri Brown was subbed in early in the 1st quarter. And that’s just the beginning of the musical chairs three-headed monster that was the Miami QB depth chart on Saturday night.
Brown was reliable on the ground, but Canes coaches seemed reluctant to let him sling it. (He effortlessly tossed a 60-yard post over everyone’s head early on, but still.) The Van Dyke-Brown combo resulted in a 49-yard Borregales FG to make it 7-3. Not a bad rebuttal drive for this lackluster Canes team.
Seminoles RB Trey Benson started FSU’s 2nd drive off with a 42-yard run, and QB Jordan Travis found LB/FB DJ Lundy for a classic “Spider 2 Y Banana” 2-yard pass TD.
Towards the end of the first, it’s now 14-3, Canes fans began booing as Miami opted to punt on 4th & 1. However, on that next drive, Canes CB DJ Ivey laid out for an incredible diving interception.
Canes QB Van Dyke got tripped up by the grass monster[?] and reinjured his hurt shoulder. Interestingly, Jacurri Brown got the call over Jake Garcia, who has since filled in throughout Van Dyke’s absence.
Seminoles RB Trey Benson pulled off another tough run for FSU’s 3rd TD of the game. This one from 13 yards out.
The Hurricanes then curiously subbed in QB Jake Garcia on back-to-back 3rd & Long situations, giving him absolutely no time to get “a feel for the game” or merely shake the nerves off. As a result, Garcia felt like he had to make a play, and he forced an interception to Seminoles DB Greedy Vance Jr. to set FSU up on the Canes 7-yard line.
Benson scored a 2nd rushing TD…
Canes WR Xavier Restrepo makes a huge highlight grab, flipping completely and still holding onto the ball.
Seminoles RB Lawrance Toafili gains 65 yards on a Jordan Travis dump-off pass, FSU kicker Ryan Fitzgerald knocks in a chip shot to extend the dominant lead.
At halftime, it was 31-3. Jacurri Brown started the 2nd half, Canes RB Jaylan Knighton had a pair of nice runs, and on 3rd & Goal from the 5, the shotgun snap went under Brown’s legs right out of a timeout break for a a huge turnover. The Hurricanes have currently gone 9 quarters of football without scoring a touchdown. Yikes.
Jordan Travis hit TE Camren McDonald for an 8-yard score, Canes QB Jake Garcia came back in and immediately got strip-sacked by FSU DE Patrick Payton, and then Seminoles backup QB Tate Rodemaker drove the 2nd-team offense down to the goal line, capped off by RB CJ Campbell’s 3-yard rush TD.
Canes QB Jacurri Brown found Seminoles DB Azareye’h Thomas for an INT and that was the end of Hurricanes fans’ suffering. For now…
Next week, the Canes will face Georgia Tech on the road… spooky stuff just a week post-Halloween.
