After losing five straight games to the University of Miami, Florida State coach Bobby Bowden liked his team's chances in Friday night's celebrated season opener for both teams. Bowden said the law of averages favored the Seminoles.
For the longest time, it appeared he would be right. But the Hurricanes tied the game dramatically with 30 seconds left in regulation and just as stunningly won it quickly in overtime, 16-10, before 78,622 at the Orange Bowl.
"We fought hard and just never gave up," Miami coach Larry Coker said moments after running back Frank Gore ran 18 yards around right end for the game-clincher. "It was just a great victory."
Florida State received the ball first in overtime, but the series that started at the Miami 25 ended when quarterback Chris Rix lost a fumble on a third-and-13 play. The Hurricanes then needed just a field goal to win, but Gore didn't leave the outcome to chance.
The victory marked a joyous beginning for Miami in the Atlantic Coast Conference in a game that was moved back four days because of Hurricane Frances. And it left the defending ACC champion Seminoles wondering what happened.
The late turnaround by Miami came on a short pass from quarterback Brock Berlin to flanker Sinorice Moss that Moss turned into a touchdown, stunning the Seminoles. It also came after the Florida State defensive stalwart Antonio Cromartie, a cornerback, left the game with an injury.
After losing in the Orange Bowl Classic to Miami last season, 16-14, Bowden vowed that the Seminoles wouldn't be that conservative offensively against the Hurricanes again. But conservative they were, although Florida State somehow turned two first-half first downs into a 10-0 halftime lead.
The Hurricanes moved 40 yards after the opening kickoff, but that turned out to be their best offensive thrust of the half. Split end Ryan Moore dropped Berlin's third-down pass at the Seminoles' 33. A completion would have kept the drive going.
Florida State did nothing on its first series but soon gained possession again after Gore fumbled at the Seminoles' 44. Linebacker A.J. Nicholson recovered the ball.
An 18-yard run around left end by the speedy Lorenzo Booker jump-started Florida State toward the game's first score. Six more plays netted just 10 yards, but on fourth down the senior Xavier Beitia kicked a 45-yard field goal despite a center snap that was a little high.
The Hurricanes soon dug a deeper hole for themselves. On their opening series of the second quarter, they dodged a calamity when the sophomore punter Brian Monroe leaped high to catch a center snap headed for the end zone and a probable safety. Monroe then calmly launched a 60-yard punt.
The Hurricanes weren't so lucky on the next series. Berlin connected with tight end Kevin Everett for a 23-yard completion that gave them a first down at their 47. Three plays later, flanker Roscoe Parrish, Miami's smallest offensive regular, lost possession when he was slammed by rover Kyler Hall. The loose ball bounded to backup cornerback Cromartie, who sprinted 61 yards untouched for a touchdown.
The Hurricanes didn't begin to show much offensive life until the end of the third quarter. They reached the Seminoles' 25, but Jon Peattie's 42-yard field-goal attempt was wide right.
Early in the fourth quarter, Miami finally scored after safety Greg Threat intercepted Rix to give the Hurricanes possession.
RSS