FSU Football: Miami storms back to defeat the Noles

FSU football had Miami down on the mat but choked the game away in the second half.

1st Half

FSU football could not have started the game against Miami any better. The ‘Noles defense forced a three and out and the FSU offense went down and scored a touchdown on their first possession.

The drive was keyed on a third down conversion from Deondre Francois to Tre McKitty. Francois then hit Keith Gavin on a 17 yard pass for his first career touchdown.

FSU had good field position for a change, however, the Canes were able to drive 83 yards on 14 plays to tie the game at 7-7 with. The Noles allowed a crucial third and 8 conversion that gave Miami an opportunity to extend the drive. They were also aided on a terrible defensive pass interference call on the drive.

Both defenses controlled the offenses, but the ‘Noles Brian Burns forced a fumble on a sack which allowed the offense to have good field position. Ricky Aguayo made a 42 yard field goal to give the Noles a 10-7 lead with 4:20 to go in the half.

Florida State Seminoles Football

FSU’s defense shut down the Miami offense with another three and out, and FSU special teams had a huge 44 yard punt return by D.J. Matthews to give FSU great field position.

The Noles wouldn’t waste the opportunity with Deondre Francois hitting Tamorrion Terry for a 17 yard touchdown to give the Noles a 17-7 lead with 1:32 left in the half. The reception was an atonement for Terry who dropped a huge pass earlier in the game.

Miami’s Mark Richt got greedy before the half and went for a fourth down conversion and failed which gave the Noles the ball near mid-field with :36 seconds remaining. Tamorrion Terry came up with a huge contested 20 yard catch which put the Noles in field goal range.

Ricky Aguayo nailed a 53 yarder with plenty to spare to give FSU football a 20-7 lead at the half. FSU finished the half with 155 yards on 34 plays for 4.6 yards per play. Miami finished the half with 161 yards on 39 plays for 4.1 yards per play.

2nd Half

The Noles received the second half kickoff and promptly had a three and out and I wasn’t a fan of the playcalling there. A short punt by Logan Tyler gave Miami good field position on their first possession.

However, the FSU defense was pinning their ears back and two huge sacks by Brian Burns and Marvin Wilson forced a Miami punt. D.J. Matthews took that punt 74 yards for a touchdown to put the Noles up 27-7 with 11:52 left in the third quarter.

Miami got new life when FSU was going for a third down conversion and Francois got destroyed on a sack and fumbled. The Canes took advantage and scored on a three yard pass on fourth down to make it 27-14 with 4:53 left in the third quarter. It was the second time Miami scored a touchdown on fourth down on the day.

What a turn of events as FSU’s Deondre Francois threw an interception that Miami turned into a touchdown on one play to make it 27-21 with 4:11 left in the third quarter.

FSU had nothing doing on their next possession and the FSU defense showed up to force a three and out. Miami’s punt was terrible and gave the Noles the ball near midfield. FSU executed a great trick play that would have been a touchdown but it was ruled an illegal forward pass (it looked like the wrong call by the officials).

The Noles were in field goal range and Ricky Aguayo missed a 43 yard field goal badly as he hooked it to the left.

Miami took over and connected on a huge 32 yard pass on third and 10 to move the chains. The Canes then took the lead for the first time on a 41 yard TD pass with 11:52 to go in the game.

The two teams traded punts with nothing doing. Miami got a huge punt return to the FSU 26 yard line with under seven minutes remaining. The Canes first and 10 near the 10 yard line and the FSU defense stood tall to force a field goal.

The Miami kicker missed the 28 yarder wide right to give the Noles life. However, the ‘Noles offense could do nothing with Deondre Francois missing throws while under pressure. The ‘Canes defense forced a punt and got the ball near midfield. A defensive pass interference call put the Canes at the FSU 25 yard line.

The FSU defense forced a fourth down and 1 but Miami was able to convert the play and ice the game. This is an epic choke job by the Noles as there is no way they should have lost this game.