Florida State players returned to Tallahassee early today with a chunk of Sun Life Stadium turf Saturday to bury in the Sod Cemetery, a makeshift graveyard that houses mementos from milestone victories.
And although the Seminoles’ 33-20 victory over Miami will be celebrated because it was on the road against one of their two biggest rivals, this game was a struggle for three quarters.
Florida State played as sloppily and undisciplined as it has this season for most of the game, but was able to overcome 12 penalties, five fumbles (two lost) and the return of Hurricanes quarterback Stephen Morris, which says as much about Florida State as it does about the reeling Hurricanes.
“That’s a Florida State-Miami game,” said FSU coach Jimbo Fisher, who is 5-0 against the Seminoles’ biggest rivals, Miami and Florida. “There’s always excitement. It is one of the great rivalries and we overcame a lot of things. We did a lot of good things but we did some poor things. We had some penalties, we had some balls dropped in the beginning, uncharacteristic things. But we kept competing.
“Anytime you come to Miami and beat Miami, that’s a great day,”
No. 12 Florida State (7-1, 4-1 ACC) spotted Miami (4-4, 3-2) a 10-point lead, finally went ahead on a Dustin Hopkins field goal with three seconds remaining in the first half and put away the Hurricanes with 17 fourth quarter points: two scoring runs by Devonata Freeman and Hopkins’ 48-yard field goal, his fourth of the game.
Hopkins’ field goal, with 6:13 to play, made it 26-13 and sent many of the 73,328 in attendance, about half of whom were Seminoles fans, to the exits.
Florida State was a three-touchdown favorite and looking for respect after being upset at North Carolina State two weeks ago and debuting at No. 14 in the BCS Standings, penalized for its schedule’s lack of strength.
“Just having the maturity to stay in the game and not get into a frenzy and allow one, two, three bad things turn into four, five, six, we were able to control than not let it get out of hand too much,” FSU senior quarterback EJ Manuel said. “We scored when we had too.”
Miami entered the game on a two-game losing streak and possessing the worst defense in the ACC. The Hurricanes lost their two previous games against ranked opponents, being outscored 93-16 by Kansas State and Notre Dame.
“It’s been a long eight weeks, we need to take a deep breath,” Miami coach Al Golden said. The Hurricanes have played eight consecutive weeks and are off this Saturday for the first time this season.
Yet, FSU struggled mightily early, hurting itself with turnovers and penalties early.
The game was physical as both teams lost their leading rusher. FSU’s Chris Thompson injured his left knee early in the second quarter. He did not return.
Thompson, who missed the final eight games of the 2011 season after breaking two vertebrate in his back during the Wake Forest game, entered as the ACC’s second-leading rusher, averaging 91.4 yards per game.
Miami’s Duke Johnson, limped off the field late in the third quarter and did not return.
Morris, who suffered a badly sprained ankle late in Miami’s loss against North Carolina a week ago, was on the field throwing about 90 minutes before the game. But when he returned for pregame warmups and went through a normal routine, there was no doubt he would play.
Morris did not appear to be limited but did limp noticeably early in the second half after he was sacked by Cornellius Carradine, one of four by the Seminoles.
“I was confident in my ankle and that I would be able to deliver tonight,” Morris said.
Morris finished 25-of-43 for 223 yards and a meaningless touchdown pass in the final minutes. Miami had 258 yards of offense, just 29 on the ground.
“I don’t regret playing Stephen,” Golden said. “He gave us the best chance to win the game. We just did not get it done.”
The Seminoles depended on the leadership of Manuel. FSU moved the ball well, gaining 447 yards, but slowed itself with mistakes.
Manuel was 21-of-31 for 229 yards. Even without Thompson for three quarters, the Seminoles rushed for 218 yards, 70 by Freeman on 10 attempts. James Wilder had 49 yards, including a 17-yard scoring run.
The Seminoles fumbled three times, losing two, had a 17-yard punt and four penalties in the first quarter. Yet, through it all, the Hurricanes held just a 10-3 lead entering the second quarter.
“We just calmed down,” FSU cornerback Xavier Rhodes.
The lowlights started when former Dwyer High star Nick O’Leary caught Manuel’s pass on FSU’s first play of from scrimmage. O’Leary attempted to hurdle one defender and was hit by Denzel Perryman while airborne. Jimmy Gaines recovered at the 22. Four plays later Mike James had an easy path to the end zone around the right side to give the Hurricanes a 7-0 lead.
FSU’s next series started from its 11 after a holding penalty on the return and ended four plays later when Cason Beatty shanked a punt that went out of bounds at the Seminoles’ 34.
The Seminoles held on a first-and-goal from the 8 and Miami had a 10-0 lead on Jake Weiclaw’s 19-yard field goal.
Florida State’s next possession included a hold during the return of a Rashad Greene fumble that Thompson recovered and ended when Manuel and Jarred Haggins botched a handoff and Tyriq McCord recovered.
The defense started to get its bearings in the second quarter with Miami’s only real threat ending when Tyler Hunter intercepted Morris after UM had driven to the FSU 27.
