COLLEGE FOOTBALL Seminoles hang on, beat Miami, 10-7
The Hurricanes botched a short potential tying field goal at the end.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- Florida State finally caught a break against Miami.
After six straight years of frustrating finishes, the Seminoles found some good fortune against their heated rivals when the Hurricanes botched a short potential game-tying field goal in the closing minutes of a 10-7 Florida State victory Monday night.
Jon Peattie lined up for a 28-yarder after a 19-play, 81-yard drive by Miami stalled with about 2:30 left.
But holder Brian Monroe dropped the snap and the kick never got off.
With No. 9 Miami out of timeouts, No. 14 Florida State simply needed to run out the clock to secure its first victory in the series since 1999.
In a series that has seen countless missed field goals by Florida State decide games, Miami missed two and couldn't even get off the biggest one of the game.
Two inept offenses
Florida State overcame its own inept offense with a defense that registered nine sacks and some solid special teams plays.
Both Florida State's Drew Weatherford and Miami's Kyle Wright were making their first collegiate start at quarterback and, at times, neither looked ready to lead a team to victory in one of college football's fiercest rivalries.
Weatherford was awful, going 7-for-24 for 67 yards with an interception. He was pulled early in the fourth, but fellow redshirt freshman Xavier Lee had no luck moving the 'Noles, either.
Wright wasn't much better until the final Miami drive, when he completed six passes and converted three third downs to put the Hurricanes in position to break the Noles' hearts again.
Wright finished 16-for-28 for 232 yards and a touchdown pass.
So, it came down to the defenses and special teams, and even when those units set up their offenses with prime field position, it was no sure thing they'd capitalize. The Seminoles wasted a first-and-goal from the 1 in the third quarter.
Most of the talk leading up to the 50th meeting of Miami and Florida State was about the two first-time starters at quarterback. And when it took almost nine minutes for either team to complete a pass, it became apparent the offenses were in for a long night against two fast and furious defenses.
Wright worked through his problems, including two early interceptions and a few dropped passes, long enough to guide an 81-yard touchdown drive in the second quarter. The sophomore's first career TD pass was a 34-yarder, zipped over a defender to Ryan Moore to make it 10-7 Florida State.
Weatherford had completed just three passes for 14 yards while Wright seemed to be capable of making plays when he got help from his line and receivers.
It looked even more ominous for Florida State when Lawrence Timmons blocked a Miami punt that left the Seminoles with first-and-goal at the 1. After three runs lost 3 yards and a false start pushed FSU back another 5, first-year starter Gary Cismesia hooked a 23-yard field goal left.
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