BY SCOTT MORGANROTH
TALLAHASSEE, FL
I’ve covered some football games on Veterans Day in the NFL, but not in College Football until last weeks contest featuring the Miami Hurricanes at Florida State Seminoles on Saturday, November 11, 2023.
Prior to going to the game, I predicted on the External Bum Podcast on Friday that the 14 point underdogs, Miami Hurricanes would lose the game, but I was hoping the Canes would keep it close. Miami did just that as the Canes and Seminoles were tied at 10-10 at the end of the first half and lost 27-20.
Miami decided to start freshman QB Emory Williams to give the team a spark. The Canes figured his mobility could stretch the Seminoles defense. Williams did amass five carries for a negative seven yards but one of those carries was a sack.
Williams was a factor in the passing game as he went 8-23-0 interceptions and had two touchdown passes for 175 yards and was sacked twice. One of those passes was an 85 yard strike to Jacolby George. His favorite target was George, who had five receptions for 153 yards and two touchdowns.
Leading the Miami rushing attack was Donald Chaney Jr. He had 12 carries for 85 yards with a long of 29 followed by Mark Fletcher Jr. who had 16 carries for 55 yards.
The numbers definitely told the story of this game.
Miami definitely dominated on the ground 34 carries for 131 yards, while FSU had 31 carries for 57 yards, however, QB Jordan Travis was sacked for 30 yards. Trey Benson led FSU in rushing with 80 yards and a pair of touchdowns. One of his touchdowns was a 38-yard rush.
FSU more than made up for it in the passing yards as Travis was 19-31, 0 interceptions, 265 yards and a touchdown. He was sacked three times. Leading the receivers for FSU were Johnny Wilson, 5-82, Keon Coleman 4-24, one touchdown, JaKhi Douglas three for 69 yards and Jaheim Bell three for 41 yards.
Miami out gained FSU in total yards 335-322. FSU led in time of possession 30:40-29:20 and first downs 17-13. Miami was penalized seven times for 40 yards while FSU three times for 35 yards.
The Hurricanes had a chance to win the game late, but unfortunately Williams was injured and was carted off the field. The Canes turned to Tyler Van Dyke, but he wasn’t able to lead his troops to the end zone . Van Dyke was 2-7 for 29 yards and one interception.
Kicker Andy Borregales kicked two field goals, one of 27 yards and the other was 51 yards, plus converted his pair of extra points.
Florida State got more than it bargained for, not covering the 14 points and once again, escaped with a 27-20 win.
The talk after the game centered around Williams, who suffered a compound fracture of the left (non-throwing) arm injury and while Coach Mario Cristobal was pleased with the effort of his squad, a moral victory in the State Capital isn’t what he was looking for as you’re going to see and hear in the video enclosed.
He did say that he’s delighted as to what the Canes QB situation looks like in the future.
All of the videos are available from the Miami post-game press conference.
This was my first trip to FSU and it was quite an experience.
From the long walk starting with the Media Garage to picking up my credential, walking around the stadium taking a photo at the Bobby Bowden Statue to getting into the game and just observing the environment in the press box was worth the seven hour trip.
There was a long walk to the other side Bobby Bowden Field at Doak Walker Stadium going on the field and into the Miami Interview Room, engrossed into the sights and sounds of the sellout crowd of 79,560 fans.
If you like college football, this is a place you have to get to. It was that electric.
Meanwhile, the loss dropped Miami to 6-4 while FSU improved to 10-0. They are ranked fourth in the College Football Playoff.
The Hurricanes, whom are bowl eligible wrap up their home schedule at Noon at Hard Rock Stadium face the Louisville Cardinals (9-1) for the newly created Howard Schnellenberger Trophy. The Canes will also honor former QB Gino Torretta, who won a Heisman Trophy while playing for “The U.”
Scott Morganroth can be reached at [email protected] and you can find him on Twitter/X @TribuneSouth. To see all of his broadcasts, there is no charge to Subscribe to the South Florida Tribune You Tube Channel.
Also, Scott has a new book called “Lessons From The Microphone” that can be purchased at Amazon or Kindle.
