Canes Cruise Past Seminoles, Move to 8-0
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — It’s a rivalry game. You can throw out the records. Anything can happen.
That was one narrative to consider as the Miami Hurricanes and Florida State Seminoles renewed acquaintances on a football field for the 69th time Saturday night. Here’s another.
One team would take the lead at the outset. One team would never take its foot off the gas. One team would ensure the outcome was never really in doubt.
That team was the Canes, who cruised to a 36-14 win before a sellout crowd of 66,200 at Hard Rock Stadium. Sixth-ranked Miami improved to 8-0 and 4-0 in the ACC. Florida State fell to 1-7 and 1-6 in conference play.
The Canes racked up 445 yards, scored on seven of their nine drives and held the ball for more than 35 minutes. Miami’s defense held the Seminoles to 248 total yards and permitted FSU to convert just 3 of 13 third downs.
“Obviously a very hard-fought game,” head coach Mario Cristobal said. “We never really lost control of the game but it took us a little while to start pulling away.
“We ran the ball well, got downhill, got hats on hats and ran through tackles. We were aggressive with some fourth downs. The defense was the story of the game. they just played their tails off.”
Quarterback Cam Ward completed 22 of 35 passes for 208 yards and caught the first touchdown pass of his career. Running back Damien Martinez rushed for 148 yards and two touchdowns, while backfield mate Mark Fletcher, Jr. rushed for 71 yards and a score. Wide receiver Isaiah Horton caught six passes for 65 yards and tight end Elijah Arroyo threw the touchdown toss to his quarterback. Andy Borregales was perfect on three field goal attempts with a long of 45.
Linebacker Francisco Mauigoa paced Miami with seven tackles, while linebacker Wesley Bissainthe had six stops. Defensive end Akheem Mesidor had three tackles and a sack.
Luke Kromenhoek led the Seminoles in both rushing and passing. Linebacker Omar Graham, Jr. posted four tackles and one sack, and defensive tackle Darrell Jackson, Jr. had two sacks.
The win was Miami’s first over FSU since 2020 and the Canes now lead the all-time series 36-33.
The Canes got the ball first and wasted no time marching down the field. Ward completed four of five passes for 53 yards and Fletcher picked up a key third down with a 13-yard scamper. He ended the drive with a one-yard plunge into the end zone to give Miami a 7-0 lead.
The Canes forced a three-and-out and got the ball back at their 25. But after picking up a first down, Ward was sacked on consecutive plays to stifle the drive. The Seminoles took over at their 26 and moved the ball to midfield, but Brock Glenn’s third-down throw fell incomplete. Alex Mastromanno pinned Miami back at its five-yard line.
Martinez gave the Canes some breathing room with a 14-yard rush, and the Canes moved the ball to the FSU 49. On 3rd and 20 Ward dropped a short pass off to Martinez, who maneuvered his way for 21 yards and a first down. He followed that up with runs of 10 and 18 yards, the second giving Miami a 14-0 lead. Martinez accounted for 69 of the 95 yards on the touchdown drive.
On the ensuing drive Kromenhoek replaced Glenn, and on 4th and 1 at the FSU 45 he emerged from a crowded pile and sprung loose for a 42-yard run. Five plays later it was 4th and 1 again, this time inches from the goal line. Running back Caziah Holmes dove into the end zone and the Canes’ lead was sliced in half.
Ward converted a third down with a Houdini-like escape and an 11-yard completion to wide receiver Jojo Trader. Four plays later it was 4th and 1 at the Miami 46, but Fletcher moved the chains with a four-yard run over the right side. Ward hit Horton across the middle for 16 yards, and then connected with him again on a slant for 21 yards to the FSU 13. Ward followed with an 11-yard scramble and the Canes called their final timeout of the half with seven seconds remaining. Ward threw incomplete to wide receiver Xavier Restrepo and Miami settled for a 20-yard field goal by Borregales and a 17-7 halftime lead.
On the opening drive of the second half FSU went for it on 4th and 3 on its 42 and Kromenhoek converted with a four-yard pass to tight end Kyle Morlock. Four plays later the Seminoles lined up for another fourth-down attempt, but Kromenhoek’s pass fell incomplete and Miami took over at its 46-yard line.
Martinez picked up a first down on a four-yard run before Ward scrambled for another first down to the FSU 31. But the drive stalled at the 24-yard line and Borregales booted a 42-yard field goal to increase Miami’s lead to 13 points.
Kromenhoek completed a 29-yard pass to wide receiver Ja’Khi Douglas into Canes territory before the Seminoles again went for it on fourth down. This time Mesidor sacked Kromenhoek for a six-yard loss and Miami took over at its 42.
Ward hit Restrepo for 13 yards on a flea flicker, which moved the wideout past Michael Irvin on Miami’s all-time receiving yards list. But FSU’s defense held again and Borregales’ third three-pointer – a 45-yarder – made it 23-7 in favor of the Canes late in the third quarter.
Miami’s defense extended FSU’s next drive with a roughing the passer penalty, but the Seminoles couldn’t take advantage and the Canes took over on downs at their 45. Ward escorted Miami to the FSU seven-yard line and on second and goal he pitched to Martinez, who pitched to Arroyo, who threw to Ward in the end zone for a touchdown. It was Ward’s first career receiving score and the Canes led 29-7.
After the Seminoles went three-and-out with Glenn back under center, Martinez broke free for a 53-yard gain to the FSU 30. He covered the rest of the real estate on three carries, scoring his second touchdown from 12 yards out to make it 36-7. Glenn capped a 12-play touchdown drive with a five-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Malik Benson with 18 seconds left to provide the final margin.
The Canes return home next Saturday to face Duke at Hard Rock Stadium. Kickoff time is 12 p.m. on ABC.
Miami players meet with the media after the Canes' 36-14 win over Florida State.
