Countdown: Miami v. Florida State - Game #3
[#3] - Miami 17, Florida State 16 - (1991) & Miami 19, Florida State 16 - (1992) - 
Yeah, we're cheating here, lumping these two classic games together. But where does one even begin to decided between these two classics? That's like choosing your favorite offspring. Unfair and impossible to do.
Back to back seasons, Florida State fell to Miami on a missed kick as time expired. Wide Right I & II were born. For the Canes, classic moments in the program's history and another reason to laugh at our arch rival. For the Noles, two painful events which kept them from that elusive, first National Championship.
Miami headed to Tallahassee ranked #2, with Florida State #1. This one was billed as the game of the decade, and it most certainly lived up to the hype. The Canes hadn't won at Doak since 1987. Dennis Erickson's bunch won the 1989 National Championship, but lost 24-10 at Florida State that season as starting QB Craig Erickson was out due to injury. Freshman Gino Torretta had a rough outing and the Canes dropped their only contest of the seasons.
Two years later, Torretta and the Canes stormed into town - experienced and with a chip on their collective shoulder. Miami struck on its first possession; a 2-yard Stephen McGuire first quarter touchdown. The Canes drove 74 yards with key plays from Torretta to McGuire (a 14-yard pass), a 30-yard McGuire run and a key third down scamper by Torretta. Two key penalties on the Noles put the Canes in position to bully it in from two yards out.
Florida State came out swinging. A 51-yard bomb from Casey Weldon to Amp Lee looked to spark the Noles, but penalties thwarted the drive and they settled for a 25-yard Gerry Thomas field goal. Miami led, 7-3 after one.
Turnovers plagued the Canes in the second quarter. Miami drove inside the Florida State 30-yard line on two occasions, but was picked off both times. Charles Pharms got the ball back for the Canes, but a 41-yard Carlos Huerta field goal attempt was blocked. Florida State led 10-7 after two.
The Noles put up some second and third quarter points. A 1-yard touchdown run by fullback Paul Moore in the second and a 31-yard Thomas field goal had Florida State ahead, 16-7 entering the game's final fifteen minutes of play.
Early in the fourth, Miami drove 44 yards in ten plays, resulting in a 45-yard field goal by Huerta. The deficit was now 16-10 with just over nine minutes remaining. The Canes defense again rose to the challenge, forcing the Noles to punt.
On 2nd and 16, Torretta found an out-stretched Coleman Bell streaking down the sideline for a 22-yard pick up. Miami was finding its groove and was a touchdown away from their first lead since early in the first quarter.
McGuire's legs helped get the Canes inside the Noles' red zone, but the game would come down to a crucial 4th and 6. Torretta looked right and found receiver Horace Copeland for his sole catch of the day. Faced with a 1st and goal from the three yard line, it took Miami three plays to punch the ball in, with back up running back Larry Jones. Miami 17, Florida State 16.
In the final three minutes, Weldon led the Noles down field. On a crucial fourth down, Edgar Bennett bullied his way to an FSU first down.
Ryan McNeil was called for pass interference in the end zone - a game saving play, at that. Florida State was on the Miami 17-yard line, faced with a 3rd and 9. Weldon lost his shoe on the previous play and Bowden elected to attempt a game-winning, 34-yard field goal as Thomas was 3-for-3 on the day.
Moments later, make that 3-for-4. Legendary broadcaster Keith Jackson made the call:
"The snap is back, the ball is down, here we go…. It is … Wide to the right! Wide to the Right!Miami players are all over the field. They're going to get penalized for it, but 'So what?' I'm sure is their attitude. "
Miami beat Boston College and San Diego State in its two remaining games, before shutting out Nebraska, 22-0 in the 1992 Orange Bowl Classic. The Canes claimed their fourth National Championship, while the Noles finished 11-2 - dropping a 14-9 nail biter to the Gators weeks later.
Fast forward to October 3rd, 1992. Florida State strolls in #3, Miami is sitting pretty at #2 and the Canes are defending champs, riding a 20-game win streak.
The City of Miami was still reeling from the effects of Hurricane Andrew, which destroyed much of the city less than two months prior.
The team, the fans and the city needed this game, but the Noles showed no pity - striking first with a 94-yard kickoff return by Tamarick Vanover. Miami countered with a 24-yard Dane Prewitt field goal in the second quarter, followed by a 29-yard strike from Torretta to Bell.
Florida State struck back with a 22-yard Dan Mowery field goal and the game was tied 10-10 at the half. He followed with a 38-yard field goal in the third and one from 41 yards out early in the fourth. Ahead 16-10 with just over nine minutes remaining, the Noles were in a situation eerily similar to 1991 -- a six point lead late in the game and a field goal kicker who was 3-for-3 on the afternoon.
Again, Miami would respond - this time, with a 58 yard drive which ended with a 33-yard touchdown pass from Torretta to Lamar Thomas. Torretta was drilled on the play, putting one up there for #36. Thomas snuck behind Clifton Abraham, made the basket catch and put the Canes ahead, 17-16.
A drive later Florida State muffed a Miami punt, resulting in a safety. Ahead 19-16, the Canes got the ball back but were forced to punt.
The Noles got one last chance with 1:35 remaining and drove 59 yards. Charlie Ward found Kez McCorvey on a 4th and 12, keeping the drive alive. Moments later, Matt Frier made a diving, fingertip grab for a gain of 17. Ward used his legs for two quick runs, picking up 19 yards, setting up a 39-yard field goal attempt.
Mowery trotted onto the field, attempted a game-tying kick and the rest is history...
.:Canes305:.
Still haven’t gotten geared up for this year’s Labor Day tussle?
Check out some of these Miami/Florida State designs - Mutual Disrespect, Choke: II and the "Our Policy is Beating FSU" Tees.
For the ultimate fan of this rivalry? The "Winner Takes All" DVD, chronicling the history of Miami/Florida State!
Yeah, we're cheating here, lumping these two classic games together. But where does one even begin to decided between these two classics? That's like choosing your favorite offspring. Unfair and impossible to do.Back to back seasons, Florida State fell to Miami on a missed kick as time expired. Wide Right I & II were born. For the Canes, classic moments in the program's history and another reason to laugh at our arch rival. For the Noles, two painful events which kept them from that elusive, first National Championship.
Miami headed to Tallahassee ranked #2, with Florida State #1. This one was billed as the game of the decade, and it most certainly lived up to the hype. The Canes hadn't won at Doak since 1987. Dennis Erickson's bunch won the 1989 National Championship, but lost 24-10 at Florida State that season as starting QB Craig Erickson was out due to injury. Freshman Gino Torretta had a rough outing and the Canes dropped their only contest of the seasons.
Two years later, Torretta and the Canes stormed into town - experienced and with a chip on their collective shoulder. Miami struck on its first possession; a 2-yard Stephen McGuire first quarter touchdown. The Canes drove 74 yards with key plays from Torretta to McGuire (a 14-yard pass), a 30-yard McGuire run and a key third down scamper by Torretta. Two key penalties on the Noles put the Canes in position to bully it in from two yards out.
Florida State came out swinging. A 51-yard bomb from Casey Weldon to Amp Lee looked to spark the Noles, but penalties thwarted the drive and they settled for a 25-yard Gerry Thomas field goal. Miami led, 7-3 after one.
Turnovers plagued the Canes in the second quarter. Miami drove inside the Florida State 30-yard line on two occasions, but was picked off both times. Charles Pharms got the ball back for the Canes, but a 41-yard Carlos Huerta field goal attempt was blocked. Florida State led 10-7 after two.
The Noles put up some second and third quarter points. A 1-yard touchdown run by fullback Paul Moore in the second and a 31-yard Thomas field goal had Florida State ahead, 16-7 entering the game's final fifteen minutes of play.
Early in the fourth, Miami drove 44 yards in ten plays, resulting in a 45-yard field goal by Huerta. The deficit was now 16-10 with just over nine minutes remaining. The Canes defense again rose to the challenge, forcing the Noles to punt.
On 2nd and 16, Torretta found an out-stretched Coleman Bell streaking down the sideline for a 22-yard pick up. Miami was finding its groove and was a touchdown away from their first lead since early in the first quarter.
McGuire's legs helped get the Canes inside the Noles' red zone, but the game would come down to a crucial 4th and 6. Torretta looked right and found receiver Horace Copeland for his sole catch of the day. Faced with a 1st and goal from the three yard line, it took Miami three plays to punch the ball in, with back up running back Larry Jones. Miami 17, Florida State 16.
In the final three minutes, Weldon led the Noles down field. On a crucial fourth down, Edgar Bennett bullied his way to an FSU first down.
Ryan McNeil was called for pass interference in the end zone - a game saving play, at that. Florida State was on the Miami 17-yard line, faced with a 3rd and 9. Weldon lost his shoe on the previous play and Bowden elected to attempt a game-winning, 34-yard field goal as Thomas was 3-for-3 on the day.
Moments later, make that 3-for-4. Legendary broadcaster Keith Jackson made the call:
"The snap is back, the ball is down, here we go…. It is … Wide to the right! Wide to the Right!Miami players are all over the field. They're going to get penalized for it, but 'So what?' I'm sure is their attitude. "
Miami beat Boston College and San Diego State in its two remaining games, before shutting out Nebraska, 22-0 in the 1992 Orange Bowl Classic. The Canes claimed their fourth National Championship, while the Noles finished 11-2 - dropping a 14-9 nail biter to the Gators weeks later.
Fast forward to October 3rd, 1992. Florida State strolls in #3, Miami is sitting pretty at #2 and the Canes are defending champs, riding a 20-game win streak.
The City of Miami was still reeling from the effects of Hurricane Andrew, which destroyed much of the city less than two months prior.
The team, the fans and the city needed this game, but the Noles showed no pity - striking first with a 94-yard kickoff return by Tamarick Vanover. Miami countered with a 24-yard Dane Prewitt field goal in the second quarter, followed by a 29-yard strike from Torretta to Bell.
Florida State struck back with a 22-yard Dan Mowery field goal and the game was tied 10-10 at the half. He followed with a 38-yard field goal in the third and one from 41 yards out early in the fourth. Ahead 16-10 with just over nine minutes remaining, the Noles were in a situation eerily similar to 1991 -- a six point lead late in the game and a field goal kicker who was 3-for-3 on the afternoon.
Again, Miami would respond - this time, with a 58 yard drive which ended with a 33-yard touchdown pass from Torretta to Lamar Thomas. Torretta was drilled on the play, putting one up there for #36. Thomas snuck behind Clifton Abraham, made the basket catch and put the Canes ahead, 17-16.
A drive later Florida State muffed a Miami punt, resulting in a safety. Ahead 19-16, the Canes got the ball back but were forced to punt.
The Noles got one last chance with 1:35 remaining and drove 59 yards. Charlie Ward found Kez McCorvey on a 4th and 12, keeping the drive alive. Moments later, Matt Frier made a diving, fingertip grab for a gain of 17. Ward used his legs for two quick runs, picking up 19 yards, setting up a 39-yard field goal attempt.
Mowery trotted onto the field, attempted a game-tying kick and the rest is history...
.:Canes305:.
Still haven’t gotten geared up for this year’s Labor Day tussle?Check out some of these Miami/Florida State designs - Mutual Disrespect, Choke: II and the "Our Policy is Beating FSU" Tees.
For the ultimate fan of this rivalry? The "Winner Takes All" DVD, chronicling the history of Miami/Florida State!
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