Miami Hurricanes defense took game from Florida State

While Florida State fans are going to cry about the touchdown that was called back or that their team choked the truth is that the Miami Hurricanes defense took the game from the Seminoles.

After the Miami Hurricanes went three and out on their first drive Florida State marched 58 yards in eight plays to open the scoring and take a 7-0 lead 5:19 into the game. The rest of the game the Seminoles had 142 yards of total offense. Twenty-nine percent of their yards came on the first drive of the game.

The Hurricanes defense was faced with Florida State getting excellent field position the remainder of the first half. The Seminoles drives averaged starting at their own 40-yard line in the first half.

In the second half, Florida State’s average drive began at their own 24.5-yard line. When you have to get a first down and a half extra every time you have the ball it puts a bigger strain on the offense. The Miami Hurricanes defense took advantage.

After D.J. Matthews returned a punt 74 yards for a touchdown to give Florida State a 27-7 lead in the third quarter the Miami Hurricanes defense was every bit as dominant in the second half as they were throughout the game against North Carolina and for the first three quarters against FIU.

The Seminoles second-half drives went for one yard, nine, negative three, 11, 27, two, five and negative 12. That’s eight drives for 40 yards. Florida State’s best teams averaged more than five yards per play much less five yards per drive.

The Miami Hurricanes defense also forced three turnovers in the second half setting up the Canes offense in the Florida State red zone on back to back drives in the third quarter to get Miami back in the game.