Miami football 2017 win vs. FSU belongs on ESPN 20 year rivalry moments
On a list of their favorite rivalry moments from the last 20 years, ESPN chose the 2016 Florida State-Miami football game won by the Seminoles over the 2017 Hurricanes victory that ended a seven-year losing streak in the rivalry.
The 2017 Miami football team traveled to Tallahassee with an eight-game winning streak but seven straight losses to Florida State. With six seconds remaining in the game, Hurricanes quarterback Malik Rosier threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to Darrell Langham to put Miami in front 24-20.
In an article titled “Remembering our favorite college football rivalry moments of the past 20 years”, ESPN chose the 20-19 victory by Florida State over Miami in what is dubbed by Seminoles fans as the “Block at the Rock.” After a late Miami TD, Florida State blocked the extra point to preserve their seventh straight win over Miami.
The Florida-Miami football rivalry has produced some of the most iconic plays and moments in the history of college football. The rivalry has lost its luster over the past 20 years with Miami being mediocre for most of the past 15 years and Florida State skidding into their own mediocrity over the past three seasons.
Both the 2016 and 2017 Florida State-Miami football games were classics that came down to the last minute. ESPN clearly listed the 2016 Florida State victory over Miami because of the poetic justice the Seminoles won via the blocked kick following five missed field goals that cost the Seminoles victories from 1991-2003.
"Miami-Florida State, 2016The long, sad history of the Seminoles losing to the ‘Canes because of a missed field goal — five times in 13 seasons from 1991 through 2003 — serves as the historical backdrop for the 2016 game. DeMarcus Walker blocked a Miami extra point attempt with 1:41 to play to preserve Florida State’s 20-19 upset of the No. 10 Hurricanes.For a Florida State team that had lost earlier that season to Louisville and its spectacular quarterback, Lamar Jackson, knocking off the unbeaten Hurricanes and extending a series winning streak to seven couldn’t have felt better.Speaking of long, sad history: This four-year-old game is the last time both teams in this once-great rivalry entered the game in the top 25."
Miami led 13-0 after a Michael Badgley 51-yard field goal with 1:16 remaining in the first half. Ricky Aguayo put Florida State on the board with a 31-yard FG with six seconds left in the first half to make the score 13-3 Miami at halftime. The Seminoles continued their run by scoring 20 unanswered points in all to lead 20-13.
With 1:38 remaining in the fourth quarter, Miami QB
and senior WR
connected on their second TD pass of the game. All Miami needed as the reliable Badgley to make the extra point and tie the game. The Seminoles blocked PAT preserved their victory. FSU would have had enough time for a game-winning drive.
The Seminoles did not need to rely on their offense and were able to run out the clock to preserve their seventh straight win against Miami. That was also their last victory over the Hurricanes. The 2017 season was Miami’s best in the last 15 seasons. Going to Doak Campbell and getting a win is still a big accomplishment.
After a defensive battle through the first three quarters in 2017, Miami led 10-3 entering the fourth quarter. Florida State tied the score on a James Blackman to Ryan Izzo TD pass with 12:17 remaining in the game. An Aguayo field goal gave Florida State the lead later in the fourth quarter.
The lead would change hands four times in the final seven minutes of the game. A Rosier to Braxton Berrios TD pass with 5:09 remaining put Miami back in front 17-14. Florida State came back. A Blackman to Auden Tate 24-yard TD pass with 1:24 left seemed to give Florida State another improbable victory.
Next. Miami defeats FSU on Rosier to Langham with six seconds left. dark
Rosier led Miami on the game-winning drive. With the Hurricanes firmly in FG range for Badgley to tie the game, Rosier took a chance and threw a perfect pass over Langham’s right shoulder. The rangy WR caught the ball and barrelled into the end one to put Miami in front with six seconds remaining and eventually win 24-20.