Rousseau, Hurricanes’ Defense Storm Over FSU 27-10

The Miami Hurricanes lived up to the hype and the nickname this week, storming into Tallahassee and crushing Florida State 27-10.

Gregory Rousseau was the catalyst of the Hurricanes defense, tallying another FOUR sacks in Tallahassee today.

Rousseau has a ridiculous seven sacks in his last two games and Miami found that attacking style defense which kept FSU off balance all afternoon.

Gregory Rousseau’s 12 sacks on the season ties him for 4th place on @CanesFootball single-season sack record. Rousseau is also the 1st @theACC player to have 3 sacks in consecutive games since Trevon Young for Louisville in 2015. #ItsAllAboutTheU

— VICTOR BERMUDEZ (@vicbermudez) November 2, 2019

Miami (5-4, 3-3) evened their ACC mark and put on their most complete performance of the season.

Jarren Williams made enough plays when it counted and finished 21-of-37 with a season high 313 yards and two long touchdowns. He continues to hold the ball too long and it hurt, Williams lost a fumble for the lone Miami turnover which gave Florida State some life.

The offensive line played their best game of the season by a mile, helped by quick passes and great blitz pickups by the running backs.

Dan Enos has been under fire for his play calling but dialed up some timely deep shots.

Jarren Williams and Dee Wiggins cap off the rivalry W! 🎉#ItsAllAboutTheU #MustSeeACC | @CanesFootball pic.twitter.com/K0iBVyYCR6

— ACC Digital Network (@theACCDN) November 3, 2019

Miami was the more aggressive team for once and you could sense they did not want to let Florida State back into it late.

Jeff Thomas had a triumphant return from suspension, finishing with four catches for 64 yards including a 39-yard dime to open the scoring for Miami.

DeeJay Dallas finished with 61 yards on 18 carries with a touchdown, Cam Harris could not get it going today and actually lost five yards on just two carries.

Neither team could manage anything on the ground, Miami finished with just 40 net yards rushing. Florida State was even less effective, Miami shut down star running back Cam Akers most of the day.

Akers managed 66 yards on the ground but it took 22 carries for a paltry 3.0 yard average. He did add three receptions for 23 yards and a touchdown, but the Hurricanes made life tough for the junior running back.

Seminoles quarterback Alex Hornibrook (yeah that guy) was the latest victim of the Hurricanes pass rush which dropped him nine times on the day. Hornibrook managed just 135 yards on 17-of-31 attempts with one touchdown and an interception.

As usual with these two the defenses set the early tone and the game was chippy from the jump.

Both teams were jawing throughout the game, finally Miami came out with energy and fire from the opening whistle.

Manny Diaz (FSU alum) certainly had this game circled on the calendar day one and it showed, his fingerprints were all over the defensive game plan.

Florida State offensive coordinator Kendal Briles dialed up trick play after trick play with little success, Miami was more sound tackling and with assignment football than in recent weeks.

Shaq Quarterman (9 tackles, 3 TFL), Trevon Hall (4 tackles, sack), and Nestor Jade Silvera (6 tackles, sack) were a force for the front seven.

Nestor has the best belly since Vince I have to say. #BeatFSU

— Turnover Chain (@TurnoverChain) November 2, 2019

Penalties (6/65) and third down (3/15) continue to be a sore spot, but the Hurricanes were able to overcome them with timely efforts on both sides of the ball.

Special teams did their job today, Camden Price did miss one field goal but made his other two and all three extra points. KJ Osborn continues to be a solid and safe punt return option.

Lou Headley had five punts for a 44.8 yard average, including a 65-yard bomb to pin FSU near their goal line.

Miami now has three straight wins over Florida State and will carry a two game winning streak back to Miami Gardens when they host Louisville November 9th.

IT’S GREAT TO BE A MIAMI HURRICANE! pic.twitter.com/8M7WSq76Kd

— Canes Football (@CanesFootball) November 2, 2019

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Photo by Tony Capobianco.