AP Photo/Phil Coale

The 9^th ranked, 5-1 Florida State Seminoles of coach Bobby Bowden provided the Homecoming opposition for the top-ranked, 5-0 Miami Hurricanes & coach Larry Coker.  Miami had taken The Belt from Florida State 2 years earlier in the game known as “Wide Right III” & had easily won the rematch last season but now the Seminoles hoped to end the 24-game Belt reign of the Hurricanes.  Florida State again suffered a missed field goal attempt that could have won the game as Miami held on for a 28-27 victory.  After a Florida State punt, Miami took their opening drive 89 yards with All-American RB Willis McGahee scoring from 4 yards giving the Hurricanes a 7-0 lead.  Neither team was able to score the rest of the 1^st quarter.  After recovering a fumble by Miami’s All-Big East QB Ken Dorsey at their 16-yard line, Florida State drove 84 yards in 4 plays with RB Nick Maddox scoring on a 30-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 7-7.  Seminoles’ PK Xavier Beitia’s 45-yard field goal gave Florida State a 10-7 lead & a 10-yard touchdown pass from QB Chris Rix to WR Talman Gardner put the Seminoles up 17-7.  Miami took their next possession 80 yards in 12 plays in 2:08 with Dorsey connecting with All-Big East TE Kellen Winslow, Jr. on a 5-yard touchdown pass as the teams went to intermission with Florida State leading 17-14.  The Seminoles got the only 3^rd quarter points on a 42-yard field goal by Beitia.  With 11:44 to play, Florida State’s RB Greg Jones scored on an 11-yard run & the Seminoles had a 27-14 advantage.  Miami’s belt reign was in jeopardy but the Hurricanes would not go away without a fight.  After exchanging punts, Dorsey lead a 70-yard drive hitting WR Kevin Beard for a 2-yard touchdown with 8:10 to play making the score Florida State 27, Miami 21.  Miami’s defense forced a Seminoles’ punt on their next possession & the Hurricanes went 79 yards in 2 plays – a 68-yard screen pass from Dorsey to McGahee & 11-yard touchdown run from RB Jason Geathers giving Miami a 28-27 lead.  Each team punted again & Florida State took possession at their own 46-yard line with 2:05 to play.  Seven plays later, the Seminoles set-up for the winning field goal at the Miami 25-yard line as time was expiring.  Beitia’s 43-yard field goal attempt was wide left & Miami had held on for a 28-27 victory.  Dorsey finished with 362 yards passing with 2 touchdowns & 2 interceptions.  For Florida State, Rix threw for just 83 yards with a touchdown while Jones finished with 189 yards rushing with a touchdown in the losing effort.  Miami finished the season 12-1; Big East Champions, ranked 2^ndnationally while the Seminoles finished 9-5, ACC Champions, & ranked 21^st nationally.  Florida State has not played for The Belt again.

The College Football Belt