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BRIAN LANDMANNO. 10 MIAMI 16, NO. 9 FSU 14: Xavier Beitia misses a 39-yard field goal for FSU, then the Hurricanes hang on for a season sweep.
MIAMI - Some folks figured there was nothing new to see in another Florida State-Miami meeting in the Orange Bowl.
Boy were they right.
Relying on their relentless defense, the legs of MVP senior tailback Jarrett Payton and the kicking leg of former Countryside star Jon Peattie, the Hurricanes made it five straight in the series against FSU, holding on for a 16-14 win Thursday night in front of 76,739 at Pro Player Stadium.
There was another familiar sight. FSU missed another late field goal, wide right, this one a 39-yard attempt by former Jesuit star Xavier Beitia with a little more than five minutes to go. He missed a 43-yarder wide left on the game's last play Oct. 12, 2002, sealing a UM 28-27 win. Gerry Thomas, Dan Mowery and Matt Munyon missed field goals that could have won or tied games in 1991, 1992 and 2000.
Who needed to see that again?
Not FSU fans.
"I don't know of any rivalry in the nation that came down to a missed kick (so often)," FSU coach Bobby Bowden said. "I have a hard time understanding it."
A curse?
"I might as well (believe it)," Bowden said.
The No. 9 Seminoles (10-3), who did bounce back nicely after consecutive subpar seasons, must wait until Labor Day - when they meet Miami in the 2004 opener and the teams' first game as ACC brethren - to end the same old, same old, same old, same old, same old stuff.
Meanwhile, the No. 10 'Canes (11-2) and their fans sure don't mind. They could watch this again and again.
"It was just a great football game," coach Larry Coker said. "It's just a great feeling to be a part of a game like this. It was as good as an effort as I have seen given all year."
Beginning with Payton, who made his first career start against FSU in the 22-14 win on Oct. 11 when he rushed for 97 yards and had a receiving touchdown. He matched his career best Thursday with 131 yards on 22 carries.
"I just felt it as soon as I got to the stadium tonight I was going to have a big game," Payton said.
Though Peattie had his final field-goal attempt blocked by safety B.J. Ward, he hit three from 32, 44 and a careerlong 51 yards to set a single-season UM record with 22 field goals.
But the story of the game was Miami's defense. It held the Seminoles to 206 yards - their fewest since the 2002 loss at North Carolina State (177) in quarterback Adrian McPherson's last game before his dismissal.
Miami had been allowing 261.8 yards (third nationally) and 15.2 points (second nationally), and the 'Canes coaches said the team was simply in a "zone" - a dominating one.
"We knew we had to play a great defensive game to win, no doubt," Coker said.
They did. FSU junior quarterback Chris Rix can attest to that. He was just 6-of-19 for 96 yards, one interception and a touchdown. He completed only two passes and the offense mustered 57 yards in the second half.
"They were capable of doing that," Bowden said. "The games they lost it wasn't their offense."
Miami took a 3-0 lead on the first of Peattie's field goals to cap the opening drive, but FSU safety Jerome Carter changed the game with a dazzling play.
With the 'Canes threatening again, he raced to help cornerback Leroy Smith, jumped to deflect a Brock Berlin pass, caught it in midair in the end zone and returned it 30 yards. A play later, Rix threw a strike to a streaking Chauncey Stovall down the right sideline for a 52-yard gain to the UM 18. Freshman tailback Lorenzo Booker, taking a direct snap on third down, capped the drive with a 9-yard run and 7-3 lead early in the second quarter.
FSU reached 14-3 on a Rix's 7-yard pass to tight end Matt Henshaw, but the 'Canes had an answer.
Payton. He bounced outside and raced down the left side for 51 yards that set up the 'Canes at the FSU 20. Payton said over the holiday break he had watched film and realized he failed to do that too often and didn't give himself a chance to make the big run. Not this time. Tailback Tyrone Moss finished the drive with a 3-yard run up the middle to pull within 14-10. Peattie closed the half with a field goal, then hit his 51-yarder early in the third, an attempt he wouldn't have had were it not for an FSU mistake. On fourth and 9 from its 38, Miami punted, but FSU was called for a substitution penalty and instead of having the ball at its 14, it gave Miami 5 yards, then three points and a 16-14 lead.
The FSU defense gave the offense another chance, stripping Berlin on a QB sneak at the UM 30. But after three straight conservative runs, the Seminoles tried a field goal.
"This is a year when we could have won it," Bowden said. "The difference in the game was one play. They made one more play than we did. It could have been an interception, a fumble, not just a kick."
Beitia had made 13-of-16 from that range this season, but once again ...
Well, you've seen it before.