MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — In a thrilling matchup on Saturday night, Darian Mensah passed for 326 yards and three touchdowns, sealing the game with a 3-yard toss to Malachi Toney during the second overtime, leading No. 3 Miami to a 43-35 victory over rival Florida State.
Toney made a significant impact with 11 receptions for 154 yards and two touchdowns, and he also threw a successful 2-point conversion to Cooper Barkate after his touchdown in overtime. Miami improved to 6-0 overall and 4-0 in the Atlantic Coast Conference, with Bryce Fitzgerald concluding the game with an interception on Florida State’s final play.
Mensah had a productive night, completing 23 of 34 passes, as Miami secured its seventh win in ten encounters against the Seminoles. Javian Mallory contributed with 108 yards and two rushing touchdowns, marking one in the first overtime, while Mark Fletcher Jr. added another rushing TD for the Hurricanes.
“That was something else,” Mensah remarked in a post-game interview on the field. “I have to give credit to my defense for closing that out. What a finish.”
Ashton Daniels led Florida State with 298 yards passing and four touchdown throws. Duce Robinson caught two late touchdown passes, one being a 75-yarder that tied the game with just under three minutes remaining in regulation and another 20-yard score to start the first overtime.
Unfortunately for the Seminoles (3-4, 1-3), they lost their leading rusher, Ousmane Kromah, due to a leg injury in the first half. Florida State had a moment of hope when Daniels connected on a fourth-and-21, 36-yard throw that would have trimmed the score to 43-41, but the play was nullified by a holding penalty.
The following play resulted in a desperate throw into the end zone that was initially called an interception but was subject to review. Ultimately, Fitzgerald was confirmed as the one who caught the ball, prompting a celebratory reaction from the Miami players.
Throughout the game, there was a constant back-and-forth, with teams exchanging leads. Miami seemed to take control with a late touchdown from Mensah to Lofton, putting them up 28-21 before Florida State quickly answered with Robinson’s long score, sending the game to overtime.
Miami (who will face Pitt next Saturday) initially took a lead of 7-0, which Florida State matched. They traded leads several times throughout the game. In the overtime, FSU scored first, but Miami quickly responded again.
Ultimately, Florida State ran out of options. “Florida State does an awesome job of coming out fast,” Mensah said. “We did an awesome job of just rallying.”
The takeaway
Florida State: Following a disappointing loss in the 2023 Orange Bowl, they have now endured 14 consecutive defeats away from Tallahassee and are winless since 2016 against ranked teams in true road games.
The last time they won on the road against a ranked team was a nail-biter against Miami on October 8, 2016.
Miami: Mensah had a significant record streak of 153 passes at the start of his career without an interception, which came to an end when he attempted a risky throw to Barkate in the end zone during the third quarter. Ashlynd Barker’s interception kept Florida State in the game at a crucial moment.
