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Florida State's Kyler Hall celebrates after knocking down a pass against Miami. Hall and the Seminoles beat their in-state rival Hurricanes for the first time since '99.

“The defense kept giving us opportunities to win the game,” Miami coach Larry Coker said. “We just couldn’t get it done.”

Most of the talk leading up to the 50th meeting of Miami and Florida State was about the two first-time starters at quarterback. And when it took almost 9 minutes for either team to complete a pass, it became apparent the offenses were in for a long night against two fast and furious defenses.

Wright worked through his problems, including two early interceptions and a few dropped passes, long enough to guide an 81-yard touchdown drive in the second quarter. The sophomore’s first career TD pass was a 34-yarder, zipped over a defender to Ryan Moore to make it 10-7.

The Seminoles had the lead at the half, but the signs weren’t good for Florida State.

Weatherford had completed just three passes for 14 yards while Wright seemed to be capable of making plays when he got help from his line and receivers.

“I mean we did enough to win and that’s all that matters,” Weatherford said.

It looked even more ominous for Florida State when Lawrence Timmons blocked a Miami punt that left the Seminoles with first-and-goal at the 1. After three runs lost 3 yards and a false start pushed FSU back another 5, first-year starter Gary Cismesia hooked a 23-yard field goal left.

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The pick set up Florida State at the Miami 29 and moments later James Coleman bulled in from the 1 for a 7-0 lead and the Seminoles’ first first-quarter TD against the ’Canes since FSU’s last win six years ago.

Cismesia made the first field-goal attempt of his career from 37 yards out a few minutes later, much to the delight of the Seminoles’ fans.

Meanwhile, Peattie, a veteran who made 15 of 24 field-goal attempts last season, missed badly from 47 and 39 in the quarter.

“When the law of averages goes against us, I don’t like the law,” Coker said. “I think it was just poor execution on our parts. Maybe it was just Florida State’s time.”

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