Testaverde Delivers for Miami : Despite 7 Sacks, Hurricanes Win

Vinny Testaverde spent a lot of time on his backside Saturday, but the Miami quarterback stayed upright long enough to deliver four touchdown passes and a 35-27 victory over the Florida State Seminoles.

Testaverde, who was sacked seven times for 18 yards and pressured frequently, managed to complete 23 of 41 passes for 339 yards.

The victory before eight bowl scouts that included officials from two New Year’s Day games--the Orange and Fiesta--stretched 11th-ranked Miami’s winning streak to seven after a loss in the opener to Florida.

Florida State, ranked 10th in the nation, dropped to 6-2.

“We didn’t pick up the blitzes in the first half, but we made some changes at halftime, and it was all right after that,” Testaverde said.

“We played our hearts out and won the game. It was the biggest win of my career,” added the junior who took over for Bernie Kosar this year when Kosar elected to play in the NFL.

Everybody connected with the Hurricanes seems quite satisfied with the way Testaverde is performing.

“He’s not just a quarterback, just a player, he’s our leader,” said receiver Mike Irvin, who caught a 30-yard touchdown pass that put the Hurricanes in the lead for good with 9:55 to go.

Irvin has caught seven touchdown passes in the last seven games, a school record.

Miami Coach Jimmy Johnson said the fact Testaverde was able to do as well in the face of the Florida State rush “shows poise. It shows he is growing up. We’ve had eight games, and he is still getting better every week.”

The Hurricanes trailed, 27-21, before Irvin’s touchdown catch, which came one play after Irvin had put the Hurricanes in position with a 22-yard reception.

His touchdown made it 28-27, and Miami added a score with 3:06 remaining on a one-yard pass from Testaverde to Brett Perriman before a Doak Campbell Stadium record crowd of 61,250.

Miami had closed to 24-21 on its first possession of the second half on Alonzo Highsmith’s two-yard run around right end. Derek Schmidt’s 44-yard field goal put the Seminoles ahead, 27-21.

Florida State scored first on an eight-yard pass from freshman quarterback Chip Ferguson to Hassan Jones.

Brian Davis recovered a blocked punt in the Miami end zone, Schmidt kicked a 37-yard field goal and Ferguson hit Pat Carter for 26 yards over the middle to finish the Seminoles’ scoring.

In his first collegiate start, Ferguson completed 14 of 28 passes for 158 yards.

The Hurricanes scored twice in the first quarter on passes of 10 and 28 yards from Testaverde to wide receiver Brian Blades.