By RENALDO DORSETT
Sports Reporter
rdorsett@tribunemedia.net
IT was something the Florida State Seminoles coaching staff had promised for weeks but it finally came to fruition in a rivalry game as Bahamian Mavin Saunders took on a bigger role in the offence.
Saunders started at tight end and finished with three receptions for 26 yards - both career highs - in the Seminoles’ 29-24 win over in-state rival, the University of Miami Hurricanes, at Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee, Florida, on Saturday.
“It was a blessing to be able to be a part of one of the best rivalries in college football,” Saunders said. “I haven’t gotten any indication whether I’ll be the starter moving forward but I’ll be a part of the offence from now for sure.”
The Seminoles corrected many of the previous issues in its passing game as quarterback Everett Golson completed 25-33 passes for 291 yards and a touchdown.
Golson targeted Saunders on the opening Seminoles drive when they connected on a screen pass for seven yards.
In the third quarter, with the Seminoles clinging to a slight 20-17 lead, Saunders caught a 17-yard pass on a drive which eventually resulted in a field goal and 23-17 lead.
On the season, Saunders leads all tight ends with five receptions but is second behind Ryan Izzo with 31 yards.
With the win, the nationally ranked Seminoles remain at No.11 with a 5-0 record, 3-0 in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
The Seminoles have won six consecutive games against Miami – all under Fisher – which is the second-longest stretch in school history (7, 1963-1972).
Florida State improved its record to 13-1 against in-state opponents under Fisher.
The Seminoles are 5-0 for the fourth consecutive season. FSU has now won 27 consecutive Atlantic Coast Conference games and 17 consecutive games at home.
The Seminoles have now trimmed Miami’s all-time series lead 31-29 after winning for the ninth time in the last 11 meetings.
Saunders, the 6’5” 258-pound redshirt freshman tight end and Bimini native, has appeared in four games this season.
In the season opener, he caught a single pass for five yards.
He was pegged as one of the leading candidates to become a major contributor at tight end with the departure of senior standout Nick O’Leary.
Saunders was a standout this spring as the Seminoles wrapped up spring practice with the 2015 Garnet and Gold Game. He finished with six receptions for 91 yards and a touchdown.
He appeared in just one game last season - an October contest against Wake Forest - before he earned a medical redshirt. He is also one of three tight ends on the roster along with fellow redshirt freshman Ryan Izzo and redshirt sophomore Jeremy Kerr.
Izzo has four receptions for 66 yards thus far on the season.
The Seminoles are scheduled to take on the Louisville Cardinals 12pm October 17.
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