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Clemson breezes by visiting FAU as Klubnik has hand in four touchdowns
CLEMSON, S.C. — Cade Klubnik threw for three touchdowns and ran for a fourth as Clemson played its most complete game of the season in a 48-14 victory over Florida Atlantic on Saturday night.
Klubnik passed for 169 yards including touchdowns of 30 and 2 yards to freshman receiver Tyler Brown.
The defense for the Tigers (2-1) was just as strong, cornerback Nate Wiggins with a pick-6 TD return of 46 yards on the Owls’ opening series.
Clemson never let up after that and held the Owls scoreless until Michael Johnson Jr.’s 2-yard TD run with 12:07 left in the game.
Most welcome for Clemson was Klubnik’s steady, mistake-free performance. He had two turnovers in each of the first two games, and his fumble in an opening week, 28-7 loss at Duke, was among several miscues in the defeat.
The showing against Florida Atlantic (1-2) came at the right moment with Clemson seeking momentum to carry into its showdown here next week with No. 3 Florida State.
The Owls, in their first season in the American Athletic Conference, showed some fire before the game, gathering at midfield on Death Valley’s paw logo to the boos of the crowd.
The swagger ended at kickoff. Four plays in, Clemson’s Wiggins broke in front of quarterback Casey Thompson’s pass downfield and zig-zagged his way to the end zone.
Klubnik went 5 of 5 on the Tigers’ first possession, the last a commanding throw to Brown for a 30-yard touchdown and a 13-0 lead.
Thompson’s second interception of the opening period led to Klubnik’s second scoring pass, 7 yards to tight end Jake Briningstool.
Klubnik, who ran for 35 yards, bulled into the end zone for a final first-half touchdown from a yard out and a 34-0 lead.
Thompson, the Nebraska transfer who’s started all three games for the Owls, took a hard, high hit in the second quarter and spent several minutes on the turf surrounded by trainers. He eventually got to his feet and walked, albeit unsteadily and with plenty of help, to the sidelines. Thompson, who came out in street clothes for the second half, did not return to play.
LaJohntay Wester had game highs of 12 catches and 108 yards receiving for Florida Atlantic.
THE TAKEAWAYFlorida Atlantic: The Owls were out of this one quickly. They ran for just 83 yards, made just two of their first 14 third downs and had four turnovers. At least Florida Atlantic took away a $1.2 million guarantee for its first trip to Clemson since 2006.
Clemson: The Tigers opportunity, perhaps its last one, to get back in the ACC and national title discussion comes next week against the Seminoles. As crisp as Clemson looked against Florida Atlantic, it will have to up its game even more against dynamic Florida State.
UP NEXTFlorida Atlantic continues its Power Five excursion, playing at Illinois of the Big Ten Conference on Saturday.
Clemson has an ACC showdown at home against No. 3 Florida State on Saturday.
After Gators beat Vols, can we please stop with the Napier nonsense? | Commentary
Can we please stop with the ridiculous rhetoric now?
Can we please stop all of this nonsensical talk about how Billy Napier is going to be fired after this season?
Will the lunatic fringe of Florida Gators fans now please quit ripping Napier on social media and saying he’s not up to the challenge of coaching in the SEC?
Will those in the national media — people who are supposed to be responsible and credible — quit speculating on Napier’s job security after only one season at UF?
All of you, go up to the blackboard and write it 100 times:
Billy Napier is not getting fired.
Billy Napier is not getting fired.
Billy Napier is not getting fired …
Napier and his Florida Gators not only beat the 11th-ranked Tennessee Volunteers 29-16 on Saturday night; the game was never really in doubt. And now, hopefully, the nattering nabobs of Napier negativity will be muzzled for good.
First of all, Napier wasn’t going to get fired this season even if he’d lost the game Saturday night, but now maybe the clanging cymbals on social media will finally shut up. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: The Gators and their administration are going to give Napier an adequate amount of time to rebuild the program. And by an adequate amount of time, I mean more than one season and three games.
But if you listened to some of those in the national media and the many more on social media, you would have thought Saturday was a make-or-break game for Napier’s future. No doubt, it was a big win for the Gators and Napier, who was 1-6 against ranked teams heading into Saturday night and 0-4 last year in UF’s rivalry games (Tennessee, Georgia, LSU and FSU.), but it wasn’t a must win.
But in the days leading up to the game, all we kept hearing was how Napier needed to win this game to perhaps save his job. Is this where we’re at now in college football — a college football coach who takes over a program mostly bereft of talent is placed on some sort of make-believe hot seat after one 6-7 season?
Even ESPN’s Paul Finebaum, who I consider the most influential media voice in college football, began writing Napier’s coaching epitaph earlier this week when he floated the rumor that Deion Sanders of Colorado could end up at Florida after this season.
“You’ve got a brand new president [at UF] in former Sen. Ben Sasse who is a forward-thinking guy who would look at Deion and go, ‘I like this.’ I think he could consider this the ticket,” Finebaum said on a podcast hosted by prominent national college football writers Bruce Feldman and Stuart Mandel. “It is considered as one of the premier public universities in the country. They just finished No. 1 in a [Wall Street Journal] poll and I think Deion fits their makeup very well.
“The fact that he played at Florida State makes it even more intriguing and more enticing for Deion. How can you not be attracted by that fertile recruiting ground down there?”
Really, Paul?
Seriously?
Personally, I always thought this Napier’s-on-the-hotseat talk was absurd and he will end up being a great coach at Florida if the fans and media just give him a chance to do his job.
And maybe now they will.
That’s why the victory wasn’t just a victory for Napier and the Gators; it was a victory for prudence and common sense.
“How sweet it is,” Napier said as he walked into his postgame news conference. “You want to see your people experience some success and see the fruits of their labor, and I’m not just talking about the players. I’m talking about the adults. It validates your plan. It validates what you’re selling.”
Napier no doubt heard all of the negative overreaction to Florida’s 24-11 road loss to 12th-ranked Utah in the season opener. Granted, the Gators didn’t play well and made a ton of mistakes, but they lost on the road to the two-time defending Pac-12 champions who haven’t lost a home game in more than two years.
After the Utah loss, the offensive line was called terrible, the running game was called terrible, quarterback Graham Mertz was called not ready for primetime and there were screams for Napier to give up play-calling duties, hire a special teams coach, show more emotion on the sideline, blah, blah, blah
Do all of those Napier critics out there still think he needs to hire an offensive coordinator? No, it wasn’t an offensive fireworks show Saturday night, but I consider Tennessee’s Josh Heupel to be the best offensive mind in college football and Napier’s offense outgained Heupel’s 281-182 in the first half before the Gators went conservative in the second half. If you’re scoring at home, Heupel’s teams never scored less than 17 points during his three seasons at UCF.
Does anybody still think the offensive line is terrible and the Gators can’t run the ball? Running back Trevor Etienne rushed for 172 yards, including a 62-yard touchdown.
Does anybody still think Mertz is just some rum-bum, run-of-the-mill transfer from Wisconsin. Mertz was a 5-star recruit coming out of high school and played like it Saturday when he efficiently completed 19 of 24 passes for 166 yards and a touchdown. He also deked a defender on a key third-down play and ran for a touchdown as well.
Does anybody still think the Swamp has lost its magic and mystique? The 12th-largest crowd in school history (90,751) was at its rocking, roaring, loudest, proudest best on Saturday night, consistently disrupting and distracting Tennessee’s offense and sending the Vols home with yet another loss at a stadium they haven’t won at in 20 years.
It was a good night to be a Florida Gator.
It was a good night to be Billy Napier.
Can we please stop with the ridiculous rhetoric now?
Email me at mbianchi@orlandosentinel.com. Hit me up on X (formerly Twitter) @BianchiWrites and listen to my Open Mike radio show every weekday from 6 to 9:30 a.m. on FM 96.9, AM 740 and HD 101.1-2
Florida earns significant SEC-opening win against Tennessee
GAINESVILLE — Quarterback Graham Mertz could not miss, Trevor Etienne could not be contained and Tennessee’s high-powered offense could not contend with an inspired, sold-out Swamp.
Together, it added up to an insurmountable lead, an eventual 29-16 Gators triumph over the No. 11 Vols and a long-awaited SEC signature win for embattled coach Billy Napier.
“It rewards the fruits of your labor,” Napier said. “It validates your plan.”
Coach Josh Heupel’s Vols rallied but could not overcome mistakes and missed opportunities. An offsides penalty by defensive tackle Kurott Garland with UF facing fourth-and-1 from its 34-yard line extended the Gators’ drive and allowed them to chew up valuable time, leaving the Vols just 3:49 when they got the ball back down 13 points.
Quarterback Joe Milton’s incompletion on fourth-and-10 from UF’s 25 with 2:31 remaining ended any comeback bid.
“The times we needed to execute, the guys executed,” Mertz said.
Florida tailback Trevor Etienne recorded his third 100-yard game as the Gators beat No. 11 Tennessee at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville. (James Gilbert/Getty Images)Florida (2-1, 1-0 SEC) entered the conference opener as 5.5-point underdogs and losers of four straight games to Power 5 foes. A missed field goal to cap a strong opening drive followed by a quick Vols touchdown sent a wave of uneasiness through Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
A 62-yard touchdown run by Etienne quickly supercharged an announced crowd of 90,751. Even a missed extra point did not slow the Gators’ momentum from there. The sophomore finished with a career-high 172 yards on 23 carries.
“Trevor was on fire tonight,” Napier said. “The instincts. The vision.”
Etienne’s explosiveness, Mertz’s pinpoint accuracy and composure and a swarming defense riding the crowd’s energy overwhelmed the Vols (2-1, 0-1).
Florida ended the first half leading 26-7, with a 281-122 edge in yardage and having run 42 plays to 22 for a Tennessee offense known for a high snap count.
“We played really good complementary football tonight,” Napier said. “The plan worked.”
Florida receiver Ricky Pearsall reaches out for a pass in the end zone behind Tennessee defender Gabe Jeudy-Lally. Pearsall could not reach the ball but the Gators would score later in the drive Saturday. (Chris Hays/Orlando Sentinel)UF also converted 7 of 8 third-down tries after entering 6 of 19 for an SEC low 31.58% rate. On one, Mertz ran toward a defender, pump-faked to freeze him and picked up enough yards.
“Some of those third downs were epic,” Napier said. “We stayed on schedule.”
While Mertz and the Gators made all the right moves, a full-throated performance by the Swamp rattled Milton, 23 and in his sixth season, and knocked the Vols off schedule.
“They were a factor,” Napier said of the crowd.
FLorida running back Montrell Johnson highsteps into the end zone to score a touchdown in the second quarter Saturday night. (Chris Hays/Orlando Sentinel)Trailing 12-6 after a 4-yard touchdown run by Florida’s Montrell Johnson Jr., Tennessee opened its third drive with a false-start penalty, one of five on a night when the Vols committed 10 penalties for 79 yards. Milton followed a 3-yard completion with an ill-advised throw down field intercepted by sophomore Devin Moore and returned 39 yards to the Vols’ 9.
“Hats off to and give credit to Florida,” Heupel said. “They did a good job, but we got to be a lot better. We need to be cleaner.”
Three plays later, Mertz scored on a 1-yard keeper. Florida answered Tennessee’s three-and-out possession with their fourth touchdown, an 18-yard completion from Mertz to Johnson.
“We’re playing complete offensive football,” Mertz said.
But the Gators stalled in the second half to give the Vols chances to rally. Heupel’s squad, though, could not capitalize.
“This group can get better,” Napier said. “That’s what’s exciting to me.”
Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com
UCF readies for Big 12 play by rolling over Villanova in QB Timmy McClain’s debut
It’s been nearly two years since quarterback Timmy McClain last started a game, so forgive the 21-year-old if there was a bit of rust to his game.
His last start came against UCF when the Sanford Seminole High product played for rival USF and he nearly led the Bulls to an upset win.
McClain was back at FBC Mortgage Stadium on Saturday night, but this time with the Knights after transferring last year. He was thrust into the starting job after John Rhys Plumlee suffered a leg injury in the team’s win at Boise State last week.
This time, he was on the winning end as UCF jumped out to a 34-0 halftime lead before cruising to a 48-14 win against Villanova.
“He hadn’t played in two years and in fairness to him, that’s hard to do,” said UCF coach Gus Malzahn. “He settled down after a short period of time and really handled the offense very well.”
UCF linebacker Walter Yates III sprints down field after intercepting a pass by Villanova on Saturday night. (Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando Sentinel)It was a slow start for McClain, who was 6 of 11 (55%) before completing four straight passes, including a 25-yard fade to Javon Baker for his first touchdown pass as a Knight with 5:10 left in the first half. But McClain would heat up, going 14 of 17 for the remainder of the game, finishing with 321 passing yards and a 191.3 passer rating.
“I did have a little bit of butterflies,” said McClain. “But the game started to slow down and I started to get more comfortable and started to get back to my rhythm, myself and who I am and what I do.”
Said Malzahn: “He just needs to get out there and he’ll get better and better. In each game, the moments were not too big for him. That’s the biggest thing with a quarterback. He wasn’t nervous and he was excited to play.”
True freshman Dylan Rizk entered the game with 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter.
Tailback Jordan McDonald scored on a pair of 1-yard touchdown runs, resulting from direct snaps in the Wildcat formation.
But it was far from being a clean performance for UCF, which committed seven penalties in the first half, including two blocks in the back that nullified a 92-yard punt return by Xavier Townsend and a 73-yard touchdown pass from McClain to Kobe Hudson.
The defense held Villanova to 38 yards in the first half, including 1-yard passing. The unit also had two sacks and an interception.
“We just didn’t let up,” said defensive end Josh Celiscar. “It was like we were having fun, doing what we normally do. We went out there are were relentless, ran to the football, were physical and upholding the standard.”
Celiscar, who was tied for the team lead with six tackles, switched to the tackle spot in the absence of Ricky Barber. The redshirt senior missed Saturday’s game with an undisclosed injury as did defensive back DeJordan Mask.
Wildcats quarterback Connor Watkins scored on a 3-yard run at the start of the fourth quarter to deny UCF a shutout.
UCF (3-0, 0-0 Big 12) wrapped up its nonconference schedule, improving to 3-0 for the first time since 2019. The Knights enter Big 12 play next Saturday when they travel to Kansas State (2-1, 0-0 Big 12), which lost to Missouri on a walk-off 61-yard field goal as time expired Saturday.
Injured quarterback John Rhys Plumlee watches his teammates warm up before kickoff Saturday night vs. Villanova at FBC Mortgage Stadium. (Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando Sentinel)“What you do is you put the season in segments,” said Malzahn. “That was the nonconference and we took care of it by going 3-0 and I feel like we got better. There were some really good things that happened tonight. Now it’s on to the conference play and that’s when everything turns up. Our guys understand that we’re going to the defending [Big 12] champs on their home turf and it’s another really tough place to play.”
Email Matt Murschel at mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com or follow him on Twitter at @osmattmurschel.
General Daily Insight for September 17, 2023
General Daily Insight for September 17, 2023
It’s an undeniably fabulous day. Luxurious Venus and expansive Jupiter are coming into a combustible square at 2:10 am EDT, so our desires to enjoy ourselves will be positively off the charts. Meanwhile, the Moon in fair-minded Libra will form a pair of back-to-back quincunxes to rebellious Uranus and mystical Neptune, so reality will be the last thing on our minds. It’s important to avoid going overboard, particularly once the Moon makes one last square to Pluto and turns up the intensity of nearly everything.
AriesMarch 21 – April 19
It could be almost impossible to maintain a sense of responsibility right now. There is a potent square between pleasure-loving Venus in your exuberant 5th house and bountiful Jupiter in your luxurious 2nd house, which readies your bold soul to do as you please and leave reason behind for another time. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying yourself, but there is a danger here of overdoing things — especially when it comes to spending. Don’t do something your future self will regret!
TaurusApril 20 – May 20
Everything could seem larger than life at this time, but don’t worry — it’s to your advantage. Your sign’s ruler Venus is in your emotional 4th house, and is squaring excitable Jupiter, currently in your own sign. This may fill you with all the excitement of a kid in a candy store! This much opportunity is wonderful, but be wary of indulging yourself past sensibility. Suffering from a sugar high wouldn’t be fun, so pick your pleasures carefully and you should be just fine.
GeminiMay 21 – June 20
Your immediate reality may look more like a fantasy world on a day like this. Venus is currently in your 3rd House of Local Community, stirring up lots of pleasurable activities in your immediate vicinity. Still, even the most energetic hobby may feel dreamier than usual when Venus squares Jupiter in your 12th House of the Subconscious. You can follow a yellow brick road wherever it might lead, but don’t do it blindly, or you risk losing sight of yourself in the process.
CancerJune 21 – July 22
You may have to be more decisive than usual when picking your pleasures today. There is a conflicting square between Venus in your income sector and Jupiter in your social sector, and while Venus wants you to treat yourself, Jupiter is driving you to treat other people. The main thing to remember is that your true friends shouldn’t expect you to pay for them or cover their share, but a little generosity doesn’t hurt anyone when you’re doing it for the right reasons.
LeoJuly 23 – August 22
Try not to lay anything on too thick, Leo. You’ve got a special gloss as Venus tours your sign, but that might cause you to gild the lily when Venus squares enthusiastic Jupiter in your 10th House of Reputation. It’s fine to be indulgent here and there, as Venus can urge you to do, but that could rub other people the wrong way. If you want to treat yourself, don’t bother showing it off to others. Keep your pleasures private for the time being.
VirgoAugust 23 – September 22
Anything could seem possible on a day like this, but whether you actually do anything with that energy is another matter altogether. Venus in your subconscious sector is making a powerful square to Jupiter in your adventure sector, so you won’t be able to gauge reality as well as you normally do. You’re allowed to go off and do as you please, but watch out — that probably won’t produce the results you want. You can make an effort without expecting too much from yourself.
LibraSeptember 23 – October 22
The cosmos is in a giving mood, and is passing that generosity down to you. Venus in your social 11th house is encouraging you to nurture all the people in your life, so you may be feeling especially supportive. Still, as Venus fusses over Jupiter in your money-minded 8th house, you may offer more financial help than you should. Yes, it’s very nice to cover the bill for everyone, but don’t let your cash burn a hole in your pocket.
ScorpioOctober 23 – November 21
Someone could have a positive impact on your ongoing ambitions. You’re primed to be at your best while Venus tours your reputation sector, adding an extra sheen to your public image. Venus also squares Jupiter in your partnership sector, possibly resulting in a specific figure being your number-one cheerleader. This could give you just the boost you need to cross the finish line, as long as they don’t dramatize things and leave you feeling a bit silly in the process.
SagittariusNovember 22 – December 21
The world is full of possibilities, but you may have a few tasks to deal with before you can explore more exciting options. Luxurious Venus in your expansive 9th house is showing you all the opportunities available just beyond the horizon, but a square to Jupiter in your responsible 6th house might stir up some chores for you to check off first and foremost. Handle the work in front of you before spreading your wings and seeing what’s out there.
CapricornDecember 22 – January 19
Wearing your heart on your sleeve isn’t a matter of choice at the moment. You’re prone to keeping feelings to yourself while Venus tours your secretive 8th house, but that energy gets shaken up when Venus argues with enthusiastic Jupiter in your live-out-loud 5th house. It’ll be nigh impossible to keep your head on! Don’t be shocked if you feel a dissonance between these conflicting emotions — instead, look for a happy medium that works for you without leaving you feeling regret.
AquariusJanuary 20 – February 18
Other people likely want the best for you. Venus in your relationship sector is bringing lots of support your way from important peers, and you may have a hard time not getting emotional over this support when Venus squares Jupiter in your 4th House of Feelings. Even if you don’t consider yourself a very sentimental person, you could release a flood of waterworks under this alignment — thankfully, it should be cathartic. Allow others to see what you often keep bottled up.
PiscesFebruary 19 – March 20
Your day may be fun, but it probably won’t be very productive. You have the best intentions while Venus is in your efficient 6th house, but its square to enthusiastic Jupiter in your busy 3rd house could result in you bouncing all over the place without much progress to show for your efforts. You could certainly enjoy yourself, but when it comes to accomplishing anything, you’d be wise to avoid any grandiose expectations. Enjoy today, then get back to work tomorrow.
Atlanta United capitalizes on Messi’s absence to hand Inter Miami first loss since superstar’s signing
ATLANTA — Atlanta United took the lead with a three-goal spree late in the first half and beat Inter Miami, playing without star Lionel Messi, 5-2 on Saturday night.
Leo Campana scored two goals for Inter Miami, which also was without defender Jordi Alba. The story of the night, however, was the absence of Messi. Messi’s absence for the Major League Soccer match was a disappointment for a crowd of 71,635 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The five goals matched Atlanta’s second-highest total of the season. Atlanta beat Columbus 6-1 on March 25 and also scored five goals in a 5-1 win over Portland on March 18.
Brooks Lennon, who also had an assist, scored on the 41st minute to give Atlanta a 2-1 lead. Atlanta took a 4-2 advantage when Giorgos Giakoumakis scored on assists from Thiago Almada and Saba Lobzhanidze in the 76th minute. It was the Atlanta United-record 15th assist of the season for Almada.
Inter Miami fell to 11-1-1 since the July signing of the Argentine luminary.
Tyler Wolff’s late goal pushed the lead to three goals.
Atlanta United began the night in sixth place in the Eastern Conference, three points behind Columbus.
Inter Miami on Messi missing games: ‘We will be careful with him’Inter Miami star Lionel Messi did not dress for Saturday’s match at Atlanta United, the second match he missed this week.
Atlanta is among five MLS stadiums with artificial turf surfaces. Miami did not announce reasons that Messi and defender Jordi Alba did not dress, but Atlanta United owner Arthur Blank believes the FieldTurf was not the reason.
Blank referred to Messi’s statement after signing with Inter Miami that he wouldn’t avoid playing on FieldTurf.
“I think he made that decision. I don’t really have an opinion on that. I’d just repeat what he said in his press conference, that he has competed on artificial turf since he was a youngster and to some extent as a professional, Blank said. “I don’t think it had anything to do with his decision. I think he suffered some sort of injury, however minor it might be.”
Blank spoke at a news conference before the match to discuss details of Friday’s announcement that the U.S. Soccer Federation plans to build a national training center in Atlanta. The project is backed by a $50 million donation from Blank.
Blank said NFL research since 2021 showed injuries on FieldTurf and natural grass to be “about the same.” Falcons CEO Rich McKay, a member of the NFL competition committee who also attended the news conference, also said research showed injuries on FieldTurf and grass to be similarly common.
Messi’s absence for the Major League Soccer match was a disappointment for a crowd of 71,635 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Many fans wore pink Inter Miami shirts with Messi’s name on the back. Flozel Marriott, a native of Jamaica and Atlanta resident who previously lived in Miami, attended the game with his wife, daughters and nephew. All wore Messi jerseys, though he said he otherwise supports Atlanta United.
“I was an Argentina fan growing up and I’ve always been a fan of Messi,” Marriott said. “I’m an Atlanta fan as well, but today I’m here supporting Messi. I want my children to see a legend.”
Marriott was surprised to hear Messi would not attend the game.
“No, I did not know that,” Marriott said, looking at his family. “If he’s not, they’re going to be disappointed. That’s where we spent all the money, just to see him.”
Messi watched from the bench on Tuesday in Argentina’s World Cup qualifying win at Bolivia. Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni said Messi was not feeling well.
Miami coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino said Friday he will avoid overworking the 36-year-old Messi during a busy portion of the team’s schedule.
“We will be careful with him because we have a lot of important games in a short span,” said Martino, the former Atlanta coach.
Miami has matches at home against Toronto on Wednesday and at Orlando on Sept. 24.
“This is something that we knew would happen at some point,” Martino said, adding Messi needed time “to get used to our needs.”
Eighth-inning home run deluge for Marlins against Braves as Burger breaks tie and Chisholm blasts grand slam
MIAMI — Jake Burger hit a go-ahead two-run homer and Jazz Chisholm Jr. added a grand slam in the eighth inning as the Miami Marlins pulled away to beat the Atlanta Braves 11-5 on Saturday.
Luis Arraez and Yuli Gurriel also went deep for the Marlins, who became the first NL East team to win a series against the division champions. The Braves were 11-0-1 in their previous series against division opponents.
Matt Olson hit his major league-leading 52nd homer and overtook Andruw Jones as Atlanta’s single-season home run leader. Jones hit 51 in 2005.
Josh Bell drew a two-out walk against Braves reliever Kirby Yates (7-2) before Burger made it 7-5 with a drive over the wall in center for his 32nd homer and seventh since he joined Miami on Aug. 1.
Gurriel singled, and Jesús Sánchez and Garrett Hampson walked before Chisholm connected off Michael Tonkin for Miami’s first grand slam of the season.
Ozzie Albies hit his 30th homer and became the fifth Braves’ player to reach the total this season.
Braves star outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. didn’t play because of right calf tightness he experienced late in the series opener Friday. Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said Acuña felt better Saturday but with the club already having clinched the division, it wasn’t worth the risk playing him.
The Braves threatened in the eighth when they loaded the bases against reliever Andrew Nardi with two out. Tanner Scott (8-4) relieved and retired Orlando Arcia on a groundout to third.
Steven Okert followed Marlins starter Bryan Hoeing and allowed solo homers to Michael Harris II in the fifth and Olson in the sixth that tied it at 5. Hoeing completed 4 1/3 innings, retiring 13 of the final batters he faced. The right-hander allowed three runs, four hits and struck out two on 56 pitches.
Gurriel’s three-run blast and Arraez’s leadoff shot against Braves starter Jared Shuster in the first erased a 3-0 deficit.
Shuster gave up five runs and six hits over three innings.
HARRIS MOVES UPWith Acuña’s absence, Harris took over the leadoff spot in the lineup for the first time this season and second in his young career. The reigning NL Rookie of the Year has hit ninth in 86 games this season.
TRAINER’S ROOMMarlins: OF Bryan De La Cruz (right ankle discomfort) did not play. He left after the third inning Friday. … RHP Huascar Brazoban (left hip impingement) threw a bullpen session Friday.
UP NEXTRHP Charlie Morton (14-11, 3.42) will start the series finale for the Braves Sunday against Marlins LHP Jesús Luzardo (9-9, 3.82).
Hurricanes pick up commitment from four-star forward Isaiah Johnson-Arigu
Jim Larrañaga added another blue-chip prospect to his 2024 recruiting class on Saturday.
Four-star small forward Isaiah Johnson-Arigu committed to Miami, announcing his decision on social media.
Johnson-Arigu is rated the No. 24 small forward and No. 100 player in the 2024 class by 247Sports’ composite rankings. He chose the Hurricanes over offers from Butler, Iowa and Nebraska, among others. He took an official visit to Miami earlier this month, according to 247Sports.
Johnson-Arigu, who is listed at 6-7 and 190 pounds, plays for Totino-Grace High in Fridley, Minnesota, outside of Minneapolis.
Johnson-Arigu is the second member of the Hurricanes’ 2024 class, joining guard Austin Swartz.
No. 3 Florida State survives late Boston College rally to win 31-29
BOSTON — After blowing most of a 21-point lead, No. 3 Florida State escaped with a 31-29 victory over Boston College on Saturday and left the field to derisive chants of “Overrated!”
The Seminoles won’t have a lofty ranking to mock if they keep this up.
“We dug our own hole,” running back Rodney Hill said after Florida State closed with three punts and a fumble, then managed to run out the clock only because BC committed its 18th penalty of the game — a face mask after a third-down stop that would have forced a punt.
“We got back out there and it was fine,” Hill said. “We sealed it.”
DJ Lundy intercepted a pass to set up his own 1-yard touchdown run as the Seminoles (3-0, 1-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) scored four unanswered touchdowns to make it 31-10 before surviving a late BC charge for their ninth straight victory.
Boston College (1-2, 0-1) set a school record for penalties, missed an extra point, went for 2 after another touchdown and failed, and opted not to kick a field goal from the Seminoles 5 when trailing by 15 points early in the fourth quarter. But the Eagles still trailed by only 2 points, with the ball, in the final three minutes before Kalen DeLoach sacked Thomas Castellanos on third down to stall BC’s last possession.
The Eagles stopped Lawrance Toafili on a third-and-7 and would have gotten the ball back with about a minute left, but they were called for face masking.
“Just self-inflicted wounds,” said BC quarterback Thomas Castellanos, who threw for 305 yards and one touchdown and ran for 95 and another score. “We’ve just got to clean it up. Can’t have it.”
Jordan Travis completed 16 of 24 passes for 212 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 38 yards for the Seminoles. FSU had its first close call of the season after winning its first two games by a combined 74 points.
Kye Robichaux scored from 1 yard out for BC to cut the deficit to 31-16 with a minute left in the third quarter, but Connor Lytton’s kick failed. BC recovered a squib kick and advanced to the FSU 5 before getting stopped on fourth down.
Khari Johnson recovered Toafili’s fumble and ran it in to pull the Eagles within nine points; BC went for 2 and failed, then stopped FSU for the third straight time — the Eagles did that only once in the entire first half. They drove to the 7 before Castellanos froze the defense with a stutter step and ran it in on a fourth-and-2 to make it 31-29.
But BC’s last possession stalled after Castellanos was sacked. The Seminoles needed a first down to kill the clock, and they got it on a face-mask penalty after Toafili was stopped three yards short of the markers.
“Our standard is for us to get better every time we take the field,” Florida State coach Mike Norvell said. “That did not happen today.”
Firefighters battle mobile home fire after lightning strike in Davie
A mobile home caught on fire after a lightning strike in Davie Saturday afternoon, officials say, displacing four residents and a dog.
Crews responded to the fire in the 500 block of Southwest 131st Terrace around 4:30 p.m., Davie Fire Marshal Bob Taylor said, and had to attack the fire from the outside, extinguishing it after about 30 to 45 minutes.
The fire did significant damage to the trailer, and its four occupants, all adults, were displaced, he said, though no one was injured. The American Red Cross is providing shelter.
A lightning strike is believed to have started the fire, according to initial reports, Taylor said, but the cause of the fire is still under investigation.
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