Thomas scores twice and the Blues beat the Predators 7-4

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Robert Thomas scored twice, Jordan Kyrou had a goal and an assist, and the St. Louis Blues beat the Nashville Predators 7-4 on Friday night.

Joel Hofer made 26 saves for the Blues, and defenseman Cam Fowler added a goal and two assists.

Zack Bolduc, Philip Broberg and Colton Parayko also scored for St. Louis. Dylan Holloway had two assists.

Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault each had a goal and an assist for Nashville. Mark Jankowski and Nick Blankenburg also scored.

Predators goalie Juuse Saros was pulled in the second period after allowing five goals on 15 shots.

Thomas scored the first goal of the game and got another one on a power play at 15:10 of the third period off assists from Kyrou and Fowler to make it 6-4.

Parayko added an empty-netter with 1:15 remaining.

St. Louis scored on its first two shots. Thomas got an unassisted goal 1:20 into the game when he picked off a pass by Gustav Nyquist and scored with a wrist shot. Bolduc then fired in a slap shot from the right circle at 2:47.

Predators: Saros was pulled after he poked the puck directly to Broberg, who scored unassisted from the left circle at 15:29 of the second to make it 5-3. Justus Annunen replaced Saros and made 12 saves on 13 shots.

Blues: Hofer improved to 5-0-1 in his last seven appearances. He is 8-3-1 this season.

Fowler gave St. Louis a 4-2 lead at 18:05 of the first with a slap shot from inside the blue line for his first goal of the season. St. Louis acquired him from Anaheim in a Dec. 14 trade.

Thomas has 18 points in his last 12 games (six goals, 12 assists).

The Predators play Monday at Winnipeg. The Blues host Buffalo on Sunday.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Nashville Predators' Jonathan Marchessault, left, is congratulated by teammates Steven Stamkos, center, and Ryan O'Reilly (90) after scoring during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the St. Louis Blues, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Scott Kane)

Nashville Predators' Filip Forsberg (9) controls the puck as St. Louis Blues' Brandon Saad (20) defends during the third period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Scott Kane)

St. Louis Blues' Jake Neighbours (63) and Nashville Predators' Ryan O'Reilly (90) vie for control of the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Scott Kane)

Nashville Predators' Adam Wilsby (83) looks to pass the puck while under pressure from St. Louis Blues' Oskar Sundqvist (70) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Scott Kane)

Nashville Predators goaltender Justus Annunen (29) stops the puck as Nashville Predators' Luke Schenn (2) and St. Louis Blues' Brayden Schenn (10) battle during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Scott Kane)

St. Louis Blues' Colton Parayko (55) clears the puck while under pressure from Nashville Predators' Zachary L'Heureux (68) during the third period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Scott Kane)

Nashville Predators' Adam Wilsby (83) and St. Louis Blues' Mathieu Joseph (71) vie for control of the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Scott Kane)

Nashville Predators' Steven Stamkos, second from the left, celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the St. Louis BluesFriday, Dec. 27, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Scott Kane)

St. Louis Blues' Philip Broberg (6) controls the puck while under pressure from Nashville Predators' Michael McCarron (47) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Scott Kane)

St. Louis Blues goaltender Joel Hofer (30) reaches for the buck as it flies past the gaol during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Scott Kane)

St. Louis Blues' Jordan Kyrou (25) celebrates with teammates after scoring during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Scott Kane)

Nashville Predators' Jeremy Lauzon (3) and St. Louis Blues' Tyler Tucker (75) fight during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Scott Kane)

St. Louis Blues' Robert Thomas (18) shoots on goal while under pressure from Nashville Predators' Adam Wilsby (83) and Roman Josi (59) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Scott Kane)

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Keionte Scott peeked over at the Miami sideline to see the reaction of his teammates as he sprinted 72 yards untouched for a touchdown returning an interception against defending national champion Ohio State.

They certainly were excited, as were a Pro Football Hall of Fame receiver and a former coach who won national championships with the Hurricanes.

Scott picked off a screen pass by Heisman Trophy finalist Julian Sayin, Carson Beck threw a touchdown pass and 10th-ranked Miami shocked the Buckeyes 24-14 on Wednesday night at the Cotton Bowl in the first College Football Playoff quarterfinal.

“I was full of emotions. ... That was a pretty cool moment,” said Scott, who has TD returns on both of his interceptions this season. “Just having fun. ... That’s what this team relies on, man, just going out there playing free and just having fun.”

The Hurricanes (12-2, CFP No. 10 seed) have won two playoff games to get into football’s final four after needing an at-large berth to make the 12-team field, after not even playing in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game. One more win and they will get to play for a national championship in their home stadium.

Next for Miami in coach Mario Cristobal’s fourth season is a CFP semifinal at the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 8 against No. 3 seed Georgia or No. 6 seed Ole Miss, the SEC teams in the Sugar Bowl on Thursday night.

There hasn’t been a national title for “The U” since 2001, which was their fifth; Cristobal was a standout offensive tackle for the Hurricanes in their 1989 and 1991 championship seasons. The Hurricanes were denied a repeat championship in 2002 with a double-overtime loss in the Fiesta Bowl to Ohio State, the only other time the teams met in a bowl — and the last Miami played in that game.

“It is 100% not about me. I’m part of their team, I’m a part of that family,” Cristobal said. “It is my obligation as a former Miami Hurricane player and all the things that Miami did for my brother and I to do my best to try to provide these guys with even better opportunities so they can fulfill all the great things they are destined for.”

Before receiver Michael Irvin and coach Jimmy Johnson were Super Bowl champions with the Dallas Cowboys, they were part of the Hurricanes' 1987 national championship. Irvin excitedly ran down the sideline while Scott was scoring for a 14-0 lead, and Johnson was nearby when acknowledged by Cristobal during the on-field trophy presentation.

Now it's third-ranked Ohio State (12-2, CFP No. 2 seed), which went into the game as a 9 1/2-point favorite according to BetMGM Sportsbook, that can't win back-to-back national titles for the first time in program history.

The Buckeyes hadn't played since a 13-10 loss to now-No. 1 Indiana in a Big Ten championship game matchup of undefeated teams on Dec. 6. They still got a first-round bye, then lost just like all four teams that went directly to the quarterfinal round in the inaugural 12-team playoff last season.

“We worked really hard during the last three weeks leading up to this game to come out of the gates and win the first quarter, win the first half, be ready to go,” Buckeyes coach Ryan Day said. “I think the guys bought into it. But at the end of the day, we didn’t get it done.”

Scott's interception return came only 1:42 after Beck's quick pass to Mark Fletcher Jr. out of the backfield for a 9-yard score.

Beck, who was part of Georgia's national titles in 2021 and 2022 when Stetson Bennett was the starter, completed 19 of 26 passes for 138 yards.

When asked what stood out to him about these Hurricanes, Beck said, “Just the way that this team has responded to adversity. We knew coming into today that it wasn’t going to be easy.”

The TD throw to Fletcher, who also ran 19 times for 90 yards and was the game's offensive MVP, was the seventh of 13 consecutive completions for Beck. That set a record in the Cotton Bowl, which was played for the 90th time.

Sayin, a freshman backup behind Will Howard for Ohio State's championship run last season, was 22 of 35 for 287 yards with two interceptions and a TD to Jeremiah Smith. Sayin was sacked five times.

AP All-America receiver Smith, the Miami native, caught seven of those passes for 157 yards, including a 14-yard TD on a fourth down in the fourth quarter.

Carter Davis added a 49-yard field goal in the third quarter and ChaMar Brown ran for a 5-yard TD in the game's final minute for the Hurricanes, whose 24 points were the most Ohio State gave up this season.

Miami: The Hurricanes have won six games in a row since an overtime loss Nov. 1 at SMU, less than 25 miles from AT&T Stadium, where the Cotton Bowl is played. They also made their CFP debut in the Lone Star State, winning 10-3 at No. 7 Texas A&M in the first round on Dec. 20.

Ohio State: All-America safety Caleb Downs, who started in the CFP for the third season in a row, became the first player to force two fumbles in a CFP game. ... The Buckeyes had gone four consecutive quarters — the equivalent of a full game — until Bo Jackson’s 1-yard TD run to cap its opening drive of the second half.

Miami waits to see who it will play in the Fiesta Bowl. Ohio State is scheduled to open the the 2026 season at home against Ball State on Sept. 5.

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

Former NFL football players Ray Lewis, left, and Michael Irvin react after Miami running back Charmar Brown, not visible, scored a rushing touchdown during the second half of the Cotton Bowl College Football Playoff quarterfinal game against Ohio State Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Miami head coach Mario Cristobal, right, hugs defensive lineman Ahmad Moten Sr. following the Cotton Bowl College Football Playoff quarterfinal game against Ohio State Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin, center, is sacked by Miami defensive lineman Rueben Bain Jr., left, and defensive lineman Akheem Mesidor during the first half of the Cotton Bowl College Football Playoff quarterfinal game Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Miami quarterback Carson Beck, right, prepares to hand off to running back Mark Fletcher Jr. during the first half of the Cotton Bowl College Football Playoff quarterfinal game against Ohio State Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Ohio State kicker Jayden Fielding, with Joe McGuire holding, misses a field goal against Miami during the first half of the Cotton Bowl College Football Playoff quarterfinal game Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day looks o during the first half of the Cotton Bowl College Football Playoff quarterfinal game against Miami Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)

Miami defensive back Jakobe Thomas, right, makes a tackle on Ohio State tight end Will Kacmarek during the second half of the Cotton Bowl College Football Playoff quarterfinal game Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)