Fourth-ranked Florida State completed the biggest comeback win in school-history on Monday night, rallying from 22 points down to top Ole Miss at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, 45-34.
After trailing 28-6, the Seminoles outscored the Rebels 39-6 over the final 31 minutes of game time to start 1-0 for the seventh straight season. While the improbable comeback was a complete team effort, some FSU players stood taller than others.
The Daily Nole staff of editor Mike Ferguson, lead writer Clint Eiland, recruiting analyst Jay Brading and contributors T.J. Pittinger and Robert Blackburn each hand out game balls to the Seminoles who stood out in each facet of the game:
Offense
Unanimous Game Ball: Deondre Francois, QB
In a game where nothing went right early, redshirt freshman Deondre Francois was the clam during the storm for Florida State. In his first career start, Francois accounted for 478 yards of total offense and a pair of touchdown passes. For the night, Francois finished 33-for-52 passing with 419 yards. He also rushed for 59 yards on nine carries, which included two long scrambles in the second half.
Defense
Unanimous Game Ball: DeMarcus Walker, DE
After leading the Seminoles in sacks a season ago, DeMarcus Walker picked up right where he left off on Monday night with a career-high 4.5 sacks of Ole Miss quarterback Chad Kelly and a forced fumble. Walker’s strip sack of Kelly early in the third quarter set up FSU at the Ole Miss 11-yard-line. It took FSU just three plays to take its first lead and the Seminoles never looked back.
Special Teams
Unanimous Game Ball: Ricky Aguayo, K
Faced with the unenviable task of replacing a 2-time All-American who also happened to be his older brother, FSU freshman kicker Ricky Aguayo responded by making a school-record six field goals. Aguayo was 6-for-6 on field goal attempts for the night which included two makes of 40 yards and a career-long of 44 in the victory.
Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson
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