WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Florida State overcame a sloppy first half to down Wake Forest, 26-19, on Saturday afternoon. It was FSU’s sixth straight victory over the Demon Deacons.
Quarterback James Blackman had just five completions on seven attempts in the first half for FSU (1-2, 1-1 ACC). He fumbled once. Blackman rarely had time to throw, as Wake Forest’s defense was in the backfield on seemingly every play. The Demon Deacons sacked him twice in the first half for -19 yards.
Jacques Patrick and Cam Akers were the two bright spots for an otherwise horrendous FSU offense. Patrick also scored FSU’s first rushing touchdown of the season en route to finishing with 120 yards on the ground. Cam Akers carried the ball seven times and was one missed tackle away from breaking off the big run on two separate occasions.
Defensively, the Noles played rather inconsistent, but did notch their first interception of the season on a tipped ball hauled in by Kyle Meyers.
FSU was lucky to have safety Derwin James – the officials overturned a targeting call on him – in the second half. James took back the opening kickoff for a touchdown, but his return was called back because of a penalty. Keith Gavin’s 81-yard kickoff return set up FSU’s only touchdown of the first half as the Seminoles took a 13-12 lead to the locker room.
Ricky Aguayo extended the FSU lead to four at 16-12 with a 37-yard field goal in the third quarter. FSU drove to the Wake Forest 7-yard-line but penalties and missed assignments meant that the Seminoles would settle for just three points.
Wake Forest drove deep into FSU territory late in the quarter, but held strong after Myers forced a fumble on a receiver screen. However, the FSU offense failed to muster anything, and the Seminoles were forced to punt.
Wake (4-1, 1-1 ACC) then drove down and, thanks to a big gain on a broken play, scored from seven yards out on a run by Matt Colburn to take the lead, 19-16. FSU’s defense looked gassed on the drive. The Seminoles could not answer, going 3-and-out the very next series.
The Seminole defense made quick work of Wake’s offense the next series, forcing a 3-and-out and setting up the Noles with decent field position. FSU got down to the Wake 20 thanks to a 43-yard pass from Blackman to Keith Gavin.
FSU could not find the end zone, however, and instead settled for an Aguayo field goal to tie the game at 19.
The Noles forced a 3-and-out on the ensuing drive, but after stalling near midfield, had to punt. After pinning the Wake Forest offense deep, FSU forced yet another 3-and-out and took over inside Wake territory.
Blackman wasted no time.
The freshman found Auden Tate on the first play of the drive for a 40-yard touchdown, putting the Seminoles ahead, 26-19.
Wake Forest took over at their own 16-yard line with 47 seconds remaining. Facing 4th-and-1 from their own 39-yard line, the Demon Deacons ran a quarterback sneak with John Wolford and got the first down. With six seconds remaining, Wolford attempted a Hail Mary, but James batted it down and FSU escaped Winston-Salem with a victory.
Josh Mixon covers Florida State athletics for The Daily Nole and co-hosts the Giving ‘Em The Business Podcast on Soundcloud. You can find him on Twitter @joshmixon10.
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