The Louisville Cardinals kicked a game-winning field goal with five seconds left to beat the Florida State Seminoles 31-28 on Saturday afternoon. Blanton Creque’s game-winner came FSU quarterback James Blackman fumbled in Louisville territory with just more than two minutes remaining.
The game started off with scoring drives from both teams. Quarterback Lamar Jackson ran it in from 22 yards out for Louisville and Blackman tossed it to tight end Ryan Izzo for Florida State. With 6:30 left in the first quarter, it was tied 7-7. Each defense gave up at least one play of 20-plus yards, causing many to expect an offensive shootout.
Instead, from there on out, it became a defensive struggle. The next six combined drives produced five punts and one turnover on downs. Louisville was held to just four yards per play; Florida State with a slightly better 4.26 yards per play. Florida State’s defensive line had a great first half, all things considered. The first drive was the outlier. After that, the Seminoles (2-4, 2-3 ACC) got consistent pressure and snuffed out many plays in the backfield.
The tie was broken with just over four minutes left in the half. Jackson tried to move it up the middle, and was instead met by true freshman Joshua Kaindoh. The ball popped out and linebacker Matthew Thomas was there to pick it up and run it back for a touchdown. It was very similar to the defensive touchdown that Jalen Ramsey scored against Boston College in 2015.
Unfortunately for the Seminoles, the lead didn’t last long. The Cardinals went 75 yards in eight plays and scored on a tremendous pass to the back of the end zone to Seth Dawkins. Florida State got the ball back with a little over a minute remaining in the half, but Blackman threw an interception with eight seconds left. Louisville kicker Creque, who came in 9-for-9 on field goals, attempted a 45-yard field goal, but was unsuccessful. The teams entered the locker rooms tied 14-14.
Things turned disastrous quickly for Florida State when it returned from the break. FSU moved the ball well to start the third, but the drive stalled inside the 30-yard line before Ricky Aguayo missed a 44-yard field goal attempt, snapping his streak of consecutive makes at 11. Louisville (5-3, 2-3 ACC) responded quickly with a demoralizing 6-play, 73-yard touchdown drive.
The bad sequences piled up for Florida State on the very next drive. Blackman launched one downfield intended for Jared Jackson on the very first play, but Trumaine Washington wrestled the ball away for his second interception for the Cardinals.
Not surprisingly, Louisville took advantage and scored a touchdown off the turnover as Dae Williams ran it in from 25 yards out. It was 28-14 Louisville with over five minutes left in the third quarter.
Another sequence of meaningless drives was broken by an FSU score at the beginning of the fourth. The Seminoles were inside the Louisville 20-yard line and went for it on fourth down. Blackman’s pass was incomplete, but Louisville got called for roughing the passer. On the very next play, running back Jacques Patrick fumbled into the end zone, but Nyqwan Murray recovered it for a touchdown. A little over 13 minutes remained in the game with FSU down 28-21.
A much-needed defensive stop helped get the ball back into Florida State’s hands. It finally took advantage and tied the game up on a deep pass to Nyqwan Murray to tie the game at 28 with nine minutes in the fourth quarter.
For a bit, it looked like Louisville was going to take the lead. The Cardinals had advanced all the way to the FSU 27 at one point. But after three stops and a failed fourth down conversion, Florida State had possession. The Seminoles promptly got down to the Louisville 21-yard line before a miscommunication between Blackman and Patrick caused a fumble. Louisville recovered and had a little over two minutes left in the game.
In a series that should come as no surprise for FSU fans, Louisville went 59 yards in eight plays in exactly two minutes, setting up Creque’s game-winner from 34 yards out.
Jackson finished 13-for-21 passing for 156 yards, and one touchdown. He notched 23 carries for 178 yards and another touchdown. Reggie Bonnafon had 16 carries for 74 yards and a touchdown in the win.
James Blackman went 16-for-28 for 248 passing yards, two touchdowns, two interceptions, and one fumble. Cam Akers was the leading rusher at 16 carries and 75 yards. Nyqwan Murray had four receptions, 95 yards, one receiving touchdown, and one fumble recovery for a touchdown.
For cumulative stats, Louisville outgained FSU 449-403 and had a higher yards per play at 6.9 to 6.1 on the day. In rushing yards the Cardinals had a surprisingly dominant advantage 293-155.
Florida State travels up to play Boston College on Friday. Louisville goes to Wake Forest on Saturday.
Edwin Collins
October 21, 2017 at 4:54 pm
Now we go to play the team that beat the team that beat us today. That should be fun on a friday night. Friday night is when Syracuse beat Clemson. Is there even a fan left that is looking forward to watching another game this year? Is there any more streaks that Fisher could allow to be ended this year???