FSU Football: Top 5 Moments of 2017

A disappointing 2017 season came to an end on a high note Wednesday as Florida State defeated Southern Mississippi in the Independence Bowl, 42-13. The win allowed FSU to finish 7-6 to complete a 41st straight winning season.

From critical late turnovers to game-winning drives allowed to a coaching debacle, 2017 was a year to forget. Despite all of that, the year for Florida State had its fair share of moments worth remembering. Here are the top 5:

5. Odell Haggins coaches FSU to bowl-eligibility (Dec. 2)
It was a time or turmoil in the late parts of the regular season. One day prior to FSU’s rescheduled contest with Louisiana-Monroe, reports emerged that head coach Jimbo Fisher would be leaving Tallahassee to become the head coach at Texas A&M. At 5-6, the Seminoles needed a win in the regular season finale to become bowl-eligible for the 36th straight season. Defensive tackles coach and the longest tenured coach on staff, Odell Haggins, was given the interim title and the task of making sure it happened. Haggins held us his end of the bargain as FSU defeated the Warhawks, 42-10, behind a monster rushing effort and a solid defensive performance to finish the regular season with a record of 6-6.

4. Blackman finds Tate for game-winner at Wake (Sept. 30)
Tied 19-19 at Wake Forest, Florida State was looking to avoid its first 0-3 start since 1976. After a defensive stop, the Seminoles got the ball back with 1:01 to play at the Demon Deacons’ 40-yard-line. It didn’t take long for the Seminoles to go for the jugular. On the first play of the drive — a play-action pass — freshman quarterback James Blackman shifted to his right before heaving a pass toward the end zone. Junior wide receiver Auden Tate made a diving grab in the end zone with 53 seconds remaining. The bomb would be the decisive score in a 26-19 win — FSU’s sixth straight over Wake Forest.

(Mitch White/FSU athletics)

3. Akers passes Cook (Dec. 27)
Cam Akers had no shortage of hype coming out of high school, but had big shoes to fill. Akers split time with junior Jacques Patrick in 2017 as the two tried to alleviate the void from the departure of all-time leading rusher and Unanimous All-American Dalvin Cook. Much like Cook in 2014, Akers’ freshman campaign started slow, but finished strong. In the 42-13 win over Southern Mississippi, Akers surpassed Cook’s school record for rushing yards by a freshman. The record-breaking run came early in the second half as Akers, who finished with 1,024 yards on the ground, joined Cook as the only freshmen in FSU history to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark rushing.

2. Five straight over Florida (Nov. 25)
After a 3-6 start, Florida State had to win its final three games to become bowl-eligible. The middle game of that 3-game stretch looked to be the toughest test as the Seminoles took to Gainesville to face rival Florida. FSU had won four straight in the series, but to become bowl-eligible, it would have to do something it never had before — beat Florida five straight times. Behind two touchdown passes from James Blackman and an opportunistic defense, the Seminoles got the job done. The FSU defense forced four turnovers, leading to 28 points in a 38-22 victory. Jacob Pugh and Levonta Taylor each scored defensive touchdowns and Matthew Thomas nearly did likewise in the romp.

1. Motlow makes history (Nov. 18)
A 77-6 Senior Day rout of a bad FCS team like Delaware State hardly seems like cause for celebration, but what happened in the fourth quarter of a blowout never had before and may not again. With FSU leading 63-6 early in the fourth quarter, walk-on wide receiver Justin Motlow made a diving touchdown grab on a throw from backup quarterback J.J. Cosentino. What made the score unique is that Motlow is a member of the Seminole Tribe of Florida. With the 12-yard score, Motlow became the first actual Seminole ever to find paydirt for Florida State. Motlow was one of nine FSU players to score touchdowns that day as the 71-point victory was the largest margin in school-history.

Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson