The Daily Nole

FSU’s Top 5 Moments vs. Wake Forest

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Florida State will renew a series with Wake Forest on Saturday that dates back to the mid-1950s. The Seminoles are 2-score favorites against the Demon Deacons and will look to win a seventh straight contest in the series.

Historically, FSU has held the upper-hand with a 29-6-1 record against Wake Forest. Four of those six wins for the Demon Deacons however, have come since 2006.

Looking back on the series, here are the top five moments for FSU in its history with Wake:

5. Booker’s Run Sets Up Beitia’s Winner
(5) Florida State 20, Wake Forest 17
Oct. 23, 2004

Florida State had erased what had been a 14-3 deficit in Winston-Salem in late-October 2004 thanks to two Wyatt Sexton touchdown passes to Willie Reid and Dominic Robinson to go ahead, 17-14. A field goal by Wake Forest’s Ryan Plackemeir evened the game with 4:32 to play and it looked like the Demon Deacons were on the verge of getting the ball back as FSU faced 3rd-and-10 on the ensuing drive from its own 17-yard-line. That’s when Lorenzo Booker went 47 yards for a first down to move inside the Wake Forest 40. Booker would rush for 59 yards on the drive to set up the game-winning 22-yard field goal by Xavier Beitia with 1:03 remaining. Antonio Cromartie’s interception as time expired sealed the FSU win.

4. Hunter Saves the Day
(11) Florida State 24, Wake Forest 16
Oct. 3, 2015


What looked as though it might be an easy victory for Florida State early on turned out to be anything but at BB&T Field in 2015. Dalvin Cook scored a 94-yard rushing touchdown on FSU’s first play from scrimmage, but an injury hampered the offense for the remainder of the day. Despite that, FSU led 24-10 after three quarters before two Wake Forest field goals cut the lead to eight. Needing a touchdown and a 2-point conversion to force overtime, the Demon Deacons drove inside the FSU red zone with less than 30 seconds to play. With time ticking away, Wake Forest quarterback Kendall Hinton fired for the end zone where FSU safety Tyler Hunter made a diving interception to seal the victory for the Seminoles.

3. Blackman Finds Tate for Game-Winner
Florida State 26, Wake Forest 19
Sept. 30, 2017


In what would be the first road start for James Blackman — the first Florida State true freshman to start at quarterback in 32 years — the youngster was given his chance to shine with the contest tied and under a minute to play. After forcing a punt in a 19-19 game, FSU got the ball back at the Wake Forest 40-yard-line, needing only a field goal to win the game. On the first play, FSU went for the jugular. On a play-action call, Blackman stepped to his right before firing into the end zone to a diving Auden Tate for a 40-yard touchdown with 53 seconds to play. The touchdown would serve as the game-winner as FSU safety Derwin James knocked down a Hail Mary as time expired.

2. Thompson’s Redemptive Career Day
Wake Forest 0, (5) Florida State 52
Sept. 15, 2012


After a spinal injury against Wake Forest ended his 2011 junior campaign, many wondered if Florida State running back Chris Thompson would ever play for football again. That came to fruition early on in 2012, but many wondered how high of a level that Thompson could play at. In the 2012 ACC opener against the same Wake Forest team which his prior season ended, Thompson would cast all doubts aside. On what would be a career-day for Thompson, the speedster finished with 197 yards rushing on just nine carries, which included touchdowns runs of 74 and 80 yards in a 52-0 shutout to avenge a 35-30 loss the year prior. The 197-yard day would be the best for an FSU rusher in 24 years.

1. Edwards Grabs School-Record Four Picks
(5) Florida State 24, Wake Forest 7
Nov. 14, 1998

In what would be the first career start for Florida State quarterback Marcus Outzen in the 1998 ACC finale, it was a member of the defensive backfield who stole the show. In a 24-7 victory in Winston-Salem, FSU cornerback Mario Edwards set a school-record with four interceptions. Edwards’ four picks would set up all 24 FSU points and break the previous single-game interception record held by six players and most recently, Corey Sawyer in 1992. Edwards would finish with 60 yards in interception returns. Travis Minor powered the FSU offense with 102 yards rushing and a pair of touchdowns.

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

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