Noles Pull One Out Bag
Prior to the season starting, I (along with many others) never thought that we would see these teams meeting each other on this last weekend in September, with identical 2-2 records.
Will this game be a determining factor of how either of these seasons will progress? Not too long ago this was one of the marquee games on the college football schedule. Not this year.
Florida State’s struggles in 2018 are well documented, but Louisville has also been a big disappointment.
The victor today, should show a direction these respective teams will take entering the toughest part of their schedules. Of course, FSU travels to Miami next Saturday for their annual grudge while Louisville will stay at home for a Friday night match-up vs. Georgia Tech.
With Louisville lacking offense to start the season, they didn’t show it in the first half today. After their first drive of the game stalled, getting the ball at the FSU 36 gave them a short field and a subsequent 4 play drive capped off with a 16yard TD run by QB Jawon Pass.
The Noles then had a nice 7 play, 75-yard drive with a 17 yard TD pass from Deondre Francois to WR Nyqwan Murray to knot the score at 7.
The Cards marched right back down the field, and a 4 yard TD pass from QB Jawon Pass to TE Micky Crum put Louisville back on top 14-7. After eight changes of possession, Louisville took the ball and proceeded to run off an 11 play, 70-yard drive, and aided by an FSU pass interference penalty near the goal line hit a 3 yard TD pass with 17 left in the 1st half. It appeared that the Seminoles were doomed.
The 2nd half was a different story as the Seminoles worked their way back into the game. A 55 yard TD pass from Francois, on the 1st play of the series, to freshman WR Tamorrion Terry closed to score to 21-14.
The Cards did manage a drive on their next possession, but it stalled, and they settled for a 42 yard FG.
That put the score at 24-14, but it was the last time in the game that Louisville would score.
Going into the 4th quarter, the Noles were trailing 24-14, but FSU was determined and ran off an 11 play, 65-yard drive capped off with a 25 yard TD pass from Francois to TE Tre’ McKitty. With the extra point, it was 24-21.
Louisville’s last drive of the game started with 5:58 left in the 4th and it didn’t look good. However, after moving the ball into FSU territory DB AJ Westbrook picked off QB Jawon Pass on a 1st down play with 1:56 left at the Seminole 19. Suddenly, the Noles had life. FSU moved quickly up to their own 42, and then Francois hit WR Nyqwan Murray with a 58-yard catch and run TD. That 5 play, 81-yard drive took just: 43 and FSU led 28-24.
After kicking off, the Noles D hung tough, and a 4th down desperation pass by the Cards was intercepted.
In his postgame remarks coach Taggart said that being down on the road like that, and then coming back for the win was a huge step for the program. He feels that they are making progress but next Saturday at Miami will be a big test.
With it being such a huge rivalry it will be interesting to see if the Noles have indeed turned the corner!
