In the days leading up to Florida State’s Sunday night showdown with LSU, Florida State football coach Mike Norvell said he was excited about the game because it would give him a chance to show off the guys he gets to coach.
And it took every second of the game, but the Seminoles found a way to pull out a 24-23 victory with a blocked extra point — their second blocked kick of the game — to improve to 2-0 on the season.
Redshirt freshman Shyheim Brown blocked the kick after LSU scored a touchdown on the final play of regulation.
“What a finish,” Norvell said, “We talked to our team all week that this game could come down to one play, to one opportunity. And, you know, as you watch throughout the course of the game, I thought our guys put on display an incredible heart. You know, the passion which they played with, just the effort, the physicality, I thought we dominated the game for the majority of it. Obviously, there at the end, you know, we had some things that happened that we just can’t have. But the one thing that happened on the last play is what we absolutely need.
“It’s determination. It’s heart. It’s a willingness that, even after a disappointing moment, our guys responded.”
After falling behind by a field goal on the game’s opening drive, FSU took its first lead on a 39-yard flea-flicker from Jordan Travis to Ontaria “Pokey” Wilson. The Seminoles had a chance to extend their lead just before halftime, but a fourth-down pass from Travis fell incomplete, and the lead stayed at 7-3 at halftime.
Then the fun really began.
The Seminoles extended their advantage to 10-3 with a 25-yard field goal by Ryan Fitzgerald to cap off a 14-play, 68-yard drive. Then Travis led the ‘Noles on an 8-play, 57-yard touchdown drive capped off with another pass to Wilson.
But even with a 17-3 lead in the third quarter, Norvell and the ‘Noles likely knew LSU wouldn’t go down quietly. Under new head coach Brian Kelly, the Tigers put together an 11-play, 82-yard drive to cut the lead to 17-10 near the end of the third quarter.
Then after FSU extended the advantage to 24-10 with about nine minutes left in the fourth quarter, LSU put together a scoring drive to cut the score to seven points.
Then after the Seminoles and Tigers each lost costly fumbles in the final minutes, LSU marched from its own 1-yard line for a touchdown in the final 1:20. But FSU redshirt freshman Shyheim Brown blocked the extra point to secure the win for the ‘Noles.
Several Seminoles stood out in the shocking and exhilarating win for FSU. Travis finished with a very efficient 20 of 32 passing for 260 yards and two touchdowns in an impressive performance, adding 16 carries for 49 yards.
Wilson grabbed seven receptions for 102 yards and two critical scores.
Defensively, Renardo Green led FSU with 8 tackles. Defensive end Jared Verse had two sacks. FSU had a nine-minute time of possession advantage in the game.
FSU now has next weekend off before returning to action at Louisville on Friday, Sept. 16.
