FSU Football: Turnovers and miscues doom ‘Noles against Louisville
By Kelvin Hunt
FSU football was looking to get revenge on the Louisville Cardinals for the worst loss in school history in 2016. That didn’t happen.
1st Half
Lamar Jackson and the Cardinals picked up right where they left off in 2016, taking the opening drive to the end zone on a 22 yard run by Lamar Jackson.
The FSU offense responded for the second week in a row as they took their opening possession and scored to even the score on a seven yard pass from James Blackman to Ryan Izzy.
FSU squandered multiple stops by the ‘Noles defense in the first half. The defense stopped Louisville on four consecutive possessions and then forced a fumble by Lamar Jackson that Matthew Thomas scooped and scored to put the ‘Noles up 14-7 with four minutes left in the half.
However, the Louisville Cardinals went right down the field and scored a touchdown to even the score up on an eight play 75 yard drive.
FSU then turned the ball over on a James Blackman interception with under a minute remaining in the half. Louisville coach Bobby Petrino elected to attempt a 45 yard field goal with eight seconds remaining, but the kick was wide right as time expired.
Louisville averaged six yards per play in the first half as the ‘Noles averaged 5.6 yards per play.
2nd Half
The ‘Noles received the second half kickoff and moved the ball down the field mainly with the run game. After a near interception on a screen play, Jimbo Fisher elected to attempt a 44 yard field goal instead of going for it on fourth and three.
Ricky Aguayo missed the field goal wide right to snap a streak of 11 straight field goals made. Fisher should have gone for it on fourth down as it was clear field goals were not going to this game.
Louisville promptly took their possession down for a touchdown, aided by a huge 51 yard run by Lamar Jackson in which the FSU defense missed multiple tackles.
The Cardinals took the lead 21-14 on a two yard Reggie Bonnafon run with 7:04 left in the third.
FSU turned the ball on the ensuing possession with an interception where Jared Jackson had the ball taken away from him.
Louisville punched the ball in the end zone on a 25 yard run by Dae Williams to go up 28-14 with 5:11 left in the third.
FSU responded with some help on their next drive. The ‘Noles marched down to the Louisville 15 and went for it on fourth and 10 and turned the ball over on downs. However, the refs called roughing the passer giving FSU new life.
Jacques Patrick fumbled the ball near the goal line on the next play and Nyqwan Murray recovered the ball in the end zone to bring the ‘Noles to within a score at 28-21 with 13:21 left.
The FSU defense forced a three and out on their next possession and promptly went down the field and scored a touchdown on a 20 yard pass from James Blackman to make the score 28-28 with 8:58 left.
Louisville Gift
Louisville marched down the field aided on a big third down conversion pass. However, the FSU defense forced a turnover on downs on a fourth and one play in which Bobby Petrino elected to not give the ball to Lamar Jackson.
FSU took over on offense and marched into field goal range only to fumble the ball on a read option play with two minutes to go in the game.
Louisville marched down the field with ease and kicked a game winning field goal with nine seconds on the clock.
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Louisville defeats FSU football 31-28. This team can’t get out of its own way and it’s going to be a long rest of the season.