FSU Football: Noles stun Louisville with huge comeback win

FSU football went on the road in need of a huge win to keep their bowl game hopes alive and came through in the clutch.

1st Half

The FSU football defense we expected to show up against Louisville must have stayed in Tallahassee. Louisville marched right down the field but managed to flip the field with their first punt.

The FSU offense had terrible field position as usual and promptly punted after three plays having to start on their own one yard line.

Of course Louisville’s offense took advantage and marched 36 yards on four plays for the first touchdown of the game. Surprisingly, the FSU offense answered with one of their best drives of the season, marching 75 yards on seven plays to equal the score at 7-7.

However, the FSU defense allowed Louisville to march 73 yards on eight plays to score again and make it 14-7.

The FSU defense stiffened up after that and forced two fumbles and two punts but the FSU offense could do nothing to take the pressure off.

Louisville marched 70 yards on 11 plays to score its third touchdown in the first half to make it 21-7. The Cardinals ran 46 plays for 238 yards for 5.17 ypp.

The Noles were awful on offense with Deondre Francois leaving a ton of plays on the field with the ‘Noles offensive line actually playing well. They had 136 yards on 30 plays for 4.53 ypp.

2nd Half

It was do or die for the ‘Noles offense as they needed to put something together on their first offensive possession. Of course that didn’t happen as Louisville’s defense forced a three and out.

It looked like Louisville was going to go in for the killshot, but FSU’s defense tightened up and forced a punt as they were on the edge of field goal range.

huge punt return by D.J. Matthews gave the Noles great field position, starting at their own 46 yard line.

We said on social media:

It looks like Willie Taggart and company listened as Deondre Francois found Tamorrion Terry for a 54 yard TD to make it a 21-14 with 2:39 left in the third quarter.

The FSU defense laid an egg as they had the Cardinals third and seven and gave up a huge pass play for 53 yards. A illegal blocked backed up the Cardinals 10 yards on the play. The Noles held the Cardinals to a field goal to make it 24-14 with :39 second left, but Louisville missed wide open receivers on back-to-back plays before that.

Louisville with a short kickoff to give the Noles good field position. The Noles took 11 plays to go 65 yards to score a touchdown to make it 24-21 with 9:55 left in the game. Deondre Francois hit Tre McKitty down the right sideline for a 25 yard TD pass.

The FSU defense found some grit and forced Louisville to punt with the FSU offense getting the ball own their own 29 yard line with the chance to take the lead or tie with 7:29 remaining.

The Noles got off to a great start but a dumb play call on first down put the Noles at second and 18. Of course they punted shorty after that.

Louisville received the ball on its own 29 yard line and marched down to the Noles 19 yard line with under two minutes and A.J. Westbrook got a huge interception.

The Noles struck quickly with Deondre Francois hitting D.J. Matthews for a big gain to the FSU 38. On third and six, Francois hit Noonie Murray for a huge 58 yard touchdown strike to make it 28-24 with 1:13 left on the clock.

The FSU defense gave the Cardinals nothing on their last possession which ended on an interception by Stanford Samuels III.

The Noles finished the game averaging 6.37 ypp with Deondre Francois leading the way with four passing touchdowns on 16 of 27 attempts for 294 yards.

FSU football is now over the .500 mark and will travel next week to play rival Miami in what will be a huge game.