“We know when there’s a blocked kick, you’ve got to cover it. We talk about it all the time”.
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“In football, anything can happen”, FSU coach Jimbo Fisher said. “Tonight, we didn’t play well”. Two of those came against Georgia Tech – 21-15 in the 2012 ACC Championship Game and 37-35 in the 2014 ACC Championship Game. Instead, they fought relentlessly against one of the most talented teams in the nation and pulled off a victory and a play that anyone who watched will forever remember as one of the most memorable plays they ever witnessed. “It was a physical game”. I didn’t even know what was going on.
The Seminoles now must rebound after suffering their first regular-season loss in almost three years. “There’s a lot to play for”. We’ve got to remember how to do it every week. “We were anxious about winning and forgot to play”. I think it’s just going to be business as usual. Florida State (6-1) mustered a modest 280 yards of total offense, converted just 2-of-10 first downs, and scored three points in the second half.
Most concerning for Texas Tech – beyond the final score, obviously – was another game in which the defense allowed 600-plus yards and turned the ball over four times.
“We’re in every game”.
Paul Johnson was content to go to overtime against mighty Florida State.
A game that was supposed to be about Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield facing his former team for the first time ended up a rout as the Sooners’ one-two punch of Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon ran roughshod over an overmatched and undermanned Texas Tech defense.
The drive started when Justin Thomas’ pass was batted at the line by Josh Sweat and Sweat caught the rebound for an interception. On third down, Golson didn’t seem ready for the snap, and he was whistled for intentional grounding and a loss of 14 yards.
But if Clemson were to lose at N.C. State next week, turning around and winning the conference at 12-1 may still not be enough, especially when at this late stage of the season there are still seven undefeated teams in the other Power 5 conferences. But then he did, taking off the other way in front of the Tech bench.
Making things more painful on Saturday is the fact that the Seminoles failed to score in the second half. On second down from his own 3, Thomas escaped pressure in the end zone and threw a 33-yard completion to Ricky Jeune.
Aguayo’s 56-yard field goal attempt was blocked, and it only got worse from there for FSU. The Yellow Jackets got destroyed by Clemson and gave up 31 to an offensively challenged Pitt team the week before.
Florida State opened with a 20-yard field goal by Aguayo, a drive set up when linebacker Josh Sweat intercepted a pass from Thomas and returned it to the Georgia Tech 19.
For much of the game, numerous “Noles” young players simply tried too hard, Fisher said. “I mean, he’s as quick as you get”. “You have to make adjustments and that’s what we’ll do”. Although it was first-and-goal at the two-yard line, the Seminoles managed only a field goal. He picked up a few blocks and made Aguayo miss a tackle before running into the end zone.
Both the Utes and Seminoles were knocked off Saturday by unranked foes; Utah in resounding fashion and Florida State in a stunning finish that rivaled Michigan State’s miracle last week and Auburn’s 2013 Kick-6. Those goals remain within range.
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October 24, 2015 Atlanta – Florida State Seminoles running back Dalvin Cook (4) is brought down by Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets defensive end KeShun Freeman (42) in the first half at Bobby Dodd Stadium on Saturday, October 24, 2015.
