Blackman's last-minute TD pass lifts FSU past Wake Forest, 26-19
Box Score: FSU 26, Wake Forest 19
WINSTON, SALEM, N.C. -- It wasn't pretty. In fact, it was downright ugly for most of the afternoon. But the Florida State Seminoles rallied from a fourth-quarter deficit to knock off Wake Forest, 26-19, Saturday and record their first victory of the season.
FSU, which entered the season ranked No. 3 in the country, is now 1-2 entering next week's game against rival Miami. The Demon Deacons fall to 4-1.
After a back-and-forth game, the Seminoles won it with a 40-yard touchdown strike from freshman quarterback James Blackman to wide receiver Auden Tate with 53 seconds remaining.
Blackman, who was making his second career start and first on the road, finished with 121 yards passing on 11-of-21 completions. It was only the second catch of the day for Tate, who was questionable this week with a shoulder injury.
FSU led 16-12 after three quarters, but Wake Forest reclaimed the lead with 13:57 to go on a 7-yard touchdown run by running back Matt Colburn. That capped off a seven-play, 59-yard drive and gave the Demon Deacons a 19-16 advantage.
FSU then tied it at 19-19 with 6:20 remaining in the fourth quarter on a 35-yard field goal by sophomore Ricky Aguayo.
It was a back-and-forth game from the very beginning.
After FSU took an early 3-0 lead on a 51-yard field goal by Aguayo -- the longest field of Aguayo's career -- Wake Forest seemed to take control with three consecutive scores. The Demon Deacons hit a pair of field goals to take the lead and then put together an 8-play, 81-yard touchdown drive to take a 12-3 lead midway through the first quarter.
The Seminoles closed the half strong, however, thanks in large part to an 81-yard kickoff return by receiver Keith Gavin, which set up a 1-yard touchdown run by Jacques Patrick. That made the score 12-10. Then the 'Noles took the lead on another Aguayo field goal following an interception by sophomore defensive back Kyle Meyers.
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