Box Score: Louisville 31, FSU 28
Florida State's nightmarish 2017 season continued on Saturday as the Seminoles fell in stunning fashion to Louisville, 31-28, and dropped to 2-4 on the season.
It wasn't a blowout loss like last year's 63-20 defeat, but it was no less painful.
The Seminoles (2-4, 2-3 ACC) actually appeared to be in position to go in for a winning score in the final minutes with the game tied at 28-28, but freshman quarterback James Blackman fumbled deep in Louisville territory.
The Cardinals (5-3, 2-3) then drove the length of the field and scored on a 34-yard field goal to claim the win. With the loss, FSU fell to 0-3 this season at Doak Campbell Stadium.
The late Louisville score dashed what appeared to be a valiant comeback by the Seminoles.
With 8:58 left, Blackman threw a perfect 20-yard fade pass to junior receiver Nyqwan Murray for a touchdown to tie the game at 28-28.
After falling behind 28-14 midway through the second half, FSU cut the deficit to seven points early in the fourth quarter on a fumble recovery in the end zone by Murray.
FSU appeared to be in deep trouble just a few moments earlier when quarterback Blackman's fourth-down pass fell incomplete inside the Cardinals' red zone. But a roughing-the-passer penalty gave FSU new life, then Murray recovered Jacques Patrick's fumble at the goal line to make it 28-21.
It was a back-and-forth first half with the Cardinals striking first and scoring on a 22-yard touchdown run by Lamar Jackson. FSU quickly answered with a 7-yard strike from James Blackman to tight end Ryan Izzo to make it 7-7.
The Seminoles then briefly led when linebacker Matthew Thomas picked up a Jackson fumble and returned it for a touchdown. But Louisville promptly marched 75 yards on eight plays to tie it at 14-14 before halftime.
------------------------------
Talk about this story with other Florida State football fans in the Tribal Council
