Twenty years from now, college football fans are going to look up videos of instant classic games.
Sunday night’s contest between Florida State and LSU will be one of the many games aired across the television sets. In the end, the Seminoles averted disaster in New Orleans, 24-23.
Sunday’s game had it all: The ups, the downs, the fumbles, the kicks out of bounds, the blocked field goals and one-handed catches.
Florida State and LSU stayed deadlocked throughout the entire game and at the half, it was 7-3 in favor of the Seminoles. A missed field goal and going for it on a fourth down were among the early missed opportunities for the Noles. However, their defense showed up to play when it mattered the most.
Jared Verse, an FSU defensive end and Albany transfer, led the way in sack department with two. The team tallied a total of four sacks on the evening against the Tigers.
Quarterback Jordan Travis passed for 260 yards and two touchdowns for Florida State.
Travis’ scoring passes came on a 39-yard throw to Ontaria Wilson on a trick play and a 27-yard pass that Wilson corralled with one hand while being interfered with. Travis also rushed for 31 yards on a combination of designed runs and scrambles.
The Drama Begins
The game really wasn’t intense until late in the fourth quarter. Leading 24-17, FSU punted the ball away and it was muffed by LSU’s Malik Nabers. With just 2:15 left on the clock, FSU was in prime position to put the game away.
But it didn’t.
FSU called a toss play, resulting in a fumble at the one-yard-line. LSU recovered and was given new life.
Then, 97 yards later, LSU was on the other end of the field with one second left on the clock. After what seemed to be an hour-long replay challenge, LSU was awarded a first down and one timed down for the final play of the game.
For the second time in less than five minutes, LSU’s Jayden Daniels found Jaray Jenkins, making it 24-23. That set up the conventional “let’s get ready for overtime” sentiments.
And then it happened.
FSU’s Shyheim Brown blocked the tying extra point, sealing the one-point victory for the Seminoles and their first 2-0 start since 2016.
Florida State will have a week off to prepare for Louisville on Sept. 16.
Featured image courtesy of Florida State athletics
