This past Thursday night, in the first game of Week 10 NCAA football featuring a ranked team, the No. 2 Florida State Seminoles, now 8-0 (1st ACC Atlantic) played the No. 25 Louisville Cardinals, now 6-3 (3rd ACC Atlantic). The game was at the Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium in Louisville, Kentucky, with the Seminole surviving and winning their 24th straight game 42-31.
This was a very exciting game, both for the Louisville and Florida State fans as the scoring in the game, is a good indication of the excitement in the various quarters of the game. Neither team scored points in the 1st quarter, with Louisville scoring 21 points and FSU scoring 7 points as the first half ended Louisville 21 FSU 7. Then the Seminoles scored 14 points in the 3rd quarter, while the Cardinals scored 3 points, thus the score at the end of 3 quarters was Louisville 24 FSU 21. The 4th quarter was a reversible of the game scoring trends as FSU scored 21 points while Louisville scored 7 points. The final score was FSU 42 Cardinals 31 in another comeback game for FSU for their 24 straight win and remaining undefeated as the reigning 2013 Champions at 8-0.
Once again this season the Seminoles came from behind at half-time, to win a game, which is similar to them being behind by 18 points at half-time, in the championship game in 2013 in which they won the Championship. Thus, thanks to another comeback by QB Winston and the Seminoles their desire to play for a second title remains viable.
In the game statistics the Cardinals had 24 first downs and 488 total yards with 330 passing and 158 rushing with 2 turnovers. The Seminoles on the other side had 25 first downs for 574 yards with 401 passing and 173 rushing with 3 turnovers.
Offensive leaders in the game for FSU were QB Winston, who completed 25 of 48 passes for 401 yards with 3 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. RB’s Cook & Williams had 25 combined carries for 182 yards with Cook scoring 1 TD. Receivers O’Leary and Rudolph and 8 combined receptions for 152 yards with Rudolph scoring 1 TD.
Leading the offense for the Cardinals were QB Gardner, who completed 20 of 38 passes for 330 yards with 1 TD and 1 interception. RB’s Dyer & Scott had 31 combined carries for 164 yards with Dyer scoring 3 touchdowns. Receivers Parker & De La Cruz had 12 receptions for a combined 252 yards.
The Louisville Cardinals with the leading defense in the nation started the game, shutting out the Seminoles and their QB Winston. with heavy pressure, and frustrated coverage that seemed to keep the Noles off the scoreboard for the 1st and most of the second quarter. But the Seminoles and QB Winston found a scheme to get his team all on the same page and win this game and remain in the picture for the National NCAA Championship.
The Louisville Cardinals now 6-3 play at Boston College Eagles now 5-3 (4th ACC Atlantic) on Saturday, Nov.8th 2014 at Alumni Stadium in Boston, Mass at 7:15 PM ET. The Florida State Seminoles now 8-0 next game is at home, also on the 8th of November playing the unranked Virginia Cavaliers now 4-4 (3rd ACC Coastal) in Tallahassee, Florida at 6:30 PM ET on ESPN TV.