TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (seminoles.com) – Florida State nearly turned a 24-point deficit into the greatest comeback in school history. The Seminoles trailed 31-13 at halftime and outscored the Cardinals by a 10-0 margin in the second half, but fell just short of coming all the way back to tie the game at the end.
Florida State’s defense held Louisville scoreless in the second half and gave itself the opportunity to tie the game with under one minute remaining, but Louisville escaped with a 31-23 win at Doak Campbell Stadium. The Seminoles had the ball at the 46-yard line driving towards a potential game-tying score when Kei’Trel Clark intercepted a McKenzie Milton pass at the Louisville five-yard line to end the Seminoles’ comeback attempt.
Jashaun Corbin rushed for a career-high 159 yards and one touchdown while Milton completed 24-of-39 passes for 248 yards and one touchdown. The rushing effort marked Corbin’s fourth career 100-yard game, while Milton’s 248 passing marked his Florida State career-high. Defensive back Jammie Robinson recorded 13 tackles and Jermaine Johnson added to his team-leading sack total with one sack.
Florida State surrendered the first 17 points of the game, and then outscored Louisville by a 23-14 margin to close the game in the last three quarters.
The Seminoles’ defense came to life in the second half as it limited the Cardinals’ to zero points, 79 total yards (42 rushing, 37 passing), two first downs and a one-of-eight success rate on third downs while forcing six punts.
Florida State’s offense totaled 273 yards of total offense (190 rushing and 83 passing), 13 first downs and punted only twice after halftime.
For the game, the Seminoles outgained the Cardinals by a 452-395 margin in total yards, totaled more first downs (23-21) and punted only four times.
While the Seminoles’ defense turned their play up a notch in the second half, so did Milton and the offense.
Led by Corbin on the ground, the Seminoles totaled 205 rushing yards – the fourth time in four games this season they have rushed for more than 200 yards. Milton’s 248 passing yards were the most passing yards for Florida State this season.
COURTESY FLORIDA STATE ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
