All week folks inside the Florida State program praised Jameis Winston's ability to shut off the off-the-field noise once the lights come on. Saturday night the Seminoles quarterback did it again.
Winston threw for 273 yards and two touchdowns to lead a second-half comeback and Florida State's defense held on in the waning seconds as the Seminoles stayed undefeated with a 31-27 win over Notre Dame. The Seminoles' victory gives them an NCAA-high 23 straight and moves them to 7-0 on the season, though for the fourth time in 2014 it came down to the wire.
'It's what you play for ... It's what you practice for ... It's what we LIVE for.'-Jimbo Fisher on #NDvsFSU http://ift.tt/11ObYSs
- ESPN CollegeFootball (@ESPNCFB) October 19, 2014
And down to the wire might be an understatement. It appeared as if Notre Dame won and lost the game at multiple points. Left for dead with a 4th-and-18 inside their own territory, Everett Golson scrambled around 10 yards behind the line of scrimmage before finding a wide-open Corey Robinson to keep the game alive.
With momentum on their side and 13 seconds remaining, Golson seemingly connected with Robinson again from three yards out for what would have been the game-winning score. Only an official noticed and called an obvious offensive pass interference on the pick play for Robinson, wiping the points off the board and forcing a last-second heave that fell into the arms of Florida State defensive back Jacob Pugh.
Brian Kelly: 'We execute that play every day, and we do it legally. We don't coach illegal plays.'
- JJ Stankevitz (@JJStankevitz) October 19, 2014
The waning moments were an appropriate capper for what may be the best college football game of 2014. Golson and Winston both turned in performances that will put them in their school's respective record books, including Winston's excellence on a 10-play drive that culminated with a Karlos Williams touchdown to give Florida State its first and only lead of the game.
The Seminoles came into Saturday night after a week of turmoil that left Winston's playing status in question. A report from ESPN's Darren Rovell uncovered the reigning Heisman winner had more than 2,000 signatures authenticated by James Spence Authentication, leading to an internal investigation from Florida State that is still ongoing.
University athletic director Stan Wilcox released a statement Friday indicating that Winston would be allowed to play because there is no evidence indicating he was paid for items.
'We have no information indicating that he accepted payment for items reported to bear his signature, thereby compromising his athletics eligibility,' Wilcox said, per Sean Rossman of the Tallahassee Democrat. 'The fact that items appear on an Internet site bearing the signature of a student-athlete does not singularly determine a violation of NCAA rules.'
The first half was fraught with the type of frustration that would make one theorize about Seminole distractions. Notre Dame's pass rush barreled into the pocket despite sending only four rushers on most plays, leading to a series of aborted drives. Four of the Seminoles first five offensive drives resulted in either a three and out or turnover, highlighted by an ugly Winston interception that led to Notre Dame's second touchdown.
Golson connected with Robinson from nine yards out, their second such connection of the game. Golson, who needed an IV at one point to curtail cramping, completed 31 of his 52 passes for 313 yards and three touchdowns. Winston's interception came on the first play after one from Golson that wiped away a potential scoring drive. At certain points it was Golson who was embarking on his Heisman moment.
Streeter Lecka/Getty Images
Starting with the final meaningful drive of the first half, though, things started to click for Florida State. The Noles embarked on a 10-play, 39-yard drive that resulted in a Roberto Aguayo field goal and then opened up the second half with consecutive touchdown drives. Winston hit Rashad Greene from 10 yards out on the half's opening drive to knot the score at 17-17, and then Karlos Williams plunged in from two yards out to tie it again at 24-24 after Golson threw his third touchdown of the game.
it is craaaazy how much better golson is than he was in 2012.
- Bomani Jones (@bomani_jones) October 19, 2014
Williams' score was one of a select few positive moments for the Florida State ground game. Williams and Dalvin Cook combined for 45 yards on 20 carries, continuing a season-long trend of frustrating rushing results. Too often in obvious run situations the Seminoles put the ball in Winston's hands and crossed their fingers that he could make it happen.
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Time after time down the stretch he came through. Falling away out of the pocket with pressure coming from both angles, Winston completed a 3rd-and-2 pass on a rope 15 yards to Greene, helping set up Williams for his second touchdown of the game and finalize the score.
Where the first-half pressure stifled the offense in the first half, Winston thrived with defenders in his face in the second. Notre Dame began dialing up blitzes with more intensity, forcing Winston to make quick, flawless reads at the line of scrimmage he executed without problem. Very few of Winston's throws were downfield strikes. Most were shorter or intermediate strikes meant to move the chains and allow receivers to run after the catch.
All that being said, forgetting all the off-field issues, Jameis Winston is one HELL of a ball player. Had an incredible second half.
- Mike Golic Jr (@MGolicJR57) October 19, 2014
'Offensively, skill-position wise, as balanced as an offense that I've seen in a long time,' Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly said of Florida State this week, per Chance Linton of 247Sports. 'I think that's really their strength in terms of across the board, great balance on offense and a really, really good quarterback. ( Jameis Winston) is really good-makes good decisions, is physical, can run the ball, can make all the throws.'
Mark Wallheiser/Associated Press
While Kelly was complementary of Florida State's balance, it was actually the Irish who excelled on the ground. Tarean Folston had 120 yards on 21 carries, and Golson extended drives at multiple points by using his legs to get outside. The hollow victory here for Notre Dame is that it proved without question it deserves to be high among the one-loss teams vying for a playoff spot.
Doug Farmer of 247 Sports provides Golson comments on falling short:
'I told my guys we're going to go down and score, and we didn't do that.' - #NotreDame QB Everett Golson
- Douglas Farmer (@D_Farmer) October 19, 2014
As for the Seminoles, this should be the biggest test of their season. Florida State does not have a game remaining on its schedule against a ranked opponent before a potential ACC Championship Game. With three of the five games at home, odds are an Oct. 30 tilt at Louisville is all that stands between the Noles and a potential repeat.
Well, at least as long as their leader can stay on the field.
Follow Tyler Conway (@tylerconway22) on Twitter
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