TALLAHASSEE, Fla. _ Louisville mounted a second-half rally that triggered familiar dread among FSU fans, but the Seminoles managed adversity and pulled away for a 35-24 win Saturday afternoon at Doak Campbell Stadium,
Safety Cyrus Fagan gave the Seminoles (2-2, 1-1 ACC) life with 9:39 left in the game when he came up with a key interception. Tamorrion Terry made his first catch of the day, losing all defenders for a 61-yard touchdown catch from backup quarterback Alex Hornibrook to put the Seminoles back up 28-24 with 7:25 left in the game.
Louisville (2-2, 0-1 ACC) amassed a number of penalties late in the game, including a roughing the kicker call to set up first-and-goal from the 1-yard line. Akers punched it in to ice the game and put FSU up 35-24 with 1:37 left.
Despite taking a 21-7 lead at the half, FSU lost a ton of momentum in the third when starting quarterback James Blackman went down with a leg injury with 11:51 left in the period. A few minutes later, defensive end Jaiden Lars-Woodbey went down and had to have his left leg put in an air cast before he was carted off the field.
The Cardinals took advantage. Quarterback Malik Cunningham recognized busted coverage and found his man to set up first-and-goal at the 4-yard line. The Cardinals punched it in on the next play and FSU's lead was cut to 21-17.
Despite his success during a series in the first half, Hornibrook couldn't immediately get the offense moving and the Seminoles went three-and-out. Cunningham got the ball back and went up top to Dez Fitzpatrick for a 74-yard touchdown to give Louisville its first lead of the game _ 24-21 _ with 14:22 left in the game.
FSU, however, countered to escape with a much-needed win.
