TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Blanton Creque’s first game-winning field goal at any level of football came at the opportune time for Louisville.
The sophomore’s 34-yard field goal with five seconds remaining lifted the Cardinals to an emotional 31-28 victory over Florida State on Saturday. The Cardinals (5-3, 2-3) took over on their own 24 with 2:05 remaining after Henry Famurewa recovered a James Blackman fumble. They then drove 59 yards in eight plays before Creque’s kick.
“That’s the first time I’ve ever had a kick to win or tie a game [late]. I just tried to treat it like any other kick,” Creque said. “We needed that win bad. It’s been a rough week.”
It was Louisville’s first victory at Doak Campbell Stadium since 1952, snapping a nine-game losing streak. It also broke a two-game losing skid for the Cardinals who lost 45-42 to Boston College a week ago.
“This was very huge. We needed this to boost our momentum,” said quarterback Lamar Jackson, who had 334 yards of total offense and accounted for two touchdowns.
Florida State trailed 28-14 going into the fourth quarter before rallying on two Nyqwan Murray touchdowns. The junior recovered a fumble in the end zone to bring the Seminoles within a touchdown and then tied it when he hauled in a 20-yard pass from Blackman with 8:58 remaining.
It was not enough though as the Seminoles’ nightmare season continues. After being ranked third in The Assocoiated Presss Preseason Poll, FSU (2-4, 2-3) has dropped its first three home games for the first time since 1974 and is off to its worst start since Bobby Bowden’s final season in 2009.
Even more important is that the Seminoles are in danger of missing a bowl game for the first time since 1982.
“It was a hurt locker room because they knew they were that close, but you play a guy like Louisville, Bobby [Petrino] and Lamar and those guys when you got them down you can’t let them up,” Florida Coach Jimbo Fisher said.