Catch of the day
Noles get first victory on Blackman’s last-minute TD throw to Tate.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — James Blackman shook off a struggle-filled day to connect with Auden Tate on a 40-yard touchdown throw with 53 seconds left, helping Florida State rally past Wake Forest 26-19 on Saturday for its first win of the season.
Blackman — the true freshman and former Glades Central star pressed into a starting role when Deondre Francois was injured in the Seminoles’ season opener — had thrown for just 81 yards entering that final drive for the Seminoles (1-2, 1-1 ACC).
But after the FSU defense forced a three-and-out, Blackman was perfect with the downfield throw to Tate — who was in and out of the lineup while playing with a shoulder injury.
“He never lost it on the sideline,” FSU coach Jimbo Fisher said of Blackman’s demeanor. “We picked our moments to try to get him to be aggressive and he made the plays when he had to make the plays.”
Blackman had another big fourth-quarter throw, a 43-yarder down the left sideline to Keith Gavin on third-and-20. That ultimately set up Ricky Aguayo’s 35-yard field goal to tie it at 19 with 6:20 left.
Aguayo was 4 for 4 on field goals, including a long of 51 yards.
Blackman — who was a Palm Beach Post Super 11 selection just a season ago — finished the game with 11 completions in 21 attempts for 121 yards, the touchdown and no interceptions. He had a rushing touchdown called back by a penalty.
FSU avoided its first 0-3 start since 1976, Bobby Bowden’s first season as head coach of the Seminoles. Wake Forest fell to 4-1, 1-1. FSU’s performance wasn’t in line with its preseason No. 3 ranking. But Fisher didn’t care, calling it “just the next step” for a team that desperately needed to take one.
“Winning football,” Fisher said, “isn’t always pretty.”
Jacques Patrick, who ran for 120 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries, said: “Just got to find a way, man, no matter what it is. We came out here, we did what we had to do to get the W.
“That’s the first step: finding out how to win. We found a way today. And next week we’ll try to find another way to win.”
True freshman Cam Akers added 58 yards on 14 carries.
After taking an early 3-0 lead, the Seminoles fell behind 12-3 before gaining a 13-12 halftime edge.
Mike Weaver had a 62-yard kickoff return to set up Patrick’s 1-yard TD run, and Aguayo kicked a 27-yarder for the lead.
Wake Forest had a final chance to tie, but John Wolford’s desperation heave to the end zone for Scotty Washington fell incomplete as time expired.
“Three years ago, or even two years ago, this would have been a moral victory,” Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson said. “Those in our program no longer exist. There is nobody that left there and said, ‘Hey man, we played with Florida State.’
“That locker room is crushed and devastated that we did not find a way to win that football game.”
Wolford was 24 for 34 for 271 yards, no touchdowns and an interception. He led the Demon Deacons’ rushing attack, gaining 63 yards on 19 carries, including a touchdown. Greg Dortch had 10 catches for 110 yards.
The Seminoles next host No. 14 Miami on Saturday in a game rescheduled because of Hurricane Irma. The Hurricanes improved to 3-0 with a 31-6 victory Friday night at Duke.
Things don’t get any easier for the Demon Deacons, who visit second-ranked and reigning national champion Clemson on Saturday.
The Demon Deacons were trying to reach 5-0 for the first time since their unexpected ACC championship run in 2006. Their defensive front gave FSU fits, but the Demon Deacons struggled to run the ball and made too many mistakes — notably losing two turnovers after committing just one through the first four games.