UNC knocks off No. 12 Florida State as time expires

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA — After seeing its three-score first-half lead sink away in the game's last minute, the North Carolina football team kicked a field goal as time expired to beat No. 12 Florida State, 37-35.

What happened?

Florida State missed a field goal on the game’s first possession, giving UNC the momentum and solid field position early. The Tar Heels promptly took the lead minutes later when quarterback Mitch Trubisky linked up with running back T.J. Logan on a 22-yard touchdown pass.

Two more missed field goals by the Seminoles and two more touchdowns from the Tar Heels put UNC up 21-0 midway through the second quarter. At that point, FSU finally responded when running back Dalvin Cook danced into the endzone from nine yards out.

With time winding down before halftime, UNC mustered another long drive and had a chance to extend its lead back to three scores. Instead, an Elijah Hood fumble two yards from the end zone cost the Tar Heels both a touchdown and the momentum at the start of the half.

The two teams traded scores in the third quarter, but Cook pulled the game back within seven for FSU as soon as the fourth quarter started.

UNC retook the lead on a touchdown near the end of the fourth quarter, but a missed PAT meant the team needed a stop to hold onto its win.

Florida State quarterback Deondre Francois' touchdown scamper with 23 seconds left gave the Tar Heels almost no time, but a long pass and a pass interference penalty got the team into field-goal range. Then Nick Weiler kicked arguably the most important field goal of his career, a 54-yard bomb, to revive UNC's spirit and deliver the come-from-behind win.

Who stood out?

Trubisky was efficient and effective as always, but he wouldn’t have been without the play of senior wide receiver Ryan Switzer. The senior receiver — who finished the day with 14 catches for 158 yards — was Trubisky’s security blanket all afternoon.

And while Switzer didn’t find the end zone himself, his efforts set up Logan and wide receiver Mack Hollins for scores of their own. Saturday’s game also ensured that for the first time in Switzer’s career, he finished three consecutive games with over 100 yards receiving.

For Florida State, Cook was the total package. He finished with over 200 total yards from scrimmage — 140 rushing and 106 receiving — and added three touchdowns.

It wasn’t just that Cook was the key cog in Florida State’s offense, though. He sped past, danced around and bulldozed through UNC defenders at all levels. Cook’s third touchdown encapsulated his performance perfectly, as he spun out of one tackle and pushed past two others at the goal line.

When was it decided?

At the absolute last minute. After UNC scored the go-ahead touchdown with 2:31 to play, the Tar Heels saw their extra point blocked to give them a six point lead. Despite penalty after penalty, Florida State drove down the field and into the red zone.

Facing 3rd-and-6 with less than a minute to go, Florida State quarterback Deondre Francois found Travis Rudolph for nine yards on a slant route to secure another first down.

A pass interference penalty in the end zone two plays later gave the Seminoles one last breath of life. With 23 seconds left, Francois escaped a sack from Mikey Bart and dove over the goal line for the tying score.

Ricky Aguayo, who missed three field goals in the first quarter, converted the PAT that almost cemented Florida State’s comeback.

But with a long catch by Hollins and a pass interference penalty, the Tar Heels drove into field-goal position with just four seconds left on the clock. Then, Nick Weiler drilled home a 54-yard field-goal — the longest of his career — to give UNC back the lead and ultimately the win.

Why does it matter?

A win over the Seminoles — in Tallahassee, no less — stands as arguably the most important win of Larry Fedora's tenure as head coach. Not only does it keep UNC's ACC record an unblemished 2-0, but the Tar Heels ended Florida State's 22-game home winning streak, which was the longest active streak in the country.

Despite almost falling apart at the end of the game, the Tar Heels were able to rally. The persistence and ability to conquer adversity solidifies the Tar Heels as a consistent ACC threat, and also gives them a much better chance of returning to the ACC Championship game.

When do they play next?

The Tar Heels will return home next weekend, facing Virginia Tech at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday.

@BrendanRMarks

sports@dailytarheel.com