FSU's Dalvin Cook (4) celebrates his go-ahead TD. (USA TODAY Sports)
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Florida State’s hopes for a repeat national championship were rescued by a third-string running back.
Dalvin Cook’s 38-yard run around right end with 3:46 left Thursday night gave the second-ranked Seminoles the lead for good in a 42-31 Atlantic Coast Conference win over 25th-ranked Louisville at sold-out Papa John’s Stadium.
Florida State (8-0, 5-0) recorded its 24th consecutive victory. The Seminoles got 401 passing yards and three touchdown passes from quarterback Jameis Winston. The reigning Heisman Trophy winner, who played part of the second half with an injured right ankle, sealed the victory with a 35-yard scoring strike to fullback Freddie Stevenson with 2:11 remaining.
The Cardinals (6-3, 4-3) grabbed a 31-28 lead with 9:20 left when running back Michael Dyer rushed for his third score, a 1-yard jaunt off right tackle. Dyer finished with a game-high 134 yards on 28 carries.
However, after forcing a punt, Louisville went three-and-out, giving possession back to the Seminoles at their 38 following a 31-yard punt by Ryan Johnson. Cook, who produced 110 yards and two touchdowns on just nine carries, supplied the go-ahead points on the next play.
Cardinals quarterback Will Gardner threw for 330 yards and a touchdown, making extensive use of wide receiver DeVante Parker. The senior caught eight passes for a career-high 214 yards, including gains of 71 and 51 yards.
After a scoreless first quarter, Louisville Dyer put his team ahead 7-0 with 12:13 left in the first half on a 4-yard run, capping a seven-play, 80-yard drive.
The Cardinals then cashed in two interceptions thrown by Winston for 14 more points. Linebacker James Burgess’ pick set up a 52-yard march that Dyer finished with a 12-yard burst up the middle with 5:11 left.
Free safety Gerod Holliman notched his ninth interception of the year as Winston launched an ill-advised throw into triple coverage. That resulted in an 11-yard touchdown pass from Gardner to tight end Gerald Christian with 2:09 left, making it 21-0.
The Seminoles got on the board with 33 seconds left in the half on a fumble recovery in the end zone by tight end Nick O’Leary after a botched exchange between Winston and running back Karlos Williams. Winston threw for 68 yards on the 78-yard drive, which took just 1:36.
NOTES: According to the latest NFL Draft rankings compiled by NFLDraftScout.com, 12 of the top 100 prospects for 2015 were scheduled to play in Thursday night’s game. Nine of those are from Florida State. … Seminoles LB Terrance Smith, the team’s leading tackler this year with an average of 10.2 per game, was declared out in pregame drills with a neck strain. … At No. 2, FSU is the highest-ranked opponent to play in Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium since 2006 when No. 3 West Virginia absorbed a 44-34 loss.
