It was yet another thrilling game in this rivalry series! At the game's final horn, the #2 Florida State Seminoles outlasted #3 LSU 27-17 to advance to the BCS National Championship game to face the winner of #1 USC/#5 Michigan.
LSU came out ready to play, and behind a tremendous game plan by Coach cjohnchavis, the Tigers marched down the field on their opening drive, eating 5:10 off the clock to take a 7-0 lead. On FSU's first play from scrimmage, RB Devonta Freeman was stripped by mammoth DT Michael Brockers and LSU recovered. Florida State's touted defense held its ground, and held LSU to a FG, but at the end of the 1st quarter, it was all LSU 10-0.
Florida State answered with a long drive of its own, but Coach cjohnchavis's defense came up with 3 crucial stops inside its own 5 yard line, and held the Noles to a FG. The score held, and at the end of the first half, LSU led 10-3 with Florida State set to receive the kickoff.
The third quarter belonged to the Seminoles. FSU struck quick behind two deep passes and scored its first TD of the game when Matthew Bryant found James Wilder in the endzone. Wilder made a shoestring grab, and the game was tied 10-10. After sacking Mettenburger on LSU's first play on the ensuing drive, Freshman CB Robert Morrison stepped in front of a pass, picked it off, and raced 22 yards to the end zone to give FSU a 17-10 lead. The Noles tacked on a 53 yard field goal later in the quarter to score its 20th straight point in the game. FSU lead 20-10 at the end of three quarters, but LSU was not finished yet!
LSU did a great job of sticking to their 1st quarter game plan, using a balanced running and passing attack to march back down the field. With 4:16 left, the Tigers converted a huge 4th and goal play from the 8 yard line, as Mettenburger found Avery Johnson in the end zone for the second time in the game. The lead was trimmed to 20-17, with over 4 minutes remaining.
Florida State converted a few first downs on the ensuing drive, eating some time off the clock, but LSU's defense held firm. With just over 2 minutes left in the game, FSU faced a 4th and inches from its own 42 yard line. Without hesitating, Coach UTVOL54 sent his offense back on the field. The Tiger defense read the play well, but FSU senior LG Bryan Stork knocked off the LSU DT just enough to spring FB Jaron Brooks to daylight. Reminding many SEC fans of Tennessee fullback Shawn Bryson's fullback dive run against the Florida Gators in 1998, Brooks raced 58 yards to the end zone. With 2:08 remaining, Florida State led 27-17.
LSU marched back down the field quickly, and many fans in the Georgia Dome thought a TD, and onside kick, was forthcoming. However, FSU senior CB Xavier Rhodes intercepted a Mettenburger pass and raced down the field inside the LSU 10 yard line before being tackled.
FSU took a few knees to run the clock out, and earned a 27-17 victory. The FSU players held red roses into the air, celebrating their 3rd straight trip to the BCS National title game, this time in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.
"It was a tremendous effort by our team," said coach UTVOL54. "Our guys didn't give up after falling behind 10-0. Give LSU a ton of credit, they played extremely well and had a great game plan. I'm happy our defense and offense both responded to answer the challenge."
LSU appears to also be headed to the Rose Bowl, most likely against current #4 Texas, but that will be decided soon.
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