A Near-Choke At Doak

#51 Northwestern – 10
#14 Florida State – 17

QB Dan Persa walks back to the bench after 
throwing an interception on his team's final possession

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- It seemed all but over when HB Chris Thompson put Florida State up 17-3 with a little over three minutes left. Instead, the Seminoles had to hold on for dear life.

Northwestern drove swiftly, scored a crucial touchdown, and recovered an onside kick, but Florida State held on for a 17-10 victory to wrap up first round play.

Red was completely unrecognizable from the outset, employing a no-huddle offense, and throwing on every snap. That may sound like an exaggeration, but to be clear – Northwestern did not hand the ball off a single time the entire game.

“That was how I wanted to go down with them,” Red said afterwards.

Florida State struck first, narrowly converting four third downs on their first possession, and scoring on an 8-yard touchdown pass from QB E.J. Manuel to WR Willie Haulstead.

Northwestern seemed poised to get on the board in the final minute of the first half following a Manuel interception, but QB Dan Persa fumbled deep in Seminole territory to keep the halftime shower score at 7-0.

The teams opened the second half by trading field goals, including another 50-yarder for Blue.

In the fourth quarter, Chris Thompson took over, breaking a 50-yard run, and punching it in from 13 yards out on the next play. The score put the 'Noles up 14 with 3:27 remaining in the game.

Persa and the Wildcats quickly engineered a stunning drive that was capped by a 1-yard TD catch by future New England Patriot WR Jeremy Ebert. The drive included completions to four different receivers and took less than a minute.

The ensuing onside kick bounced off a Florida State knee, and was pounced on by Northwestern CB Mike Bolden, giving the offense a short field with plenty of time on the clock.

Then, on 2nd and 8 from the FSU 25, Persa was hit by an unblocked lineman as he threw, and CB Mike Harris was there to pick off the errant pass and stifle the Wildcat rally.

The Seminoles were able to kneel out the clock from there – by the slimmest of margins. The game ended with less than a second remaining on the play clock and Florida State facing a 4th down.

Blue lauded Red's effort in the loss.

“That might have been the best game [Red]'s had against me in a while,” he said. “The drive at the end was really impressive, and the onside kick was perfect.”

Despite his recent surge, Blue failed to surpass the .500 mark in the first round for the first time since 2006.

The 'Noles will host conference foe #46 NC State, as America's lesser-known tournament rolls on to the second round.

Stats:

Northwestern
QB Dan Persa – 15/27, 207 yards, TD, INT

Florida State
HB Chris Thompson – 25 rushes, 164 yards, TD