Florida State football opened ACC play with stunning upset loss on the road to Virginia on Friday, Sep. 26, falling 46-38 in double overtime at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville.
The No. 8 Seminoles (3-1) came into the game after back-to-back wins with 700 yards of total offense and a combined 143 points in two games, and a Week 1 win over No. 17 Alabama. Virginia (3-1) is entered the game on the back of a 48-20 win over Stanford, and the team’s lone loss of the season came against NC State.
Quarterback Tommy Castellanos threw a miracle touchdown pass to tight end Randy Pittman Jr with 36 seconds left in the game to force overtime. But in the additional period, the Seminoles failed to find the endzone as Virginia’s defense held strong to stun FSU 46-38.
Here is a recap of the action.
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Florida State vs Virginia score updates
FSU falls to Virginia in 2nd overtime, 46-38
On 3rd and 7, Duce Robinson bobbled a touchdown pass from Tommy Castellanos that would have set FSU up for a two-point conversion to tie the game against Virginia, but after review, he was ruled not to have full possession of the ball, and the score was wiped off.
The Seminoles faced 4th and 12 after a false start from Gavin Sawchuk pushed them back an additional five yards, and Castellanos threw up a prayer, which was intercepted as Virginia sent a heavy blitz to stun FSU 46-38.
Virginia opens 2nd overtime with touchdown
Cavs’ quarterback Chandler Morris scrambled for a touchdown and converted on a two-point conversion reception to jump in front 46-38 to open the second overtime period.
The Cavs then held the Seminoles, as Tommy Castellanos’ desperation throw into the end zone on fourth down was intercepted.
FSU opens overtime with a field goal, Virginia can win on a touchdown
An underthrown screen pass from Tommy Castellanos to Gavin Sawcuk led to a Jake Weinberg field goal.
FSU’s defense needs a stop to stave off the upset. But it also held when needed, holding Virginia to a field goal.
FSU football’s Ja’Bril Rawls intercepts Chandler Morris to force overtime
Virginia’s last gasp effort to set up a walk-off field goal was smothered by an interception from a diving Ja’Bril Rawls.
Rawls lurked in his zone underneath the Virginia receiver, and when Chandler Morris tried to make the big throw downfield, Rawls laid out for the interception to force overtime.
End Q4: FSU 35, UVA 35
Tommy Castellanos throws a touchdown as FSU ties the game with 36 seconds left
On fourth and goal from the 11-yard line, Tommy Castellanos threw a perfect pass to a diving Randy Pittman Jr in the corner of the endzone to tie the game with just over 30 seconds left in the game.
Castellanos was hit as he threw the ball, but he delivered it in a spot that only Pittman could get.
He’s thrown for a score, run for one, and now caught one.
Q4 | FSU 35, UVA 35
The Seminoles have two minutes to tie the game and avoid the upset
After the failed fourth-down conversion, the Seminoles’ defense forced a 3-and-out to give FSU and Tommy Castellanos the ball back with 2:18 left in the game.
Castellanos scrambled for 16 yards to move the Seminoles to the 49-yard line before the two-minute timeout.
FSU turns the ball over on 4th down, Virginia takes over with under three minutes left
On 4th and 1 on the 22-yard line, FSU brought a jumbo package into the game, but tried to run a play action, and Virginia wasn’t fooled. They forced Castellanos into a wild throw that fell incomplete and turned teh ball over on downs.
Virginia takes over with 2:43 left in the game. FSU has all three timeouts.
Q4 | UVA 35, FSU 28
Virginia takes the lead late in the fourth quarter
FSU failed to force a turnover on two fourth-down attempts by Virginia, and the Cavaliers had a touchdown pulled off the board by a holding penalty, but despite that, they took a 35-28 lead with a 16-play, 75-yard drive.
A 15-yard wheel route pass from Chandler Morris found Xavier Brown for the go-ahead score.
Q4 | 7:20: UVA 35, FSU 28
END Q3: FSU scores its third wildcat touchdown of the night, Randy Pittman throws to Duce Robinson
The Seminoles respond, once again. FSU went on a seven-play, 75-yard drive that ended with Randy Pittman throwing a pop pass to Duce Robinson for a short score.
Tommy Castellanos and Micahi Danzy set up the score with explosive plays. Danzy broke loose for a 33-yard run, which was quickly followed by a 22-yard run from Castellanos.
End Q3: FSU 28, UVA 28
Virginia runs all over FSU, Chandler Morris scores second rushing TD of the night
Virginia’s Chandler Morris hurt his throwing hand on a third-down conversion, and despite that, FSU was unable to stop the run, despite knowing the Cavaliers weren’t going to throw it.
After Morris appeared to hurt his hand by hitting an offensive lineman’s helmet, Virginia ran eight straight rushes, capped off with a seven-yard scamper from Morris.
The drive took 6 minutes off the clock
Q3 | 3:45: UVA 28, FSU 21
Jake Weinberg misses go-ahead field goal, the game remains tied at 21
The Seminoles opened the second half with an 11-play, 49-yard drive, which stalled at the 26-yard line and eventually ended with a field goal missed wide right by Jake Weinberg.
Q3 | 9:58: FSU 21, UVA 21
HALFTIME: Seminoles go into the break tied at 21 with Virginia after trailing by 14
FSU erased a 14-point deficit with a 21-point second quarter, but a late two-play sequence from Virginia tied the game with less than a minute before halftime.
The Seminoles were down 14 after a fumble and an interception led to two Virginia scores. In the second quarter, the Seminoles picked off Chandler Morris twice, scoring off both turnovers to take a 21-14 lead.
A near interception turned into a near 30-yard gain for Virginia, which set up a 26-yard touchdown run from J’Mari Taylor to tie the game.
HALF: FSU 21, UVA 21
Wild two-play sequence leads to Virginia touchdown, ties the game ahead of halftime
Chandler Morris was inches away from throwing a third straight interception as Jerry Wilson jumped a route, but instead of securing the ball, it popped out of his hands and into Trell Harris’s hands for a 28-yard gain to set up Virginia inside the 30-yard line.
J’Mari Taylor bounced off a tackle from Earl Little Jr., and he ran into the endzone for a 26-yard score.
Q2 | 0:48: FSU 21, UVA 21
The Seminoles pick off Chandler Morris for the second straight drive, tie the game with Tommy Castellanos’ touchdown.
Elijah Herring intercepted Chandler Morris, who forced a ball into coverage that was deflected by Quindarrius Jones and fell into the hands of Herring. It gave the Seminoles the ball at midfield, and Tommy Castellanos eventually scored on a six-yard rush.
Duce Robinson came up with two big catches, first on a 4th and 4. He ran a comeback and kept his feet in bounds to pick up the first down before running a double move for a 24-yard catch, which drew a targeting penalty and put FSU on the 4-yard line.
Both teams have 14 points off turnovers. FSU has erased a 14-point deficit with 21 second-quarter points.
Q2 | 2:32: FSU 21, UVA 14
After an Edwin Joseph interception, FSU ties the game against Virginia
Edwin Joseph picked off Chandler Morris on Virginia’s first play following the Seminoles’ scoring drive. The interception was created by Jucie Cryer, who pressured Morris into an ill-advised throw on the run, right into Joseph’s arms
It set FSU up on the 32-yard line, and it eventually led to Randy Pittman Jr. punching in a one-yard score from the wildcat. Tommy Castellanos ran for 16 yards on a 3rd and 1 to set up the score.
Q2 | 5:23: FSU 14, UVA 14
Tommy Castellanos’s big throw to Duce Robinson leads to first FSU touchdown of the game
A 49-yard throw and catch from Tommy Casttellanos to Duce Robinson set up FSU for its first touchdown of the night.
Gavin Sawchuk punched in a 2-yard rush on a wildcat run to pay off the big play from Castellanos to Robinson.
FSU went 75 yards on seven plays and took just under three minutes off the clock.
Q2 | 6:52: UVA 14, FSU 7
Virginia capitalizes on turnover, takes a two-possession lead with a touchdown
Chandler Morris ran in an 11-yard score for the second Virginia touchdown of the night as the Cavaliers again capitalized on a turnover from FSU’s offense.
The Cavaliers went 81 yards for the score on 11 plays. The Seminoles’ defense gave up its first rushing touchdown of the season.
The 14-point gap is the largest deficit FSU has faced this season.
Q2 | UVA 14, FSU 0
FSU squanders a chance to tie the game with Tommy Castellanos’ red zone interception
After Micahi Danzy was ruled not to have made a “football” move on a potential fumble on the first play of the drive, FSU failed to capitalize on a 10-play, 70-yard drive as Tommy Castellanos threw an interception on the five-yard line.
On a run, pass option, Castellanos elected not to hand the ball off to Ousmane Kromah and he tried to squeeze a tight window throw to Squirrel White. His pass was deflected at the line of scrimmage and picked off Ja’son Prevard.
Virginia has the ball at the xx at the end of the first quarter.
Q1 | UVA 7, FSU 0
Virginia strikes first as self-inflicted wounds hurt FSU
The Seminoles had a six-yard gain on the first play of its second drive, but a block in the back penalty from Luke Petitbon turned 2nd and 4 into 1st and 20.
On the following play, Gavin Sawchuk fumbled.
Virginia took over on the FSU 38-yard line and an Earl Little Jr unnecessary roughness penalty turned second and long into a first down for the Cavaliers inside the red zone.
Chandler Morris found Sage Ennis for a 6-yard touchdown score. FSU has three penalties for 40 yards.
Q1 | UVA 7, FSU 0
FSU, Virginia trade punts on opening drives
The Seminoles’ defense forced a punt from Virginia on the opening drive after the Cavaliers got back-to-back first downs.
Chandler Morris went 1-of-2 for 14 yards, and he ran out of bounds on 2nd and 8 to force third and long, which led to the punt.
The Seminoles’ drive stalled after a 3rd and 5 completion from Tommy Castellanos to Duce Robinson, which would have been a first down, was waved off for an offensive pass interference by Robinson. Instead, on 3rd and 20, Castellanos checked down to Gavin Sawcuk for four yards and it forced a punt.
It’s Mac Chiumento’s first punt since the Seminoles played Alabama, as FSU didn’t punt in the last two games.
FSU football wins coin toss, will receive in the second half
FSU will start on defense against Virginia after winning the coin toss.
The Seminoles will send the defense out to try and stop Virginia quarterback Chandler Morris. He’s thrown for 1,050 yards and eight touchdowns this season, and only one interception.
FSU football injury report: Tommy Castellanos clear to play
The final ACC-mandated injury report has been released by both FSU and Virginia.
The Seminoles, as expected, have taken quarterback Tommy Castellanos off the injury report. He is set to start his first ACC game with FSU. True freshman defensive tackle Kevin Wynn, true freshman wide receiver Jayvan Boggs and redshirt freshman linebacker Caleb LaVallee are all listed as game-time decisions.
Kam Davis, Roydell Williams, Deamontae Diggs, Gavin Markey, Chase Loftin and Ethan Pritchard are listed as out for the Seminoles.
Virginia injury report: Cavaliers down 14 players, including starting center
Virginia is down 14 players, with five offensive linemen listed as out and one more listed as a game-time decision in Ethan Sipe.
The biggest miss for Virginia is starting center Brady Wilson, who is out for the game. It’s a massive blow for the Cavaliers against a strong FSU pass rush.
The full list of players is below.
OUT
Game-time decision
Florida State football is wearing all white uniforms against Virginia
FSU is wearing all white uniforms for the ACC opener against Virginia.
Virginia is paying homage to its 1995 win over FSU by wearing throwback uniforms. The Cavaliers will wear blue helmets and blue jerseys with white pants.
Charlottesville weather update: What’s the forecast for FSU vs. Virginia?
The weather in Charlottesville, Virginia as of 4:30 p.m. is 82 degrees, and the expected temperature at kickoff time is 77.
There is a 54% chance of rain in the area, according to AccuWeather, at the time of kickoff, with chances decreasing throughout the game to as low as 34% at 9 p.m.
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Florida State vs Virginia predictions
Florida State vs Virginia injury updates
FSU quarterback Tommy Castellanos is probable after limping off the field during last week’s game vs. Kent State. Running back Caziah Holmes and tight end Randy Pittman Jr. also are probable.
Virginia center Brady Wilson is questionable with a calf injury. Guard Ethan Sipe (ankle/foot) is probable.
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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU football vs Virginia recap: Seminoles fall to Cavs in second overtime, 46-38
Reporting by Liam Rooney, Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
