WATCH: Florida State Seminoles Fall to Jacksonville State 20-17 After 59-Yard Touchdown on Final Play
By Space Coast Daily // September 12, 2021
ABOVE VIDEO: Florida State Seminoles Fall to Jacksonville State 20-17 After 59-Yard Touchdown on Final Play.
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA (Florida State Seminoles) – Damond Philyaw-Johnson caught a 59-yard touchdown pass from Zerrick Cooper on the final play of the game to give Jacksonville State a 20-17 win over Florida State at Doak Campbell Stadium.
The Gamecocks scored the final 13 points of the night in the final 4:45 of the game to earn the win.
Florida State was led by first-time starter McKenzie Milton who completed 18-of-30 passes for 133 yards while running back Jashaun Corbin totaled 109 yards and scored a touchdown, earning his second consecutive 100-yard rushing game.
“Congratulations to Jacksonville State,” said Florida State Head Coach Mike Norvell. “I did not have our team ready to play today. We definitely did not play in any way to the standard that what we are capable of. Penalties, self-inflicted mistakes; 100 percent on me. I did not have the guys ready to go and that will be fixed.”
After a near storybook ending in last week’s overtime loss to Notre Dame, Milton made his first career start as a Seminole. After 33 starts as the quarterback at UCF, he had the Seminoles on the cusp of their first victory of the season before Jacksonville State’s final scoring drive that covered 83 yards in 10 plays in the final 1:32 of the game.
Milton connected with eight different receivers including three completions each to Darion Williamson (32 yards), Andrew Parchment (29 yards) and Camren McDonald (29 yards).
Corbin led Florida State’s rushing attack that topped 200 yards for the second consecutive game. The Seminoles rushed for 202 yards against Jacksonville State after totaling 264 yards in their season-opener against Notre Dame.
Jacksonville State scored first on a second-quarter two-yard touchdown run by Josh Samuel to give the Gamecocks a 7-0 lead.
Following Jacksonville State’s opening score, the Seminoles scored 17 straight points.
Florida State turned the momentum it’s way as it forced the first turnover of the game. The fumble was recovered by the Seminoles’ Sidney Williams and Florida State began at its own 47-yard line. The drive culminated in a 12-yard rushing touchdown by Corbin to tie the game at 7-7. The score was Corbin’s second rushing touchdown of the season and the ninth of his career.
Florida State upped its lead to 14-7 on a two-yard touchdown pass from Milton to tight end Wyatt Rector with nine seconds left to play before halftime. The drive began with a 31-yard punt return by Keyshawn Helton and ended with Wyatt Rector’s second career touchdown reception.
A career-long 53-yard field goal by Ryan Fitzgerald with 4:20 remaining in the third quarter gave the Seminoles a 17-7 lead. His field goal increased by 10 yards the longest field goal of his career, which came against Notre Dame last week.
Jacksonville State held the Seminoles scoreless over their final three drives of the game while scoring the final 13 points to win the game.
