abcnews
In a stunning turnaround, the Louisville Cardinals overcame an early 14-0 deficit to crush the Florida State Seminoles 44-20 on Friday night, thanks to a record-breaking performance by running back Isaac Brown. Brown amassed a career-best 235 rushing yards and two touchdowns on just 17 carries, highlighted by a momentum-shifting 97-yard scoring run.
The game turned on a pivotal fourth-and-goal play in the second quarter. Louisville defensive back Kaleb Beasley stopped Florida State wide receiver Jasen Lopez at the Cardinals' 3-yard line, denying the Seminoles a chance to extend their lead. On the very next play, Brown broke free for his 97-yard touchdown, igniting a Louisville rally that would see them outscore Florida State 44-14 the rest of the way.
From that point, the Cardinals (3-3, 2-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) dominated, outgaining the Seminoles 438-190. Louisville finished with 537 total yards, including 397 on the ground, where they scored all of their touchdowns. The rushing attack flourished despite the absence of Keyjuan Brown, the team's leading rusher this season, who was sidelined with an injury.
Brown continued his heroics in the second half, returning the opening kickoff 71 yards to the Florida State 28-yard line, with a horse-collar penalty tacked on at the end. Four plays later, quarterback Lincoln Kienholz punched it in from 3 yards out for his first of two rushing scores, giving the Cardinals a 21-14 lead. Brown later sealed the victory with a 68-yard touchdown run midway through the fourth quarter.
Florida State (3-3, 1-2) had jumped out to a 14-0 lead and seemed in control early. Quarterback Ashton Daniels completed 21 of 37 passes for 209 yards and two touchdowns, adding another score on the ground, as the Seminoles totaled 362 yards of offense. However, a questionable decision to not attempt a short field goal early in the second quarter, which could have given them a 17-0 advantage, proved costly. Louisville made them pay by scoring the next 35 points.
Key Analysis
While Isaac Brown's spectacular night will dominate headlines, Louisville's defense deserves credit for turning the tide. After a slow start, the unit shut down Florida State following Brown's long touchdown run, preserving a much-needed win for the Cardinals. The Seminoles, meanwhile, continue to raise questions about their in-game decision-making, as another puzzling call contributed to their downfall.
Looking ahead, Florida State will visit No. 4 Miami on October 17, while Louisville travels to Syracuse on the same day.
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Originally reported by abcnews.