Florida State Seminoles vs North Carolina Tar Heels Football Recap

The game came down to one kick from 40 yards away with less than 10 seconds left. As Florida State lined up to kick the supposed game-winning field goal and wipe away UNC's 37–35 lead, Florida State fans held their breaths for yet another game-deciding field goal. The Noles are all too familiar with games being lost or won on late kicks over the years, and this one was no different. 

As soon as sophomore kicker Dustin Hopkins sent the ball on its way, he dropped to the ground. He knew. The ball sailed wide right and the game was effectively over. For a second week in a row, FSU lost on a mistake in the last minute of the game. But the story of this wrenching defeat wasn't Hopkins' missed field goal (or the 42-yard field goal he missed just seven minutes before the last kick). The story of the game was a complete defensive meltdown by the Noles' secondary.  

UNC's T.J. Yates can throw the ball. Despite showing weaknesses earlier in the season, he came out with arm a-blazing on Saturday, burning the Noles for 429 passing yards and 3 TDs. Yates averaged over 12 yards per completion. The FSU secondary seemed out of place and even lost at times. Flashes of the 2009 Noles were seen in the defensive backs and fans wondered if the players had forgotten all they'd learned. But at the same time FSU's rush defense returned to original spectacular form after the second-half breakdown at NC State. The Noles allowed just 34 net rushing yards on 33 UNC attempts. 

On the other side, FSU's senior quarterback Christian Ponder showed a better performance overall this week. He threw for 264 yards and 3 touchdowns, spreading the scores between three different receivers. Receiver Willie Haulstead again proved to be Ponder's favorite target, catching 10 passes for 154 yards and a score. Yet the receivers as a whole continued to drop passes, further frustrating the weakest part of FSU's team. 

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