Florida State backup quarterback Alex Hornibrook came in for injured starter James Blackman in the third quarter and helped rally the Seminoles past Louisville 35-24 on Saturday in Tallahassee, Fla.
Cam Akers rushed 29 times for 112 yards and three touchdowns, including the final score on a 1-yard run with 1:37 to go, as Florida State (2-2, 1-1 ACC) bounced back from last week's loss at Virginia.
Seminoles quarterback James Blackman threw for 127 yards before exiting with an apparent leg injury after a sack early in the second half.
Hornibrook, a graduate transfer from Wisconsin, also saw action in the first half, when he hit Keyshawn Helton with a 44-yard score. Hornibrook, who finished 15 of 20 passing with 255 yards and two touchdowns without an interception, also connected with receiver Tamorrian Terry from 60 yards out for a 28-24 lead with 7:25 to go.
FSU then forced a three-and-out before going on a 10-play drive that took more than four minutes off the clock, capped by Akers' touchdown to ice the game.
Terry finished with two catches for 73 yards. The Seminoles' leading receiver was Helton with seven catches for 96 yards and one score.
The Florida State defense was led by defensive lineman Marvin Wilson with 10 tackles, including 3 1/2 for loss and two sacks.
Louisville (2-2, 0-1) went into halftime trailing 21-7 but took a 24-21 lead early in the fourth quarter on a 74-yard pass to wide receiver Dez Fitzpatrick.
Louisville quarterback Malik Cunningham finished 16 of 27 passing for 286 yards, with two touchdowns and one interception. Fitzpatrick made seven catches for 133 yards and one score.
The Cardinals defense was led by Khane Pass with 12 tackles.
The win also marked Florida State's 300th victory in at Doak Campbell Stadium.
FSU now leads the all-time series with Louisville 16-4, including a 10-2 record in Tallahassee and 4-2 since the Cardinals joined the ACC in 2014.
--Field Level Media
