Game Balls: FSU-Georgia Tech

Florida State’s 28-game ACC and 30-game regular season winning streaks came to an end Saturday in Atlanta as Georgia Tech’s Lance Austin returned a blocked field goal 78 yards for a touchdown as time expired in a gut-wrenching 22-16 loss for the Seminoles. FSU fell to 6-1 on the year and 4-1 in ACC play as it now gets ready to take on Syracuse. While the Seminoles lost in heartbreaking fashion on Saturday, there were some players who stood out. The Noled Out staff hands out their game balls:

Offense

Mike Ferguson and Jon Marchant’s Game Ball: Dalvin Cook, RB
Though he wasn’t utilized much in the second half, Florida State running back Dalvin Cook finished with 132 yards of offense and FSU’s only touchdown in Saturday’s loss. Cook rushed 17 times for 82 yards and a score, but also caught four passes for 50 yards. Through seven games, Cook has eclipsed the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the season, becoming the first Seminole since Warrick Dunn in 1995 and 1996 to rush for 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons.

Clint Eiland’s Game Ball: Kermit Whitfield, WR
Junior wide receiver Kermit Whitfield led FSU in receptions for a third straight week, finishing with six catches for a game-high 61 yards receiving on Saturday night. Whitfield leads the Seminoles with 458 yards receiving this season.

Defense

Mike Ferguson’s Game Ball: Josh Sweat, DE
True freshman defensive end Josh Sweat had perhaps the best performance of his young career in Saturday’s loss to Georgia Tech. Sweat finished with six total tackles, including four solo stops and the Seminoles’ only sack. Sweat also set up FSU’s first score by batting a Justin Thomas pass into the air and grabbing his first career interception.

Clint Eiland’s Game Ball: Javien Elliot, CB
Senior cornerback Javien Elliott has gone from walk-on to serious contributor during his time at FSU. One week after recording his first career interception, Elliott finished with a team-high five solo tackles on Saturday night, including one for loss.

Jon Marchant’s Game Ball: Ro’Derrick Hoskins, LB
Ro’Derrick Hoskins continues to be one of the pleasant surprises for FSU in 2015. In Saturday’s loss, Hoskins recorded seven total tackles including two for loss — both team-highs. Four of the redshirt sophomore’s seven tackles were solo stops.

Special Teams

Mike Ferguson and Jon Marchant’s Game Ball: Cason Beatty, P
On four kicks Saturday night, senior Cason Beatty averaged 50 yards-per-punt, including two that were downed inside the Georgia Tech 20-yard-line. For the year, Beatty is averaging more than 43 yards-per-punt — a career-high.

Clint Eiland’s Game Ball: Roberto Aguayo, K
Despite having his winning attempt blocked and returned for a touchdown, Roberto Aguayo scored 10 of Florida State’s 16 points Saturday night, making good on three of four field goal attempts. Aguayo also had three of his four kickoffs go for touchbacks.