Game Balls: FSU-Louisville

For the fourth time this season, Florida State found itself behind at halftime on Thursday and for the fourth time, Florida State was victorious. The second-ranked Seminoles overcame an early 21-0 deficit for their biggest comeback in two decades in a 42-31 win over Louisville.

With the win, Florida State improved to 8-0 for a second straight season and extended the nation’s longest winning streak to 24 games. To point out which Seminoles stood out in each aspect of the game Thursday night, the Noled Out staff hands out game balls:

Offense
Mike Ferguson’s Game Ball: Dalvin Cook, RB
True freshman running back Dalvin Cook was unstoppable in limited time in Thursday’s victory. Cook finished with 150 yards from scrimmage, 110 rushing, and two touchdowns. After scoring from 40 yards out earlier in the game, Cook’s 38-yard touchdown with 3:46 to play put the Seminoles ahead for good.

Jon Marchant’s Game Ball: Jameis Winston, QB
Thursday’s victory over Louisville was not reigning Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston’s best performance, but it may have been his gutsiest. Winston overcame three interceptions to finish with 401 yards passing and three touchdowns, doing much of his damage in the second half on a gimpy ankle. Winston’s three touchdown tosses were of 68, 47 and 35 yards.

Defense
Mike Ferguson’s Game Ball: Reggie Northrup, LB
Junior linebacker Reggie Northrup played every snap for the Florida State defense on Thursday, finishing with a team-high 12 tackles. Northrup sealed the game with under a minute to play with his first career interception.

Jon Marchant’s Game Ball: Eddie Goldman, DT
Florida State junior defensive tackle Eddie Goldman continued to be a force on the inside Thursday night. Goldman had only three stops, but a game-high two tackles for loss and the only sack of the night for the Seminoles.

Special Teams
Mike Ferguson and Jon Marchant’s Game Ball: Cason Beatty, P
Regarded as one of Florida State’s biggest liabilities entering 2014, junior punter Cason Beatty continues to improve. In Thursday’s 42-31 victory, Beatty averaged 45.3 yards-per-punt with a season-long tying boot of 54 yards. Three of Beatty’s four punts were downed inside the 20-yard-line.