EditorsNote: Notes FSU outscored 75-31 in 2nd half "and overtime" in graf 3; corrects Perkins to 40 passes in graf 4; other minor edits
No. 25 Virginia improved to 3-0 for the first time since 2005 with a thrilling 31-24 victory against Florida State on Saturday night in Charlottesville, Va.
Wayne Taulapapa rushed for two of his three touchdowns in the fourth quarter to rally the Cavaliers (3-0, 2-0 ACC) to just their fourth win in 19 meetings with the Seminoles (1-2, 0-1).
James Blackman passed for 234 yards and three touchdowns and had Florida State in front 24-17 in the fourth quarter before another defensive collapse. The Seminoles were outscored 21-7 in the fourth quarter and have been outscored 75-31 in the second half and overtime this season.
Bryce Perkins completed 30 of 40 passes for 295 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions for Virginia.
Four Virginia penalties on Florida State's final possession moved the Seminoles into the red zone. They had first-and-goal at the 4 with just a few seconds remaining but elected not to spike the ball to stop the clock, instead direct-snapping to running back Cam Akers, who was stopped short as time expired.
On the previous drive, a targeting penalty against Florida State's Renardo Green set up Virginia with a first-and-goal at the 7. Taulapapa scored on second down from the 2, and Perkins scrambled for the two-point conversion and a 31-24 lead with 2:34 remaining.
Virginia's previous possession was aided by unnecessary roughness and facemask penalties against the Seminoles inside the red zone. Taulapapa punched it in from the 1 to pull the Cavaliers within 24-23 with 6:02 left.
But Brian Delaney pushed his extra-point attempt wide right. The junior had been perfect on the first 37 PATs in his career.
After completions of 17 yards to Tamorrion Terry and 30 yards to Tre' McKitty, Blackman put Florida State on top 24-17 with a 17-yard scoring strike to Keyshawn Helton with 11:42 to play.
Virginia had tied it at 17-17 when Perkins lofted a 12-yard touchdown pass to Joe Reed on the second play of the fourth quarter.
Ricky Aguayo's 53-yard field goal tied the senior's career long and extended FSU's lead to 17-10 with 5:48 left in the third quarter.
Following a 36-yard run by Khalan Laborn and a 28-yard catch by McKitty, Blackman hit Akers for a 3-yard touchdown pass and a 14-10 lead with 38 seconds left in the first half.
The Cavs pulled ahead 10-7 on Taulapapa's 3-yard touchdown run at 8:58 of the second quarter.
Blackman's 10-yard TD pass to Gabe Nabers gave FSU a 7-3 lead early in the second quarter.
Virginia led 3-0 at the end of the first quarter on Delaney's career-long 49-yard field goal.
--Field Level Media
