Peach Bowl 2015, Houston vs Florida State: Full highlights, final score and more.

The Houston Cougars upset the Florida State Seminoles to win the 2015 Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl.

It was an ugly start to the game for the Florida State Seminoles against the Houston Cougars. They missed a 52-yard field goal on their second possession of the game, which set up Houston with great field position. The Cougars would then march their way down the field, when quarterback Greg Ward Jr. punched it in from a couple of yards out.

Florida State would get on the board with a Roberto Aguayo 20-yard field goal on the next drive and it looked they had a little life. Florida State defensive end DeMarcus Walker made an impressive interception as he dove to the ground to snag a tipped pass from Ward Jr.

Florida State couldn’t do anything with the turnover and both teams combined for five straight punts after. Houston would extend their lead on Florida State to 14-3, when they made the play of the game, as wide receiver Demarcus Ayers on a trick play, threw a beautiful pass to a wide-open Chance Allen.

Things went from bad to worse for Florida State, as running back Dalvin Cook fumbled and Houston recovered. Houston would make Florida State pay, as Ward Jr. ran another touchdown in from six yards out. If that wasn’t bad enough, Maguire would throw an interception on the next drive to William Jackson III.

Maguire would hurt himself and limp off the field before the second half, but he was able to get back out on the field. If that wasn’t bad enough, the Seminoles had a negative six rushing yards at the half. Cook would finally provide some semblance of a running game, as he made it 21-10 toward the beginning of the second half, with a touchdown run from a yard out.

Houston safety Trevon Stewart decided to put his stamp on the game, when he picked off Maguire on Florida State’s very next two possessions.

Florida State couldn’t move the ball and Houston was running away with the game. After a Houston field goal put them up 14, Florida State pulled back in it finally, when Maguire found a wide-open Travis Rudolph down the field for a 65-yard touchdown.

Houston weathered the storm and went 75 yards in 12 plays and scored off of a touchdown pass to Allen again, thanks to Florida State leaving him open down the sidelines, to put Houston up 31-17.

However, the Seminoles did not stop fighting and late in the game pulled within seven again, when Maguire found Jesus Wilson for 14 yards. With a little over four minutes left, the Cougars would hold a 31-24 lead over Florida State.

After being set up with great field position, Ward Jr. would injure his leg and be taken out of the game. That left it up to Kyle Postma to finish out the game. He would run for a critical third down in Florida State territory.

To cap it off, Postma would break one last big run down to the one-yard line and the Cougars would score off a Ryan Jackson run. Up 38-24, Houston would cap off the game on another Jackson interception, as Houston won the 2015 Chick-Fil-A peach bowl.

Highlights

Three Stars

3. Demarcus Ayers, WR, Houston

Ayers was doing it all on Thursday, for the Cougars. He had the big play that really separated the Cougars from the Seminoles, when he threw a wide receiver pass to Chance Allen for a touchdown.

2. Greg Ward Jr., QB, Houston

Ward Jr. didn’t have a big day in the air, but he did have a big one on the ground. He was the catalyst of the Cougars’ offense all day. Two big rushing touchdowns helped set the tone for Houston.

1. Trevon Stewart, S, Houston

Florida State struggled to pass the ball all day, as Maguire threw for three interceptions and no touchdowns. The biggest thorn in his side was Stewart, as he had two big interceptions to kill Florida State drives that could have put them back in it.

Betting Odds

Florida State came into the game as a 7.5-point favorite. With their loss to the Cougars, the Seminoles did not cover the spread.

Up Next

The Cougars finish the season with an impressive 13-1 record. The Seminoles finish the year with a 10-3 record.