2015 Peach Bowl: Game Grades for Florida State vs. Houston

Tom Herman had a tremendous first season at the helm of Houston’s program, and the Cougars capped 2015 in the perfect way Thursday. Houston controlled the Peach Bowl throughout and took a 38-24 victory over Florida State. The Cougars finished the season 13-1 and grabbed the program’s first bowl win over a top-10 team since 1979. Florida State and Jimbo Fisher finished the season at 10-3.

Houston quarterback Greg Ward Jr. left the game twice with leg injuries but rolled up 305 yards of total offense and accounted for four touchdowns. Florida State tailback Dalvin Cook had a tremendous sophomore season but was held in check Thursday, gaining just 33 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries. FSU turned the ball over five times, with Cook coughing up a fumble and quarterback Sean Maguire getting intercepted four times. That was enough to spell doom for the Seminoles. Here are the Peach Bowl game grades:

Florida State

Positional Unit	First-Half Grade	Second-Half Grade
Pass Offense	D	C
Run Offense	D	D
Pass Defense	B+	B+
Run Defense	B	B
Special Teams	C	B
Coaching	D	D

Pass Offense: Sean Maguire entered Thursday with just two interceptions on the season. He doubled that total in 60 minutes against Houston’s defense. Maguire threw for 392 yards and two touchdowns, but the interceptions, two of which were egregious, were hurtful to the Seminoles’ hopes of victory. Maguire shook off a lower left-leg injury that knocked him from the game briefly in the first half and was better in the second half, but an 18-point halftime deficit was too much to overcome.

Run Offense: Dalvin Cook had a tremendous sophomore season, rushing for 1,625 yards and 17 touchdowns. But he never found seams against Houston’s defense. Cook was held to a season-low 33 yards on 18 carries. It was only the fourth time he has been held under 100 yards rushing all season.

Pass Defense: Houston quarterback Greg Ward Jr. entered as a strong dual-threat quarterback, and he consistently moved the ball for big gainers against Jalen Ramsey and Florida State’s secondary. It wasn’t a good secondary’s finest hour, to be certain.

Run Defense: A solid run defense didn’t have its best day against Houston. Ward used his legs to move the ball well, carrying 20 times for 67 yards and two touchdowns. Houston had 187 rushing yards on 53 carries, averaging 3.5 yards per tote.

Special Teams: Roberto Aguayo is one of the nation’s best kickers but made only one of two field goals, coming up short on a 52-yard try. Cason Beatty was solid, kicking six times for a 51.5-yard average.

Coaching: Florida State was playing in a non-playoff/BCS bowl game for the first time in three seasons, and it showed. The Seminoles looked a bit flat against a Houston team that was clearly more motivated, and they were also sloppy, committing five turnovers. While that isn’t all on Jimbo Fisher and his staff, they should bear some responsibility.

Houston

Positional Unit	First-Half Grade	Second-Half Grade
Pass Offense	B+	B+
Run Offense	B	B
Pass Defense	A	B-
Run Defense	A	A
Special Teams	B+	B+
Coaching	A	A

Pass Offense: Greg Ward Jr. had a breakout season, and Thursday was an excellent capper, as he threw for 238 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Demarcus Ayers’ 20-yard wide receiver pass for a touchdown was perfectly timed.

Run Offense: Ward hurts defenses with his arms and his legs, and that was the case Thursday. He carried for 67 yards and two touchdowns, extending drives with his legs. Ryan Jackson added 54 yards and a touchdown on his own, and that kept FSU honest against the pass.

Pass Defense: Sean Maguire threw for 392 yards, but Houston picked him off four times, tripling his season total. William Jackson and Trevon Stewart had two interceptions apiece.

Run Defense: Dalvin Cook has burned many defenses, but Houston’s was not one of them. Houston held Cook to a season-low 33 yards and never gave him a chance to run free. Cook is a big-play back who didn’t get any Thursday, scoring a touchdown on a one-yard plunge.

Special Teams: Ty Cummings made his only field goal, a 39-yard try, and was perfect on five extra-point attempts. Logan Piper punted seven times for a 41.6-yard average, and Steven Dunbar returned his only kick attempt 37 yards into FSU territory.

Coaching: Tom Herman had his team perfectly motivated for its moment in the national spotlight. The Cougars took a 7-0 lead and never looked back. Offensive coordinator Major Applewhite’s play-calling was varied and inspired and kept Florida State on its heels.