Florida State Seminoles vs Virginia Tech Hokies Match Player Stats On Nov 08, 2012

No. 6 Florida State 28, Virginia Tech 22: Virginia native E.J. Manuel threw for 326 yards and three touchdowns, including the game-winning 39-yard score to Rashad Greene with 40 seconds to play, and the visiting Seminoles kept their ACC title hopes alive by knocking off the upset-minded Hokies.

Greene finished with 125 yards and two touchdowns for Florida State (9-1, 6-1 ACC), which inched closer to earning its first Atlantic Division title since 2005. A win next week at Maryland will assure the Seminoles a spot in the ACC championship game and a shot at their first BCS bowl game in seven years.

This one didn't come easy, as a Florida State rushing attack which entered the night 14th in the FBS at 234.6 yards per game was held to minus-15 yards by an inspired Virginia Tech (4-6, 2-4) defense. Florida State also had to overcome a gaffe from running back Devonta Freeman, who nearly tossed away their division title hopes - literally.

The Hokies trailed 20-17 midway through the fourth quarter when Freeman got caught in his own end zone and desperately tossed the ball forward, which resulted in an illegal forward pass and a safety. That cut the Seminoles' lead to 20-19 with just under seven minutes to play. J.C. Coleman returned the ensuing punt 34 yards to the Virginia Tech 44-yard line and Cody Journell's second field goal gave the Hokies a 22-20 lead with 2:19 left.

But Manuel executed a textbook two-minute drill. He capped the 68-yard drive by hitting Greene on a slant and the sophomore raced across the field untouched for a 39-yard touchdown. The two-point conversion made it 28-22, and Tyler Hunter's interception of Logan Thomas at the Seminoles' 33-yard line sealed the win.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The crowd went silent for several minutes early in the second half as Virginia Tech freshman DB Michael Cole lay motionless on the field after a scary head-on collision. Cole was placed on a stretcher and taken off the field in an ambulance. It was later reported that Cole had feeling in his extremities and the move was made for precautionary measures. ... Manuel's godfather, Buffalo Bills Hall of Fame defensive end Bruce Smith, was in attendance. ... Manuel finished 25-of-42 and also threw an interception.