SportsDirect Inc. staff
Dec 29, 2011

EJ Manuel tossed two second-half touchdowns and No. 25 Florida State came from behind to upend Notre Dame 18-14 in the Champs Sports Bowl on Thursday in Orlando.

Manuel’s touchdown passes came in a 1:36 stretch early in the fourth quarter when the Seminoles (9-4) erased a 14-3 deficit and surged to a 15-14 lead.

Florida State had only 162 total yards through the first three quarters, but Manuel threw a beautiful fade on the first play of the fourth to Bert Reed, who caught it for an 18-yard touchdown that pulled the Seminoles to within 14-9.

After an interception thrown by Andrew Hendrix set up Florida State inside the red zone, Manuel fired a 15-yard touchdown pass over the middle to Rashad Greene that put the Seminoles on top 15-14 with 13:18 left.

Florida State missed two-point conversion attempts after each touchdown.

Tommy Rees had one touchdown pass for Notre Dame (8-5), which led 7-0 at halftime but struggled with the Seminoles’ speed on defense and couldn’t ever get much going on the ground.

Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly alternated Rees and Hendrix at quarterback throughout the game, and the duo combined for three interceptions.

The Fighting Irish’s only offensive touchdown came when Rees connected with Michael Floyd for a bobbling 5-yard score that made it 14-0 early in the second half.

Floyd and Florida State cornerback Greg Reid were both hurt on that play, and neither returned.