UNC’s kicker did FSU’s Tomahawk Chop in Tallahassee after nailing the game-winner

1. Florida State’s ACC and Playoff hopes were hanging by a thread. North Carolina was beating the Seminoles 34-28 in the final minute on Saturday at Doak Campbell Stadium, and the Tar Heels had FSU QB Deondre Francois wrapped up for a second-and-goal sack that threatened to seriously set back the Noles’ comeback chances. Well, almost.

Francois shook off Carolina’s Mikey Bart, then darted toward the goal line and dove into the end zone for what turned out to be the game-winning touchdown. FSU kicker Ricky Aguayo’s extra point made the score 35-34.

2. There were still 23 seconds left in the game.

3. North Carolina tried to push back, and FSU was willing to help. Defensive back Tarvarus McFadden took a 15-yard pass interference penalty with four seconds left, moving UNC from its own 48 to FSU’s 37.

4. That meant a 54-yard field goal attempt, down two points, for Heels kicker Nick Weiler as time expired. So this was tense for FSU, but things still were maybe OK, because Weiler had never tried an attempt from that deep in his career. It seemed out of his range, and he’d already missed from 51.

5. Weiler’s kick seemed like a prayer, until it was answered. The kick was good, and UNC won, 37-35.

6. The kicker rubbed it in.

7. And kept going, even while being carried off.

The Noles really, really needed to win on Saturday. They rebounded from a thrashing at Louisville two weeks ago by handling South Florida mostly with ease a week ago, but the Noles had nonetheless put themselves in a precarious position. They entered knowing that a second loss would basically end their chances at winning the ACC and making the Playoff, so those were the stakes. It’s not a position Jimbo Fisher probably figured he’d be in, but it’s where FSU was.

After Francois’ touchdown, it seemed like FSU’s 22-game home win streak was safe. It was not.