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Return TDs show why long field-goal tries remain risky

The improbable finish to the Georgia Tech-Florida State game has turned into a teaching moment at practice fields across the country.

And it provides yet another lesson that the risks of attempting long field goals go beyond the likelihood of a miss.

FSU lined up to try a 56-yard field goal with just seconds left on Saturday. Instead, the Yellow Jackets' Lance Austin returned the blocked kick 78 yards to beat the Seminoles, 22-16. That same evening, Texas State's Brandon McDowell scored on a 100-yard return of South Alabama's missed 53-yard attempt just before halftime.

"Shades of the War Eagles there versus the Roll Tides," Texas State coach Dennis Franchione quipped after his team's game.