Two defensive touchdowns and what should have been a third was the difference on Saturday as Florida State beat Florida at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, 38-22. The win is a school-record fifth straight over Florida in the series.
The Seminoles (5-6) got the scoring started early on when defensive end Brian Burns stripped Florida quarterback Feleipe Franks and linebacker Jacob Pugh returned it for a score. Florida was able to tie the game later in the first quarter on a 10-yard run by Matt Thompson following an interception by Duke Dawson off FSU quarterback James Blackman.
Blackman put the Seminoles ahead for good with a 21-yard strike to Nyqwan Murray following the first of two interceptions by Florida State cornerback Levonta Taylor. After a Ricky Aguayo field goal extended the FSU lead to 10, Taylor returned a second Franks interception 18 yards to make it 24-7.
Franks’ first of two touchdown passes to Brandon Powell cut the lead to 24-13, but the ensuing extra point by Eddy Pineiro was blocked. The second hookup between Franks and Powell came in garbage time.
Pineiro connected on a 45-yard field goal in the third quarter to pull the Gators (4-7) within eight after three quarters, but FSU was able to put the game away with consecutive touchdowns. The first came on a 10-yard touchdown run by Cam Akers.
The second looked to have come on an interception return for a touchdown by linebacker Matthew Thomas, but the senior’s knee came down short of the end zone while showboating. Thomas was also assessed a 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct, but FSU scored six plays later on a touchdown throw from Blackman to Auden Tate.
FSU running back Jacques Patrick and Powell for Florida each led their respective teams with 80 yards from scrimmage. The Gators turned the ball over four times, while FSU did so just once.
Florida’s season is over and they will continue looking for a new head coach. FSU will return home to face Louisiana-Monroe with a chance to become bowl-eligible.
Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson
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