There are now 45 days until the 2018 season kicks off for Florida State football. As part of the offseason, we’re highlighting players, games, and specific moments from FSU football history.
Today, it’s former wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin powering his way to a 45-yard touchdown against the Florida Gators in 2013.
Not all memorable moments in FSU history happen in prime time games with high stakes present. Some of the greatest plays occur against clearly overwhelmed opponents who can’t help but be thoroughly embarrassed by a superior team.
No one will ever mistake the 2013 Sunshine State showdown for a notable contest in rivalry history. The 4-7 Florida Gators were obviously no match for the 11-0 Seminoles and the eventual 37-7 final score certainly reflected that reality.
Simultaneously, no one will ever mistake Kelvin Benjamin as “weak” after what he did to the Florida secondary early in the game.
The Seminoles got off to a slow start thanks to a Jameis Winston interception and an enthused Florida defense trying to stave off the floodwaters. It was still just 3-0 when FSU got the ball with over 10 minutes to go in the second quarter. It slowly but surely worked its way down the field with a mix of Devonta Freeman and Kenny Shaw chipping away at the overextended Florida defense.
Penalties pushed the Seminoles back to their own 32-yard line when Kelvin Benjamin caught his second pass of the game for 23 yards. Benjamin had been getting separation, but was unable to come up with a big catch before that play. It turned out to be the spark that started the fire, since the very next play gave fans one of the most incredible touchdowns in FSU history.
Winston, the FSU quarterback, dropped back and saw Benjamin running a slant across the middle of the field. It was a perfect pass that allowed Benjamin to reach in front of his body, away from the cornerback Brian Poole. Poole got his arms wrapped around Benjamin, and the play should’ve ended right there.
Instead, Benjamin kept chugging before the safety comes in to try and bring him down. He ends up both missing Benjamin and causing Poole to lose his grasp. Benjamin was on a straightaway to the end zone as the entire Florida secondary ran after him.
Jaylen Watkins tried to catch up to him but made the same mistake as Poole. From there, Benjamin does a spin move and all of the sudden two other defenders have their backs turned to Benjamin waltzing in to the end zone.
Everyone has seen running backs truck defenders and brush off tackles. But wide receivers? It just doesn’t happen. Kelvin Benjamin is pretty unique in this regard, since he utilized strength differently than the typical receiver.
Florida State would not look back after the touchdown. FSU went up 27-0 before Florida put itself on the scoreboard, but it was a conciliatory touchdown when the game was out of reach.
Benjamin played a large part in making it so. He had a herculean effort with nine receptions for 212 yards and three touchdowns, in arguably the best game of his Florida State career. He finally turned his sky-high potential into domination just in time to run all over the Gators. The win started an active win streak over rival Florida that reached five this past season.
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