Seminole Saturday Summary: FSU Football Melts Down vs. Boise State, FSU Volleyball Stuns No. 3 Minnesota

Year No. 2 of the Willie Taggart administration at Florida State got off on the absolute wrong foot on Saturday. FSU football blew an 18-point lead at home in a 36-31 loss to Boise State.

The Broncos scored the game’s final 23 points after trailing 31-13. Hank Bachmeier, the first true freshman quarterback to start in Week 1 for Boise State, passed for 407 yards, a touchdown and an interception. The Broncos went ahead for good with a 1-yard touchdown run by Robert Mahone early in the fourth quarter. Mahone rushed for 142 yards and a pair of scores.

Boise State finished with 621 yards of offense and 38 first downs to just 19 for FSU. The Seminoles finished with 407 yards of offense, but managed just 51 yards in the second half. Quarterback James Blackman passed for 327 yards and three touchdowns. Cam Akers finished the day with 116 yards rushing and a score, but did have a critical second-half fumble.

The Seminoles have now lost three straight openers for the first time since the mid-1970s. Since 2009, Boise State has defeated Oregon, Virginia Tech, Georgia, Washington and now Florida State in Week 1.

Florida State volleyball took down Minnesota in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge on Saturday. (FSU athletics)

On a day where FSU football suffered a debilitating loss, FSU volleyball pulled a monumental upset. In the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, the Seminoles stunned No. 3 Minnesota and did so in straight sets, 25-17, 26-24, 25-21.

FSU’s Jasmyn Martin led all players with 16 kills. Payton Caffrey added 10 kills and a match-high 15 digs in the match.

Alexis Hart led the Golden Gophers with 14 kills in the loss. Unfortunately for Hart, it was her attack error in the third set that ultimately ended the match.

Football

Record: 0-1
Ranking: None
Upcoming: vs. Louisiana-Monroe (Saturday)
Recognitions: None
Weekly Commitments: None
2020 Recruiting Class Ranking: No. 9 nationally, second in ACC (21 total commitments)*
Big Picture: At this point, there is no denying that Florida State is a program in turmoil. Letting an 18-point lead slip away put an enormous damper on the season’s outlook.

Weekly Review

Boise State 36, FSU 31
Saturday, Aug. 31
Boise State scored 23 unanswered points to stun Florida State in the season opener in Tallahassee. Freshman Hank Backmeier passed for 407 yards in the win. Running back Robert Mahone rushed for 142 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner early in the fourth quarter. James Blackman passed for 327 yards and three touchdowns for FSU in the loss. Cam Akers rushed for 116 yards and a score. Boise State finished with more than 620 yards, 38 first downs and held the ball for more than 40 minutes.

Men’s Basketball

Weekly Commitments: None
2020 Recruiting Class Ranking: No. 34 nationally, seventh in ACC (1 total commitment)*

Soccer

Record: 2-1
Ranking: No. 1 United Soccer Coaches
Upcoming: at USC (Sunday); vs. Florida (Friday)
Recognitions: None
Big Picture: FSU’s 11-match winning streak dating back to last season was snapped on Thursday. The Seminoles have two more tough tests this week.

Weekly Review

(16) Wisconsin 0, (1) FSU 1 (Overtime)
Sunday, Aug. 25
After nearly 99 minutes of scoreless action, Malia Berkely knocked home the game-winner to give Florida State its first win of the season over a ranked team. After the first goal of her career a game earlier, FSU freshman Heather Payne assisted on the match’s only goal. FSU outshot Wisconsin, 14-8. Caroline Jeffers finished with four saves as FSU pitched its 11th straight shutout dating back to last season.

(1) FSU 1, (4) UCLA 2
Thursday, Aug. 29
Jessie Fleming scored a pair of first-half goals for UCLA and Florida State was never able to catch up. The Bruins outshot the Seminoles 12-5. FSU goalkeeper Caroline Jeffers finished with nine saves. Jaelin Howell scored FSU’s only goal in the 76th minute. She was assisted by Jenna Nighswonger.

Volleyball

Record: 1-1
Ranking: None
Upcoming: vs. Wisconsin (Friday, in Chapel Hill); vs. Minnesota (Saturday, in Chapel Hill)
Recognitions: N/A
Big Picture: Facing a difficult early slate, the Seminoles got a stunning split in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. FSU was competitive in a straight-set loss to Wisconsin before doing the unthinkable and topping No. 3 Minnesota.

Weekly Review

FSU 0, (5) Wisconsin 3
Friday, Aug. 30 (Chapel Hill)
Florida State was competitive in each of the final two sets against Wisconsin, but were unable to take a set. Wisconsin’s Dana Rettke recorded a match-high 17 kills in the victory. Reigning ACC Player of the Year, Payton Caffrey, had nine kills and 12 digs to lead the Seminoles.

(3) Minnesota 0, FSU 3
Saturday, Aug. 31 (Chapel Hill)
FSU volleyball wrapped up the ACC/Big Ten Challenge with a stunning victory over No. 3 Minnesota. Jasmyn Martin led the Seminoles and all players with 16 kills. Payton Caffrey had a solid afternoon with 11 kills and 15 digs. Alexis Hart led Minnesota with 14 kills in the loss.

Cross Country

Ranking: Men No. 2 USTFCCCA South Region; Women No. 20 USTFCCCA, No. 2 USTFCCCA South Region
Upcoming: Virginia Tech Alumni Invitational (Sept. 20)
Recognitions: None
Big Picture: FSU started the season strong with wins on both the men’s and women’s side at the Covered Bridge Open.

Weekly Review

Covered Bridge Invitational
Friday, Aug. 30
For the third year in a row, Florida State swept the Covered Bridge Open. On the men’s side, Kasey Knevelbaard took the individual title while Caleb Pottorff and Tyler Dau each finished in the top five for FSU. High Point’s Famke Heinst took first place on the women’s side, but 11 of the top 15 finishers were from Florida State. FSU’s Lauren Ryan, Maudie Skyring, Eleanor Wallace and Megan Mooney rounded out the top five.

Other News

FSU offensive lineman Andrew Boselli, a former scholarship player who left the program and returned as a walk-on, has been given a scholarship.

FSU women’s golf is ranked No. 6 by Golfweek in the preseason.

FSU football announced quarterback James Blackman, defensive tackle Marvin Wilson and kicker Ricky Aguayo as the team’s captains for 2019.

*247Sports Composite rankings

Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson. Like The Daily Nole on Facebook. To pitch an idea, author a post or to learn more about The Daily Nole, email Mike Ferguson at Mike@TheDailyNole.com.