Seminole Saturday Summary: Noles Handle NC State, FSU Soccer Takes Down Clemson in Top-10 Showdown

Florida State football now has a winning record overall and in conference play. For the first time since the end of 2016, the Seminoles have consecutive wins over Power 5 opponents.

FSU won its second straight game on Saturday night, topping NC State at Doak Campbell Stadium, 31-13. Alex Hornibrook started at quarterback for the Seminoles in place of an injured James Blackman and passed for career-highs of 316 yards and three touchdowns. Two of those tosses went to Tamorrion Terry.

Ontaria Wilson also caught his first career touchdown while running back Cam Akers put the exclamation point on the victory with a 41-yard touchdown run with less than 10 minutes to play. The Wolfpack held a slight total yardage advantage with 370 to 369 for the Seminoles.

Hornibrook was sacked eight times in the victory. FSU has gone three games without a turnover and forced two on Saturday night. Amari Gainer finished with nine tackles, 2.5 for loss and a forced fumble for FSU. Emeka Emezie scored NC State’s only touchdown on a short pass from former FSU quarterback Bailey Hockman early in the fourth quarter.

FSU soccer outlasted Clemson in a top-10 match-up on Thursday night. (Clemson women’s soccer)

In a top-10 match-up, the Seminoles downed No. 9 Clemson 2-1 on Thursday night. FSU got goals from Yujie Zhao and Deyna Castellanos in the first 17 minutes and the FSU defense did the rest.

Zhao, Castellanos, Malia Berkely and Abbey Newton all added assists in the victory. Maliah Morris scored the lone Clemson goal on a corner kick late in the first half.

The Seminoles outshot Clemson 8-6 in the victory. The Tigers managed just one shot in the second half as they suffered their first loss of the season.

Although ACC play is young, FSU and North Carolina are the only two schools perfect so far in conference. FSU remains on the road to take on Syracuse on Sunday before returning home to host Pittsburgh next weekend.

Football

Record: 3-2 (2-1 ACC)
Ranking: None
Past Week: (1-0), defeated NC State, 31-13
Upcoming: at Clemson (Oct. 12)
Recognitions: Cam Akers, RB (ACC Co-Running Back of the Week); Marvin Wilson, DT (ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week)
Weekly Commitments: None
2020 Recruiting Class Ranking: No. 10 nationally, second in ACC (21 total commitments)*
Big Picture: With consecutive wins over Power 5 teams for the first time since the end of 2016, FSU is showing significant improvement. The Oct. 12 contest at No. 1 Clemson will be the ultimate “measuring stick” game.

Weekly Review

NC State 13, FSU 31
Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019
FSU quarterback Alex Hornibrook passed for a career-high 316 yards and three touchdowns, with two going to Tamorrion Terry, as the Seminoles won consecutive ACC games for the first time since 2016. Cam Akers and Ontaria Wilson added touchdowns in the victory. Emeka Emezie scored the lone NC State touchdown in the fourth quarter on a pass from Bailey Hockman. Redshirt freshman linebacker Amari Gainer tallied nine tackles, 2.5 for loss, two sacks and a forced fumble as FSU allowed its fewest points to an ACC opponent since topping Duke 17-10 in 2017.

Men’s Basketball

Weekly Commitments: None
2020 Recruiting Class Ranking: No. 58 nationally, 11th in ACC (2 total commitments)*

Soccer

Record: 8-2 (2-0 ACC)
Ranking: No. 6 United Soccer Coaches
Past Week: (1-0), defeated Clemson, 2-1
Upcoming: at Syracuse (Sunday); vs. Pittsburgh (Saturday)
Recognitions: None
Big Picture: Florida State picked up its sixth straight victory and improved to 2-0 in conference with a hard-fought win over No. 9 Clemson on Thursday night. The Seminoles have two very winnable matches coming up.

Weekly Review

(6) FSU 2, (9) Clemson 1
Thursday, Sept. 26
Florida State scored two goals in the first 17 minutes of the match and the defense did the rest as FSU handed Clemson its first loss of the season. Deyna Castellanos and Yujie Zhao each had a goal and an assist in the victory. Malia Berkely and Abbey Newton each had assists for FSU. The lone Clemson goal came from Maliah Morris on a corner kick in the 44th minute. Neither team scored in the second half.

Volleyball

Record: 7-3 (1-0 ACC)
Ranking: No. 23 AVCA Coaches Poll
Past Week: (1-0), defeated Duke, 3-1
Upcoming: at Wake Forest (Sunday); vs. Virginia (Friday)
Recognitions: None
Big Picture: Florida State started ACC play on the right foot with a 4-set win over Duke on Friday night. The Seminoles, at 7-3, are looking like a real contender to take the ACC.

Weekly Review

(23) FSU 3, Duke 1
Friday, Sept. 27
Payton Caffrey finished with 20 kills and 12 digs to lead Florida State past Duke in the ACC opener for both teams. Morgan Chacon led FSU with 12 kills to go with a match-high 14 digs. Duke’s Gracie Johnson led the Blue Devils with 13 kills. Duke won the third set to avoid the sweep, but the Seminoles responded with an easy 25-15 win in the final set.

Cross Country

Ranking: Men No. 3 USTFCCCA South Region; Women No. 18 USTFCCCA, No. 2 USTFCCCA South Region
Past Week: Women won UAH Charger Open; men idle
Upcoming: Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational (Friday)
Recognitions: None
Big Picture: The Florida State women scored a nice victory in Huntsville on Saturday as they have now won both meets they’ve participated in this year.

Weekly Review

1st at UAH Charger Open
Saturday, Sept. 28
The Florida State women took the team title at the UAH Charger Open with five runners placing in the top 10. FSU’s Erin Phelps won her first career meet and was followed by teammate Yasmine Abbes. FSU redshirt sophomore Kayla Easterly rounded out the top five. Eight different Seminoles set personal bests.

Women’s Golf

Ranking: No. 13 WGCA
Past Week: FSU played the first two rounds of the Schooner Fall Classic in Oklahoma.
Upcoming: Schooner Fall Classic (Sunday)
Recognitions: Amanda Doherty (Golden Torch Award)
Big Picture: Through two rounds of the Schooner Fall Classic, FSU is in eighth place out of 15 teams. Florida State’s Frida Kinhult is currently tied for second, just a stroke off the lead.

Men’s Golf

Ranking: None
Past Week: FSU finished eighth out of 15 teams at the Fighting Illini Invitational.
Upcoming: Jack Nicklaus Collegiate Invitational (Oct. 7-8)
Recognitions: None
Big Picture: Florida State as a team has not been overly impressive on the young season, but Jamie Li has played well and should serve as a nice compliment to John Pak.

Weekly Review

8th at Fighting Illini Invitational
Friday, Sept. 20 through Sunday, Sept. 22
Florida State was in fourth place through the first round in Illinois, but settled for an eighth-place finish at +21 as a team. Georgia Tech and Baylor tied for the team title at +6. Jamie Li paced FSU for the second straight tournament as he finished tied for fourth at even par. John Pak finished tied for 14th for FSU at +3. Baylor’s Cooper Dossey shot -4 to take the individual title.

Other News

The Gold topped the Garnet in FSU swimming and diving’s spring meet.

FSU basketball has begun practice.

FSU track and field coach Bob Braman was extended through the 2024 outdoor season.

FSU women’s hoops unveiled its 2019-20 ACC slate.

FSU’s Jaiden Lars-Woodbey is out for the season with a leg injury.

FSU defensive end Janarius Robinson was ejected in the fourth quarter on Saturday’s win over NC State and will miss the first half against Clemson on Oct. 12.

*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.