Defense delivers under pressure Late drive gives FSU 2nd win
DURHAM, N.C. After coming up short a week ago, the Florida State defense learned its lesson, shutting down the Blue Devils in the closing minutes to preserve the Seminoles’ 17-10 victory Saturday.
Within the final five minutes, Duke twice took the field needing a touchdown to level the score.
After a blown assignment on a third-and-17, which led to the game-tying touchdown earlier in the half, FSU’s defense stood up to the challenge, securing the team’s second victory of the season.
“I think our guys wanted to prove themselves, and they wanted to step up and play — there’s no doubt about that,” FSU coach Jimbo Fisher said. “I’m very happy they did.”
“It’s a momentum builder,” FSU safety Derwin James said. “We have to finish out strong.”
Added Matthew Thomas: “We’re growing every time we get a win. We’re trying to come together and win as much as possible.”
TATE’S STREAK: FSU wide receiver Auden Tate continues to show why he is the most valuable player on the Seminoles’ offense.
The junior receiver caught three passes for 30 yards and a touchdown against Duke and continues to be the go-to red zone target for true freshman quarterback James Blackman.
Of Blackman’s five touchdown passes in his first four games, Tate has caught four of them.
Tate has done this while battling through a shoulder injury suffered three weeks ago against NC State. The injury, which has limited Tate’s ability to practice, has not kept him from serving as a spark.
“He makes plays for us every week,” FSU running back Jacques Patrick said of Tate. “That’s one guy we know we can depend on no matter what it is. He’s always gonna do what he does.”
Tate’s first-quarter touchdown catch to give the Seminoles a 7-0 lead over the Blue Devils marked his fifth straight game with a touchdown catch, the longest active streak in the nation.
FIRST-HALF STRUGGLES: An inability to score early in games continues to be a major problem for the FSU offense.
The Seminoles did score on their opening drive against the Blue Devils, methodically moving the ball 83 yards on 12 plays. However, they were kept off the scoreboard for the remainder of the first half.
During five games this season, FSU has scored 40 first-half points, an average of eight points per first half. That is the lowest number of first-half points scored in the first five games among all Power 5 teams this season.
TIP DRILL: The Florida State defense used a key turnover to halt Duke’s progress on a potential goahead drive late in the first half.
With the Blue Devils trailing 7-3 and moving deeper into FSU territory, a tipped pass on a trick play hung in the air long enough for sophomore linebacker Emmett Rice to wrangle his first career interception. The pick was FSU’s fourth forced turnover of the year in five games.