FSU collapses under mistakes
Seminoles open season with winless record
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — A fourth consecutive losing season now seems inevitable for Florida State.
Saturday, they lost their third game in a row — opening 0-3 for the first time since 1976, the late Bobby Bowden’s first season in Tallahassee — in getting thumped by Wake Forest, 35-14, on Saturday.
Already reeling from a loss to Jacksonville State on the final play, the Seminoles were reckless with giveaways and critical first-half penalties that prevented them from mounting a serious threat.
Sam Hartman threw for 259 yards and two touchdowns, and A.T. Perry grabbed seven passes for 155 yards and a TD as Wake Forest cruised.
Wake Forest (3-0, 1-0 ACC) rolled up 484 yards — 332 in the first half — of total offense, including 225 on the ground. Florida State (0-3, 0-1), which juggled McKenzie Milton and Jordan Travis at quarterback, committed six turnovers.
The ‘Noles stayed in striking range in the first half because of a 65-yard deep throw from Travis to a wide-open Ontaria Wilson.
Then the Demon Deacons put it away.
Hartman hit Perry in stride with a deep strike down the right side for a 49-yard TD. They scored their next two touchdowns after roughing-the-kicker
and unnecessary-roughness penalties extended drives.
Leading by 21 points late in the third quarter, Wake Forest wiped out any realistic hopes the Seminoles had by stopping Milton short of a first down on a fourthand-2 run from the Deacons’ 11-yard line.
Milton fumbled into Wake Forest’s end zone while stretching for the goal line in the fourth quarter.
The ball slipped in and out of the hands of players on both teams before it was recovered by Deacons defensive end Luiji Vilain for a touchback.
Milton lost a fumble again on the next drive when crunched by defenders while trying to avoid a pass rush.
Following a pair of victories over non-FBS opponents, the Deacons passed their first ACC test.
The Seminoles, however, have yet to emerge from their tailspin after pushing Notre Dame to overtime in the season-opener.