FSU wins forgettable game against Florida

by Gary Shelton on November 26, 2017 · 0 comments

in general

Jacob Pugh celebrates with the gator's head after winning./STEVEN MUNCIE

Jacob Pugh celebrates with the gator's head after FSU won its fifth straight./STEVEN MUNCIE

Sunday, 3 a.m.

When they talk about the all-time classic football games in college football history, this one will not be mentioned.

Neither quarterback hit 50 percent of his passes. Neither team ran for 100 yards. Neither team passed for 200.

All that happened Saturday was that Florida State beat Florida, 38-22, to make their disappointment just a bit less pronounced than Florida's. It was the fifth straight game in the rivalry won by the Seminoles.

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Florida QB Feleipe Franks does a flip while trying to keep possession./STEVEN MUNCIE

Florida QB Feleipe Franks does a flip while trying to keep possession./STEVEN MUNCIE

FSU used two defensive touchdowns to beat the Gators and keep alive the hope of a bowl game. FSU must beat Louisiana-Monroe next week to earn its 36th straight bowl game. Florida will miss a bowl for the second time in 27 seasons.

Florida lost for the sixth time in its last seven games.

Jaques Patrick has s67 yards for FSU./STEVEN MUNCIE

Jacquez Patrick has s67 yards for FSU./STEVEN MUNCIE

 

Going into the season, FSU was ranked third and Florida 17th, which hints at how disappointing the season has been. Remember, in the 1990s, the teams played 12 times. Both teams were in the Top 10 for all 12.

It means a lot to me," FSU coach Jimbo Fisher said. "In a year where everybody said it was a wash year, you just accomplished something that had never been accomplished in Florida State history. Those kids believed in what they had to do, kept playing and fighting forward, and were able to win five in a row (in the series). That's never been done.

Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher wants one more win./STEVEN MUNCIE

Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher wants one more win./STEVEN MUNCIE

"That's a tremendous accomplishment and a sign of their character."

Gators' quarterback Feleipe Franks had a tough day, suffering three interceptions and five sacks. Both of FSU's interception returns for scores came against him. The Seminoles would have had another interception return for a score, but Matthew Thomas inexplicably slid short of the goal line. He was called for a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty, but the Seminoles scored on the turnover anyway.

“You can’t win games when you have too many turnovers for touchdowns,” said Florida interim coach Randy Shannon. “That was the biggest part in the game. Offensively we just couldn’t get started in our passing game. Throwing the ball today wasn’t very good for us as a group.”

Franks has a lot to work on in the off-season.

Florida Interm Head Coach Randy Shannon was unable to lead a turnaround./STEVEN MUNCIE

Florida Interim Head Coach Randy Shannon was unable to lead a turnaround./STEVEN MUNCIE

“All we have to do is just sit back and when the offseason comes and you study film, that’s when you really realize what you have to work on, how he can get better and how we can get better as a team,” Shannon said of Franks. “First time ever playing fellas, it’s tough. It’s one of those situations.”

Shannon said the new coach would inherit talent.

“This is a talented team,” Shannon said. “It’s a very talented team, it’s young talent. Whoever inherits this team is going to be really, really excited about it.”

Shannon said the Gator coaches would continue to work.

Mark Thompson gets tackled by the Florida State Defense./STEVEN MUNCIE

Mark Thompson gets tackled by the Florida State defense./STEVEN MUNCIE

“We’re not going to slack off just because the season’s over,” Shannon said. “When you’re professional, you have to be professional about it. (We’re) still recruiting. We haven’t stopped recruiting. We had a bunch of recruits that came in the other day from south Georgia, Miami, Pittsburgh, they came from all over to watch this game.

“That says something about this brand. The unknown sometimes can steer you the wrong way, but this staff, they’re professionals. They’re going to do their job. Our job is to recruit for the University of Florida. Our job is to make sure the guys do things the right way. We have to keep selling the University of Florida.”

Fisher said the Seminoles record of 40 straight winning seasons and 35 straight bowl games was important.

“We still got one more," Fisher said. "This season isn’t over. We put ourselves in position to keep 40 and 35 alive, which is extremely important to all those kids that’s ever played here and will play here.”

Florida's Hammond tackles Florida State's Blackman./STEVEN MUNCIE

Florida's Hammond tackles Florida State's Blackman./STEVEN MUNCIE

 

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