The Florida State Seminoles bested the East Texas A&M Lions Saturday, earning a second win for the season after their victory during their opening game last weekend against highly favored and 8th ranked Alabama.
The atmosphere at Doak Campbell Stadium Saturday was hot—and not just from the temperature. FSU's offense turned up the heat as the team scored ten consecutive touchdowns, taking a 70-0 lead into the 4th quarter.
The Noles were driving the ball on their way to an eleventh score, but a fumble stopped the offense. Following the turnover, East Texas A&M scored their only points of the game with a field goal with 9:30 left in the game. FSU answered with a final touchdown to win 77-3—tying a 1949 program record for a 74-point margin of victory.
The Noles posted 729 total yards, the first 700-plus yard game since the 54-7 victory over Clemson in 2000 when the team gained 771 yards.The Noles scored and moved the ball almost equally on the ground and through the air. Of the eleven touchdowns, six came from passes and five on running plays. FSU passed for 368 yards and ran for 361 yards.
Quarterback Thomas Castellanos, who left the game with 5:58 left in the second quarter, finished with 237 passing yards and three touchdowns and with three runs for 22 yards. With the game well in hand, Coach Mike Norvell opted to split playing time with his backup quarterbacks for the rest of the game. Freshman QB Kevin Sperry threw for 61 yards, and two touchdowns and red shirt sophomore Brock Glenn threw for 56 yards and a touchdown. Red shirt freshman QB, Michael Grant, finished the game for the Noles.
The Noles 361 rushing yards came from thirteen different players, led by red shirt freshman Samuel Singleton Jr. with 82 yards and a touchdown. Another red shirt freshman, Zay Parks, ran for 61 yards and a TD. Speedster Micahi Danzy took his only run for 53 yards and a touchdown. Gavin Sawchuk, a junior transfer from Oklahoma scored three TDs, two on the ground and on a short pass that turned into a 53-yard race up the sideline for a score.
Wide receiver Duce Robinson, a junior transfer from USC, led all receivers with five catches for 173 yards and two touchdowns. One of those scores was a highlight reel one-handed catch. In all, FSU’s six scores through the air went to five different receivers and the Noles 368 passing yards went to eleven receivers.
The Noles defense held East Texas A&M to nine first downs and 197 total yards and grabbed two interceptions. Senior defensive back Jerry Wilson tallied an INT and redshirt junior Earl Little Jr. grabbed his first career interception in the second quarter, returning it 48 yards to set up the Noles fourth touchdown.
The 14th ranked Noles have a bye-week before they look for their third victory of the year when they host Kent State on Saturday September 20.