The Florida State Seminoles entered Saturday night on a 3-game losing streak but as 17.5-point favorites against the Stanford Cardinal. However, a sluggish start that lasted most of the game resulted in a fourth consecutive loss as the Noles remain winless in Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) play this season, in an upset loss 20-13.
“We had 13 penalties tonight and multiple missed opportunities and that all goes on me,” said Head Coach Mike Norvell in his post-game press conference. “At the end of the day, we made this trip, and what we just watched on the field was not anything towards what we invest and work and pour our time into.”
Two of those penalties on the Noles were very untimely and resulted in a 10-point swing in the first half. A delay of game penalty cost the Noles a field goal and a few minutes later an offsides penalty by the Noles gave Stanford a first down and erased what had been a missed field goal attempt. With the new set of downs inside the 10-yard line, Stanford scored to take a 13-3 lead.
A spectacular airborne head over heels touchdown play by Tommy Castellanos with 40 seconds left in the second quarter brought the game to a 13-10 Stanford lead at halftime.
Stanford lost two starters in the second quarter as starting quarter back Ben Gulbranson and running back Micah Ford both left the game with injuries and never returned, which could have benefited the Noles defense in the second half, but it didn’t. A morale breaking third quarter, 15-play, 7-minute, 94-yard drive by Stanford, that was aided by FSU penalties, extended the lead to 20-10. The sluggish Nole defense allowed Stanford backup running back Cole Taff to run for his career first 100-yard game and a touchdown.
Even though the Noles outgained Stanford 444 yards to 293 yards it was a season-worst display from the Seminoles' offense with 13 points and scoring only three points in the second half. The Noles had a game ending drive that could have sent the game into overtime. However, on the final play of the game Stanford stopped the Noles as running back Gavin Sawchuck was ruled just short of the goal line.
The Noles had a few big plays in the game that seemed to provide a spark to the offense, but those weren’t enough to put points on the scoreboard. FSU was penalized for delay of game on the first play of the game, and this proved to be an indicator of how things would go for the Noles.
QB Tommy Castellanos, who threw for 242 yards in the loss, was injured in the fourth quarter as he slid to the ground following a 35-yard run. Targeting was called on that play on a late hit by the Stanford defense.
The 3-4 Noles have a bye week but will have a chance to break their 9-game ACC losing streak as they host 4-2 Wake Forest on Saturday November 1st.
