When Tallahassee native and four-star recruit Micahi Danzy signed with Florida State in their 2024 high school class, the track star and HS running back was thought to be a project, but one worth having for his blazing speed. In the offseason, newly hired offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn wondered if Danzy might make a more significant impact as a wide receiver, capitalizing on his speed.
Well, we saw that speed come to life in FSU’s opening blowout win vs. Alabama when Danzy took a reverse toss 32 yards to the house. Against East Texas A&M, Danzy took a reverse toss 53 yards to the house. Against Kent State, Danzy put all of it together as he totaled 176 all-purpose yards on three touches and helped the 7th-ranked Seminoles dominate an undersized MAC team 66-10. FSU moves to 3-0 for the third time in six seasons under head coach Mike Norvell.
The Noles set school records with 498 rushing yards, eight rushing touchdowns, and 27 rushing first downs. FSU also had 37 total first downs in the game, which was the most for Florida State in a game since the 1995 game vs. NC State (38). Gavin Sawchuk had 11 touches for 97 yards and two touchdowns.
Redshirt sophomore Sam Singleton had his breakout game in this one, as he had 10 carries for 86 yards and two touchdowns. FSU star QB Tommy Castellanos also added 7 carries for 54 and two touchdowns for the Seminoles on the ground. Castellanos also went 10 for 13 and 205 yards through the air and threw his first interception of the season.
“An extraordinary night offensively, being able to have great balance,” coach Norvell said in his postgame press conference. “… It comes down to their work. They’ve made a great investment into each other.”
FSU matched its total rushing touchdowns for the 2024 season in this one game. The Noles also had 17 run-called plays go for 10+ yards or more. The improvement on the ground can be credited to Malzhan’s play calling, offensive line coach Herb Hand’s coaching, and a slew of veteran transfers who are still in the process of gelling as an offensive line. “I’ve been really impressed with those guys…what they’ve done so far has been really impressive. They are getting better at double teams, as we’ve seen every front known to man these first three games. They just got to keep growing, keep developing,” said Malzhan in his Sunday presser.
FSU has totaled 143 points in the last two games, which represents the most in a two-game span in program history. The 144-point margin of victory through the first three games of the season is the 2nd-most in school history.
FSU’s 775 yards of total offense were the 3rd-most in program history and the most since they had 797 yards vs. Duke in 1995.
FSU ran for 285 yards and threw for 239 yards in the first half. The 524 total yards in the first half were the most nationally for any half this season.
Micahi Danzy becomes the first Seminole in program history with a 60-yard run and reception in the same game.
With five consecutive scoring drives to begin the game against Kent State, Tommy Castellanos has led FSU on 12 consecutive scoring drives (not including kneel downs) on the season.
Tony White’s defenses have not allowed a rushing touchdown in 10 consecutive games dating back to his time with Nebraska.
The Noles held the Golden Flashes to 43 total rushing yards, the fewest by an FSU defense since 2021, when FSU held that school down south to 43 total rushing yards in a 31-28 victory.
There was a small scare late in the second quarter when Castellanos limped off the field with an apparent ankle injury after getting rolled up on. Following his limping off, the game was delayed due to lightning being within the playing area, and FSU fans were left to wonder if this would derail what is beginning to look like a special season for the Noles. That scare was put to rest when, in the third quarter, Castellanos came running out in a full sprint with no tape on the ankle. After the game, he didn’t appear to be walking with a limp. “All good,” Castellanos said after the game. “Just got rolled up a little bit. All good. 100 percent.”
It wasn’t all good on the defensive side of the ball, well, at least that’s what defensive coordinator Tony White believed. “I don’t care what the hell score said, it’s the way you play on the grass. The great thing is they felt that way too… that goes back to me… it was good. That’s a sign of a maturing group. We weren’t happy at half, even though we had a big lead. You want to see a response.”
FSU’s defense gave up only 206 total yards, 163 passing yards, with 75 of those coming on a trick play where FSU busted the coverage. The Noles only allowed 43 total rushing yards on 28 carries and had one interception. “We better be a hell of a lot better come Friday night. Because Virginia is no joke. They’re one of the best offenses in the country,” said White in reference to FSU’s quick turnaround game on Friday night as they travel to Charlottesville to face the Virginia Cavaliers. It will be the 30th anniversary of the 1995 game in which the 24th-ranked Cavs handed the 2nd-ranked Seminoles their first-ever ACC conference loss.
The Noles lead the all-time matchup 15-4 and sport a road record of 6-3. However, FSU is 1-2 in the last three matchups in Charlottesville dating back to 2005. The Seminoles last visited in 2019 during the Willie Taggart era and left Scott Stadium with a 24-31 loss.
The Noles will seek to ramp up a shortened week of practice as they head to Charlottesville to take on the 3-1 Virginia Cavaliers at Scott Stadium on Friday night. The game is set for 7 pm on ESPN.
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