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With the ball on FSU’s 37-yard line and 2:41 on the clock in the 4th quarter, DJ Uiagalelei and the Seminoles offense had a chance to drive down the field to score the game-tying touchdown and two-point conversion. Instead, it was a sack, incomplete pass, and another sack to force Mike Norvell to punt the ball on 4th and 32. FSU was able to get the ball back one more time. The game ended with a DJU Hail Mary throw that was batted down as Memphis ran onto the field in a euphoric celebration as they beat FSU 20-12 to go 3-0 on the season.
Florida State drops to 0-3 (0-2 ACC) on the season and has lost four consecutive games, dating back to the 63-3 loss to Georgia in the Orange Bowl last season. This is the second time in Mike Norvell’s tenure (five seasons) that FSU has started the season 0-3. Before this, FSU had only started the season 0-3 twice, and not since 1976, the first season of FSU’s legendary coach, Bobby Bowden.
The game started with some promise as FSU got the ball first, and Roydell Williams punished Memphis’ defense for a bruising eight-yard run. However, on the next play, An’Darius Coffey forced Williams to fumble, and Chandler Martin recovered the fumble on FSU’s 25-yard line. FSU’s defense would end up holding Memphis to a 35-yard field goal by Caden Costa, and the Tigers took a 3-0 start and never looked back.
The Noles would get the ball five more times in the first half and proceeded to turn the ball over two more times when DJU was hit on the arm and his pass intercepted on a deep throw by Memphis’ Tahj Ra-El at the Memphis 35-yard line. The other turnover was a muffed punt by FSU that put Memphis on FSU’s 28-yard line and allowed the Tigers to hit a 19-yard field goal as time expired in the first half.
The Seminoles were able to answer a Memphis third-quarter touchdown with one of their own and another field goal by Ryan Fitzgerald. However, it could not take advantage of the defense getting Memphis off the field.
Memphis held the Noles to 201 total yards, with only 37 of them being on the ground (rushing). FSU finished the day, converting only 2 for 12 on third down attempts, while Memphis was able to convert 7 of 17. Florida State will play its third straight home game next Saturday night on Bobby Bowden Field as the University of California comes to town. Tune into Plant The Spear for your authentic Florida State Football coverage. Thanks for reading and Go Noles!
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