FSU soccer drops regular-season finale at UF 40-21, finishes 5-7 – Tallahassee Democrat

Florida State football wanted a win to safe bowl eligibility as the Seminoles traveled to face rival Florida on Saturday, Nov. 29 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
The Seminoles weren’t capable of pull it off, shedding 40-21 at The Swamp.
UF operating again Jadan Baugh rushed for 266 yards on 38 carries with two touchdowns.
Each programs are struggling, with neither hitting the expectations set for the respective groups within the preseason.
FSU was a win away from bowl eligibility, sitting at 5-6, however the group is winless on the road since a 2023 win over Florida. The Gators (3-8, 2-6 SEC) are underneath interim head coach Billy Gonzales after Billy Napier was fired earlier this season.
Historical past favors the Gators, who’ve a 38-28 benefit within the all-time sequence. Nevertheless, FSU is 6-4 within the final 10 video games between the 2.
The Tallahassee Democrat is bringing you reside updates, scores and highlights from the sport. Comply with alongside.
FSU isn’t happening quietly at The Swamp.
Tommy Castellanos tossed a 17-yard landing go to Ladawn McCoy to drag the Seminoles inside 34-21 with 3:07 left within the recreation.
McCoy has been Castellanos’ go-to receiver late within the recreation. He has 5 receptions for 109 yards.
Castellanos has 15 of 24 passes for 225 yards and two scores. He additionally has a team-high 49 dashing yards with a rating on 17 carries.
The Gators pushed their benefit to 34-14 on Trey Smack’s 54-yard area purpose with 7:38 left within the recreation. UF has outgained FSU 384-276.
Gators operating again Jadan Baugh has 210 dashing yards on 30 carries.
FSU quarterback Tommy Castellanos has accomplished 10 of 16 passes for 147 yards; he is added 45 dashing yards on 16 carries.
The Seminoles cannot afford to overlook any scoring possibilities in opposition to the Gators.
Nevertheless, Jake Weinberg pushed a 42-yard area purpose extensive proper to open the fourth quarter.
The Seminoles haven’t got a solution for UF operating again Jadan Baugh.
Baugh has rushed 27 instances for 182 yards and a landing. His 22-yard scamper across the left finish for a rating prolonged UF’s result in 31-14 with 2:55 left within the third quarter.
FSU has suffered 16 consecutive defeats trailing by 10 factors or extra.
The Seminoles path by 17 heading into the fourth quarter.
FSU coach Mike Norvell gambled on fourth down for a 3rd time within the recreation.
The Seminoles are 1-for-3.
Confronted with fourth-and-1 at its personal 40, quarterback Tommy Castellanos was pushed out of bounds on a keeper simply shy of the marker on the 10:52 mark within the third quarter.
The Gators answered with a landing to increase its result in 24-14 with 9:37 remaining within the third quarter.
UF obtained the kickoff to open the second half, however the Gators went nowhere. The Seminoles recorded consecutive sacks on second and third down and compelled UF to punt.
It was shut on the scoreboard and on the stats sheet.
UF outgained FSU 227-209.
The passing yards have been almost similar – FSU had 125, UF 124. FSU quarterback Tommy Castellanos accomplished 10 of 14 passes for 125 yards and a landing. He additionally had a team-high 38 dashing yards and a rating.
UF quarterback DJ Lagway accomplished 11 of 20 passes for 124 yards and two touchdowns and an interception. UF operating again Jadan Baugh had 101 dashing yards to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark for the season.
The Gators transformed 6 of 8 third downs; FSU was 2 of 5 and 1 of two on fourth down.
FSU hasn’t been as constant as it might like within the pink zone this yr.
Nevertheless, the Seminoles took benefit of a Gators turnover and scored a much-needed landing on a Tommy Castellanos 4-yard keeper with 1:11 left within the first half to drag inside 17-14.
FSU coated 21 yards in three performs following an Edwin Joseph interception.
Each groups had a closing possession within the closing 71 seconds.
FSU pressured a UF punt, however the Seminoles have been unable to maneuver into scoring place.
The Gators will obtain the kickoff to open the second half.
The previous few minutes of the primary half proved hectic.
First, FSU quarterback Tommy Castellanos fumbled.
That was adopted by a DJ Lagway interception by Seminole Edwin Joseph, who returned it 21 yards to the UF 22 with two minutes left.
FSU’s protection hasn’t been capable of gradual the Gators.
UF scored on its first three possessions, including one other landing to increase its result in 17-7 late within the second quarter. Gators quarterback DJ Lagway tossed his second landing go, this one on play-action to Tony Livingston for 9 yards.
The go capped a 13-play, 75-yard drive that chewed 8:01 off the clock.
UF has 216 complete yards.
FSU opened the second quarter in spectacular style.
The Seminoles completed off a 75-yard, 9-play drive with a 13-yard landing go from Tommy Castellanos to Micahi Danzi on third-and-5. Castellanos has accomplished 4 of 5 passes for 74 yards. Receiver Duce Robinson has two receptions for 48 yards.
FSU trailed 10-7 on the 13:39 mark within the second quarter.
UF dominated a majority of the primary quarter, main FSU 10-0 on a area purpose and landing go.
The Seminoles – in search of their first highway win since November 2023 at UF – have been outgained 126-79. On their first two drives, they needed to punt and have been held on downs.
Main 3-0, the Gators marched 76 yards on 11 performs as quarterback DJ Lagway related on a 5-yard scoring slant to J Sturdivant. Lagway accomplished 4 of 6 for 60 yards on the drive.
The Gators made essentially the most of their first possession of the sport, marching 50 yards on 8 performs and taking a 3-0 lead on Trey Smack’s 23-yard area purpose on the 9:25 mark. On the earlier play, an officers replay overturned a Gators’ landing reception and dominated it incomplete.
If FSU had hoped to set the tone on the sport’s opening drive, it didn’t work. The Seminoles went three-and-out, shedding 8 yards.
FSU freshman linebacker Ethan Pritchard is attending the sport.
Pritchard was shot behind the top pm Aug. 31 in what the authorities have described as a case of mistaken id. 4 folks have been arrested in reference to the capturing in Havana, round 10 miles from Tallahassee.
Pritchard, launched from Brooks Rehabilitation a day earlier, attended the Seminoles’ residence finale in opposition to Virgina Tech Nov. 15.
Pritchard has continued his rehab again residence in Central Florida.
Darrell Jackson has made 24 consecutive begins and 37 profession begins, each essentially the most amongst FSU’s protection. For his profession, the previous Gadsden Excessive standout has 123 tackles, 12.0 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, two go breakups and one pressured fumble. Jackson tied a profession excessive with seven tackles at NC State, his most tackles in a recreation at FSU and most in any recreation since 2022.
FSU ranks eleventh nationally and leads the ACC with 223.4 dashing yards per recreation. Gavin Sawchuk grew to become the primary Seminole since Joe Surratt in 2006 with a dashing landing in FSU’s first 4 video games of a season. Quarterback Tommy Castellanos (480 yards, 8 rush TD) and Sawchuk (479 yards, 8 rush TD) lead FSU in dashing.
Temperatures are anticipated within the excessive 60s with most cloudy skies for the 4:30 p.m. kickoff.
Biletnikoff Award semifinalist Duce Robinson is following his father’s in right this moment’s showdown at UF.
Dominic Robinson performed at FSU from 2001-04 and made some iconic performs throughout his time at FSU.
In 2003 on the Swamp within the recreation’s closing minutes, FSU quarterback Chris Rix confronted a 4th-and-14 from its 24 yard line earlier than Rix discovered Dominic Robinson for twenty-four yards to maintain its comeback hopes alive.
The following play, Rix threw a 52-yard bomb to P.Okay. Sam behind the tip zone to place the Seminoles up 38-34 with 55 seconds remaining and would maintain on for the win.
Duce Robinson has carved his personal path at FSU.
He leads the ACC in complete receiving yards (1,021, sixth nationally), receiving yards per recreation (92.8, sixth) and receiving touchdowns (6, thirty fifth).
His 5 video games with at the very least 120 receiving yards are tied for essentially the most amongst Energy 4 receivers, and he ranks 2nd within the convention – trailing solely teammate Micahi Danzy’s common of twenty-two.70 yards per catch that ranks 2nd within the nation – and seventh nationally with a median of 19.26 yards per catch.
Danzy leads the nation in performs of 50-plus yards (6).
If FSU followers are in search of some positives heading into right this moment’s recreation on the Swamp, listed here are a couple of, courtesy of FSU sports activities info:
FSU has gained 5 of the final seven matchups in Gainesville, together with a 24-15 victory in 2023 to finish an ideal common season.
Over the previous 10 seasons, FSU’s 9 regular-season non-conference wins in opposition to the SEC are 2nd within the nation.
FSU coach Mike Norvell has six wins in opposition to the SEC since 2016, the 2nd-most non-conference wins in opposition to the convention by a head coach in that span.
Norvell is 27-10 (.730) in November as a head coach, together with 13-5 (.722) on the highway, scoring 35.8 factors per recreation and permitting 24.1 factors per recreation within the closing month of the common season.
FSU extensive receivers Lawayne McCoy and Jayvan Boggs are two names to observe. McCoy left the 21-11 loss to NC State after taking a success to the top space within the first half. Boggs briefly collapsed whereas the Seminoles have been returning to the locker room after the sport in opposition to the Wolfpack, however after being assessed by medical workers, he was cleared to fly residence and observe with the group all through the week.
Right here is Florida State’s schedule and outcomes. All instances Jap.
*- ACC recreation
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