Going into Saturday night, Florida State had the nation’s top defense in terms of total yards allowed, rushing defense and third-down conversion percentage. The Seminoles were fifth in scoring defense and fifth in passing defense.
The Gators, who had struggled offensively the past four games, ran for 244 yards in a 37-26 win over FSU. Florida (11-1) pounded away at FSU, rushing 47 times and averaging 5.2 yards per carry.
FSU had allowed just three teams to surpass the 100-yard rushing mark, giving up a season-high 136 to Clemson.
“We weren’t expecting that to happen,” FSU senior defensive tackle Everett Dawkins said. “I don’t know what it is but we are going to get it fixed. We still have two more games to play. We have to get it fixed. There’s no way that a Florida State defense can let that happen again.”
And it wasn’t just the ground game. Florida threw for just 150 yards – 147 from Jeff Driskel – but at key moments, FSU couldn’t come through with a stop.
FSU had Florida in a third-and-14 situation in the third quarter, but Driskel completed a 21-yard pass over the middle to Jordan Reed.
The Gators converted eight of 16 third-down opportunities. That’s 50 percent, or double what FSU had been allowing this season.
FSU’s defense had its moments, including the 3.5 sacks by defensive end Bjoern Werner. But this was a defense that kept allowing the previously struggling Gators to convert on third down.
“They controlled the line of scrimmage,” FSU coach Jimbo Fisher said.
Florida also dominated time of possession. The Gators had the ball for nearly 22 minutes of the first half, scoring just 13 points but wearing down the FSU defense.
After halftime, FSU regrouped. The Seminoles forced a punt, fumble and punt on the Gators’ first three possessions of the second half. FSU’s offense responded by outscoring Florida 17-0 in the third quarter.
But Florida kept pounding away, and in the fourth quarter it got a field goal from Caleb Sturgis to pull within 20-16. The Gators then forced a turnover with a sack of EJ Manuel, and Florida capitalized with a 37-yard touchdown run by Mike Gillislee on the next play to re-take the lead for good at 23-20 with 11:01 left.
The Gators had touchdowns on their next two possessions – a Driskel 14-yard pass to Quinton Dunbar and a Matt Jones 32-yard run – to put away FSU.
Florida had the ball for 36 minutes and 20 seconds, the most against FSU this season.
“They had a good game plan,” Werner said. “They used great technique. The way they were double-teaming, I’ve never seen it before and I give credit to them.”
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