Florida State on Saturday was determined to make up for its pathetic performance on the ground Nov. 8 at Virginia Tech.
After throwing three times in their first four plays against Maryland, the Seminoles went back to old-fashioned smash-mouth football.
The opening drive ended with seven consecutive running plays and a bruising 5-yard touchdown run by Devonta Freeman. In essence, the game was over, too, as FSU cruised to a 41-14 victory that clinched a spot in the Dec. 1 ACC championship game in Charlotte, N.C.
“We had an intent to run it,” Seminoles coach Jimbo Fisher said. “I want to get that confidence back … and we did. I just kept my foot on the pedal and kept running the football.”
Freeman was the catalyst, finishing with a career-high 148 yards. The total was surprising only because FSU had its worst day on the ground in school history at Virginia Tech in a season in which the Seminoles now have rushed for at least 200 yards seven times.
“We didn’t like that feeling,” Freeman said. “It was a nasty taste. Negative rushing yards … no team wants that.”
Fisher was pleased because despite all of Maryland’s troubles, stopping the run has not been one of them. The Terrapins entered the game ranked second in the ACC to FSU in rushing defense, allowing 112.6 yards per game.
Freeman, a sophomore, helped the Seminoles dominate from the start when he carried five times on that opening drive.
“He plays with great power and leverage,” Fisher said. “He’s strong. He’s a short guy, but he’s not a little guy.”
Said center Bryan Stork: “He’s definitely manned up from last year to this year.”
A big kick: Dustin Hopkins did not know he had set the NCAA scoring record for kickers when he nailed a 26-yard field goal early in the second quarter.
“I found out afterwards,” the senior kicker said. “I knew I was close, so I knew it was probably one of the first couple. Right after it happened, a couple of guys (said), ‘Congratulations.’ That’s how I found out.”
Hopkins finished with 11 points, surpassing Boise State’s Kyle Brotzman, who had 439 points from 2007-10. Hopkins now has 448 points.
After the game, Hopkins reflected back to when he was a freshman.
“I remember my freshman year when I was having trouble with extra points, I missed four in my first four games and some people were saying, ‘Switch him out, get another guy in there,’ ’’ Hopkins said. “I see the adversity I’ve been through and to see the other side, the success, it’s really a blessing.”
O'Leary a target again: Former Dwyer High star Nick O'Leary had three catches, equaling his total for the last five games, for 46 yards, including a 10-yard touchdown in the first quarter.
Fisher said the problem has not been with O’Leary but with the defenses that have taken away the tight end.
“It’s nothing Nick is doing,” Fisher said. “Nick has become a heck of a football player. Nick is such a more complete football player right now than he’s ever been. He can motion like an H-back. He can split out like a receiver. He can play on the line like a tight end, and he can catch option routes and balls.
“Nick has been as big a factor (for) us getting big plays as anybody because they’ve been doubling him all year.”
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