A year ago, Florida ran for 244 yards and averaged 5.2 yards per carry in a 37-26 win at Florida State.
After the game, Gators coach Will Muschamp celebrated a “sexy” win. And he said that UF had achieved better rushing performances, against better SEC defenses, than what the Gators accomplished against FSU.
On Saturday, Muschamp’s comments came back to bite the Gators. FSU coaches printed off copies of his remarks and posted them in every locker during the offseason.
“We don’t ever want to be disrespected. We don’t ever want to show weaknesses,” FSU defensive back Terrence Brooks said after the Seminoles’ 37-7 win. “We really took that to heart this week.”
And FSU tackled with plenty of heart Saturday. The No. 2 Seminoles (12-0) knew they needed to stop the run, especially with third-string quarterback Skyler Mornhinweg in the game. FSU held Florida (4-8) to 78 rushing yards, which included a 50-yard run by Trey Burton in the first half.
Take out that long run and the Gators had 23 carries for just 28 yards.
The Seminoles’ defense carried the team early as FSU managed just a field goal on its first three drives. FSU held UF to 193 yards of offense for the game.
“We didn’t get frustrated,” Noles defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan said of the offense’s slow start. “We fight together. We have their back and they have ours.”
FSU also blitzed Mornhinweg, holding him to 115 passing yards. He completed 20 of 25 attempts but rarely had time to throw downfield. The Seminoles’ defensive backs kept the short passes to just that, not allowing long runs after the catch.
“(The) defense played outstanding the whole game,” FSU coach Jimbo Fisher said.
FSU kept Florida off the scoreboard until the Gators scored their lone touchdown on a 5-yard pass from Mornhinweg to Hunter Joyer with 13:39 left in the game.
The Seminoles also continued their recent stingy streak. They’ve allowed just 72 points in the last eight games.
Up next: FSU will play Duke (10-2) on Saturday night in Charlotte, N.C., for the ACC title. The Blue Devils defeated North Carolina 27-25 on Saturday to win the Coastal Division.
Since the Duke-UNC game was also a noon kickoff, FSU quarterback Jameis Winston didn’t know that the Seminoles would face the Blue Devils until a reporter mentioned it.
“One thing we discussed after the game — it’s not over yet,” Winston said. “We don’t care who we play. It’s a faceless opponent. Just because we’re playing Duke, that doesn’t mean we’re going to let up. That doesn’t mean we think less of them. They deserve it.”
O'Leary moving up: Former Dwyer High standout Nick O'Leary had three catches for 52 yards against Florida, helping him move up FSU's all-time tight end receiving chart.
O’Leary now has 63 receptions, tying him for the second-highest total all time among FSU tight ends. Melvin Pearsall also had 63 catches from 1994-97. And O’Leary has 925 career receiving yards. That’s second to just Gary Parris, who had 1,125 yards from 1970-72.
Approaching record: Roberto Aguayo made three field-goal tries and connected on three extra points to give him 138 points this season. The freshman kicker, who is a finalist for the Lou Groza Award, is also very close to the school record set by Dustin Hopkins (140 points) last season.
