“It feels good to get back on the winning track,” coach Jimbo Fisher said following the 41-16 victory over conference opponent Duke Saturday afternoon. “Nothing like winning, don’t ever take it for granted.”
The Florida State Seminoles (3-3, 1-2) showed signs of the team they were destined to be at the beginning of the much-anticipated season at Wallace Wade Stadium. FSU collected 239 passing yards on just 15 attempts and 242 rushing yards on 45 carries.
Placekicker Dustin Hopkins put the ‘Noles on the board first with a 27 yard field goal. Duke retaliated with a 38-yard field goal on the following drive tying it up at 3-3 with 8:24 left in the first.
Quarterback EJ Manuel dazzled against Duke. The redshirt junior connected with receiver Christian Green for a 59-yard completion and the ball at the one-yard line. Manuel capped off the drive with a quarterback sneak and the score. That pass to Green marks the fifth time in six games that FSU has completed a pass of 50 yards or more.
“Three changes the ball game,” Fisher said about Manuel. “We played without him a couple weeks. In the Oklahoma game we were really starting to establish the mix of all the things that he creates and what he can bring to the table. He makes the other guys around him better.”
With three minutes remaining in the first, Manuel spotted a wide-open Rodney Smith for a 50-yard touchdown extending the lead to 17-3.
True freshman Devonta Freeman continued to emerge as a threat in the running attack. Freeman scored from ten yards out early in the second to make the score 24-3. The Miami Central alum amassed 19 carries for 109 yards and became the first player for FSU to rush for over 100 yards in 2011.
“He’s a great back,” Manuel said of Freeman. “You always want to see somebody have success that’s young and that’s also a great person.”
At the end of the half, Hopkins nailed a 48-yard field goal to put Florida State up 27-3 heading into the locker rooms.
Another true freshman that made an impact Saturday was tight end Nick O’Leary. The grandson of Jack Nicklaus caught his first career touchdown on a three-yard pass from Manuel with 8:26 in the third.
The sneaky, sophisticated Blue Devils made some gutsy play calls in attempt to shrink the lead, and they were successful. Two recovered onside kicks led to 13 points for Duke in the fourth quarter.
As soon as there was any sign of a miracle, Manuel orchestrated a five-play, 39-yard drive, plugging it in from six yards out and sealing the victory.
Notables:
-Hopkins made Florida State history in Durham collecting his 110th consecutive extra point and added his 17th straight field goal on top of that.
-Manuel finished the day with 11 carries for 81 yards.
-Everett Dawkins snagged the garnet and gold’s fourth interception on the year off a tipped ball.
-Defensive tackle Jacobbi McDaniel suffered a dislocated right ankle in the game, but returned to the sidelines later on with a boot.
-Nigel Bradham tallied a sack on the second play of the second half.
-FSU hosts Maryland next week at Doak.