Halftime Reaction: NC State 24 FSU 21

The game between Florida State and North Carolina State is at halftime. Here’s some rapid reaction from the first half.

FSU’s defense may be in trouble. Starting nose tackle Nile Lawrence-Stample was lost for the season after tearing a pec last Saturday and so far NC State has decided to take full advantage of NLS’ absence. At halftime, NC State leads 24-21.

NC State scored in just two plays on its first drive, and then marched down the field in a morale-killing second drive that saw the Wolfpack offensive line slice up the Seminoles’ defensive interior.

It was 14-7 quickly. And the early onslaught just continued.

A fumble by Jameis Winston set the Wolfpack up with a field goal. Then a three-and-out by the Seminoles’ offense gave way to another big NC State drive to make it 24-7. It marked the most points FSU has given up in the first quarter in over a decade.

The problems don’t boil down to just missing Mario Edwards and Nile Lawrence-Stample, either. There were issues with eye-control and gap discipline. FSU was not ready for the motion and varied looks that NC State threw at it. There were players running wide open due to coverage busts. The tackling was lousy. And, perhaps most troubling, the pass rush was almost non-existent early on which allowed NC State to work the flats and keep the ball moving.

Things got settled down in the second quarter though.

Frankly, it looked like Florida State finally got angry.

Jameis Winston led the Seminoles on a long scoring drive to make it 24-14 at the start of the second quarter. The reigning Heisman winner still looked a little bit off — nearly missing on a couple of throws — but the drive seemed to get FSU going.

The next series FSU’s defense forced a three-and-out and — after a Rashad Greene return set the Seminoles up with the great field position — Winston found Christian Green on the first play of the drive for Green’s first career TD.

That cut the NC State lead to three points. At halftime it’s 24-21 with FSU on a 14-0 run.

Part of the second quarter turnaround stemmed from FSU’s defense playing better– after all they didn’t surrender a second quarter point. But the other part of that was that NC State seemed to go away from a traditional run game in favor of more Wildcat and Read-Option plays. When the Wolfpack was pounding it right at the middle of the Seminole defense early on they were finding space. The more gimmicky stuff — while still productive on occasion — was not as successful.

Offensively, FSU has had little trouble moving the ball. The Seminoles still can’t run the ball — they had just 16 first half rushing yards — but the passing game has been productive and Winston has had receivers running open all day.

For as bad as the first half was though — and at times it looked pretty bad — Florida State is actually in great shape if it can make some adjustments at halftime. The Seminoles get the ball back to start the second half and for as well as NC State has played, on some level it has to be a bit demoralizing for the Wolfpack that they hit FSU with their best shot and the Seminoles climbed right back into the game.

There’s a lot of football left to be played in Raleigh. Stay tuned.

Statistical Leaders:

Passing: Jameis Winston (14/21, 210, 2 TD)
Rushing: Karlos Williams (7-39, TD)
Receiving: Jesus Wilson (3-77, TD)