FSU Halftime Reaction: Notre Dame 17 FSU 10

The game between the Florida State Seminoles and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish has gone to the half, here’s some FSU halftime reaction.

Florida State is locked into a tight one here in Tallahassee. Just as expected, the game between the Seminoles and Fighting Irish has been hotly contested, with Notre Dame leading [insert] at halftime.

After exchanging possessions at the outset, Notre Dame put together a 12-play drive — with assistance from a couple of questionable calls — and put the games first points on the board with a one-yard touchdown pass from Everett Golson to Corey Robinson.

But Florida State rallied back on the ensuing possession, scoring on a 65-yard drive that took just four plays and culminated in a Travis Rudolph touchdown reception.

The Seminoles had a stop on Notre Dame’s next drive — Tyler Hunter hit Golson on a blitz and Jacob Pugh came up with a big interception — but Jameis Winston forced a pass into coverage on the very next play and gave the ball right back to the Irish.

A couple of passes later, Notre Dame was up 14-7.

FSU buckled down after that though. The Seminole defense picked up a big fourth down stop — their second of the night — to end the Irish’s next drive near midfield. But Florida State couldn’t capitalize on the good field position, the drive stalled out inside the ten and Roberto Aguayo was forced to kick a field goal to cut the Irish lead to 14-10.

That set Notre Dame up to drive for a late field goal to send it to halftime 17-10.

All in all, Florida State isn’t in trouble– but this also isn’t going swimmingly, either.

Defensively, Florida State is dealing with an offense that is entirely content taking what’s there. The Irish scratch and claw for positive yardage on nearly every play, they stay on schedule and the result is manageable third down situations. That, in turn, has kept FSU’s defense on the field for nearly 20 minutes in the first half.

FSU hasn’t played poorly on defense, but with a beleaguered defensive interior yielding rushing yards and a group of young ends and linebackers still struggling with eye control, there have been some miscues and Notre Dame has found space to work in the first half.

Offensively, Florida State needs to find its rhythm. There has been no ground game in the opening two quarters– FSU has just 15 rushing yards and only 107 total. Part of the problem is that Florida State hasn’t gone to the run very often, but the other part has been when the Seminoles do– there’s nothing opening up. The offensive line has looked overwhelmed all night, and not just on the ground. The blitz pick-up has been lousy and Jameis Winston has had blitzers in his face all night.

But, all things considered, the Seminoles are in good shape heading into the second half. FSU will get the ball at the start of the third quarter and — provided the Seminoles make good adjustments — Florida State will be in position to make this a game.

But this is a dogfight, and it looks like it will come down to the wire.

Don’t go anywhere.

Statistical Leaders:

Passing: Everett Golson (15/26, 139, 2 TD, INT)
Rushing: Tarean Folston (14-78)
Receiving: Corey Robinson (5-52, 2TD)