FSU football: 5 keys to victory for Noles against Virginia Cavaliers

By Kelvin Hunt | Sep 12, 2019

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - DECEMBER 29: Tim Harris #5 of the Virginia Cavaliers reacts after intercepting a pass against the South Carolina Gamecocks during the Belk Bowl at Bank of America Stadium on December 29, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Virginia won 28-0. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

Get Off To A Quick Start AND Finish

Well, FSU football seems to have the first part of this equation down pat. They scored 31 points in the first half against Boise State and 24 points in the first half against Louisiana-Monroe.

Those two games have been stark departures from the past few seasons where the Noles have mainly struggled out the gate.

The problem this year has been finishing the games the way they start them. In each first half FSU was up 24-6 against Boise State and 21-0 against Louisiana-Monroe and is likely an extra point away from being 0-2 on the season.

The offense has struggled in the third quarter of games and has imploded when the smallest thing goes wrong. What would happen if something went wrong right off the bat?

That’s why continuing to get off to good starts is imperative. The question is can the FSU defense finally show up in the first half and not allow teams to march up and down the field?

Can they get off to a fast start and close out strong? Their second half implosions always seem to coincide with the FSU offense not being able to do anything.

For once, they need to get on the same page for an entire game and feed off one another.

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