FSU football: Nole mistakes prove costly in loss against Gators

FSU football hung with the Florida Gators for a half while playing much of the first half without Jordan Travis. However, multiple turnovers and a lack of offense were too much for the Noles to overcome.

FSU and Florida battled to a 7-7 tie at halftime, with the FSU defense forcing three turnovers in the first half. However, the FSU offense couldn’t capitalize on any of those opportunities. Jordan Travis cost the Noles an opportunity to kick a field goal when he didn’t get down to call a time out after running until time expired in the half. That play was huge because FSU lost by three points.  All of those mistakes proved costly as Florida seized control of the game in the third quarter. The Gators took a 10-7 lead on a field goal with 11:09 remaining.

The Noles wasted a great drive on their next possession, getting to the UF 29-yard line before Jordan Travis took a sack that took them out of field goal range. The key moment in the game came on the next possession after Alex Mastromanno pinned Florida at their one-yard line.

The FSU defense forced a three-and-out, and Ontaria Wilson muffed the punt to give Florida the ball back at the FSU 33-yard line. Another key moment was FSU allowing Florida to convert a third and 21 after missing several tackles that would have forced Florida to kick a relatively long field goal. Florida went on to score on that possession to push their lead to 17-7.

FSU threw an interception(that should have been an incomplete pass) on their next possession, and the Gators scored a touchdown to push their lead to 24-7 with 12:36 remaining. The FSU offense finally got it going with Florida likely backing off with their defense, and Treshaun Ward scored on a 19-yard run to cut the lead to 24-14 with 9:46 remaining.

The FSU defense forced a punt on Florida’s next possession, but the FSU offense bogged down again before scoring a touchdown late to make it 24-21. FSU got called for a penalty on the onside kick attempt and that was the game.

FSU only had 263 total offensive yards and were only 2 of 9 on third down before the last touchdown drive that went 91 yards and took 2:52 off the clock. FSU had too many mistakes on special teams, and the offense didn’t show up enough to give them a shot to win the game.