FSU football demolishes Southern Mississippi to stay undefeated

No. 4 FSU football wasted no time building a huge lead over Southern Mississippi Saturday night en route to a 66-13 win. It was a game Mike Norvell used a ton of mixing and matching early in the game, with backup wide receiver Darion Williamson scoring the first touchdown in the game.

Trey Benson scored two touchdowns in the first half, and Keon Coleman had another touchdown. The FSU defense was stifling, only allowing 70 total yards in the first half, and not allowing a third down conversion on five attempts from Southern Miss.

The first half was disjointed for the FSU offense, with Johnny Wilson dropping at least three passes in the first half.

Freshman Hykeem Williams caught his first college pass to move the chains on fourth down. Deuce Spann and Kyle Morlock had explosive plays.

Jordan Travis attempted 29 passes in the first half for 175 yards and two touchdowns to build a 31-3 halftime lead.

2nd Half

The FSU defense picked up where they left off, forcing a three and out on Southern Mississippi’s first offensive possession. Trey Benson broke a huge 42-yard touchdown run on FSU’s next offensive possession to put the Noles up 38-3, and his third touchdown run in the game.

FSU coaches started rotating some young guys into the game on the next possession. I saw freshman Blake Nichelson in at linebacker before Jarrian Jones returned an interception 30-yards for a touchdown on Southern Miss’s next offensive possession to make it 45-3.

The FSU defense forced another three-and-out on the next possession, and Tate Rodemaker came into the game to replace Jordan Travis. Rodemaker’s first pass was a 42-yard touchdown to Markeston Douglas to make it 52-3.

Southern Miss didn’t convert a third down until six minutes to go in the third quarter. The Golden Eagles scored their first touchdown of the night on a 12-yard run to make it 52-10. FSU had several freshmen all over the field for the defense on that drive. The next offensive drive for FSU saw many guys get in on the action.

Caziah Holmes, Rodney Hill, and CJ Campbell had nice runs, and Destyn Hill got his first FSU reception for 18 yards. Freshman Vandrevious Jacobs scored his first college touchdown on his first career reception on a 13-yard pass from Tate Rodemaker to make it 59-10.

The FSU defense forced another punt, and Brock Glenn replaced Tate Rodemaker at QB. That’s noteworthy since he went in the game before AJ Duffy. Rodemaker broke off a long scramble before Caziah Holmes scored on a 40-yard touchdown run to make it 66-10 with 11 minutes remaining.

Southern Miss managed a field goal to make it 66-13 on their next possession, although freshman defensive back Edwin Joseph dropped an interception on third down in the end zone after having outstanding coverage.

AJ Duffy entered the game with 5:32 remaining and promptly got sacked twice. Southern Miss essentially ran the ball and the clock out to end the game.