FSU football overcomes rough start to down Duke Blue Devils

No. 4 FSU football had a rough start to the game Saturday night but had a strong second half to defeat Riley Leonard and the No. 16 Duke Blue Devils 31-27. The FSU offense stalled on its first drive, and Duke capitalized to take a 7-0 lead on a 42-yard.

The FSU offense had its second turnover on downs on its second offensive possession, this time from its 36-yard line. The FSU defense stood up, but Duke hit a 45-yard field goal to take a 10-0 lead with 6:48 remaining.

The FSU offense finally answered with a 13-play 85-yard touchdown drive to trim the lead to 10-7. The FSU offense had a turnover on its next possession, an interception off a deflected pass that got ran back for a touchdown for a 17-7 lead.

However, Deuce Spann took the kickoff back 99 yards for a touchdown to make it 17-14.

The FSU defense picked off Riley Leonard, and the offense settled for a 32-yard field goal to tie it 17-17. Duke took a nearly seven-minute drive 58-yard to kick a 33-yard field goal to take a 20-17 lead into halftime. Duke got the ball first in the second half, and the FSU defense forced a three-and-out on the first possession.

The FSU offense stalled, and Duke took their possession into the red zone before Riley Leonard got knocked out of the game. The FSU defense forced a turnover on downs as the Duke backup quarterback missed a receiver in the end zone on fourth down instead of kicking a short field goal.

The FSU offense went 96 yards on 14 plays to take the lead 24-20 with 13:03 remaining. It was all Noles after that as they poured it on with two more touchdowns for the final 38-20 score. Rodney Hill and Lawrance Toafil scored the final two touchdowns.

Jordan Travis was 27 of 38 for 268 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. He also had 10 rushes for 62 yards and a touchdown. FSU will travel to Wake Forest next week and is the only undefeated team in the ACC, with North Carolina losing to Virginia.