Florida State Football: The Epitome of a Rough Night
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Well, well, well, if it isn’t Florida State football strolling into Notre Dame and leaving their dignity somewhere on the field. A staggering 52-3 loss, folks! That’s not just a defeat; that’s like showing up to a cheese tasting with nothing but vegan options. The Seminoles were handled like a bad breakup – quickly and without mercy.
Now, if you’ve been following the FSU saga, this was their final road game of the season, and boy, they faced an uphill battle. Their third top-15 opponent in just a few weeks—at this point, they should consider changing their name to Florida Stumble, because they’ve tripped over their own expectations more times than I’ve tripped over my own shoelaces in a rush to the pub.
Offensive anemic?
Let’s break down the numbers: Florida State managed a paltry 208 total yards—120 rushing and 88 passing. Meanwhile, Notre Dame practically laughed in their face with a whopping 453 yards. That’s not even a contest; that’s like watching a toddler compete against Usain Bolt in a sprint. But credit where it’s due, running back Lawrance Toafili was at least putting in some effort, leading the team with 77 rushing yards. Bless him for trying – it’s like watching your mate make a solid attempt to salvage a failing karaoke night.
Interception? More like inter-scrumptions!
Now, let’s talk quarterbacks – or as I like to call them, the guys who specialize in throwing the game away. Brock Glenn and Luke Kromenhoek combined for a 10-for-26 performance for 88 yards and two interceptions. Now, without turning this into a math lesson, that’s pretty abysmal. Quite frankly, if they played my nan at quarterback, I reckon she’d put up better numbers—even if her favorite play is a “little grumble and pass the biscuit.”
Kicking king!
But let’s not forget about Ryan Fitzgerald, who managed to snag a 23-yard field goal in the first quarter. Now that’s a bright spark in an otherwise dimly lit theatre of horrors. He’s now 11-for-11 on the season—we should be grateful for small mercies! He joins a fine historical club of consecutive field-goal-kicking, but let’s face it, it’s a bit like being the best dancer at a funeral—still not something to be that proud of.
Defensively Deflated
Defensively, FSU had 53 total tackles, 6 for a loss with a couple of sacks. Well done, guys! It’s almost like saying, “At least we showed up.” Shyheim Brown led the team in tackles but in a game so one-sided, it reminds me of being the last kid picked in gym class—no matter how hard you try, you’re still not winning any prizes.
The Game in Brief
As for the game flow, it was a riveting spectacle (not really, but we’ll pretend). FSU had a glimmer of hope scoring first with a field goal to make it 7-3, but then it all went downhill faster than a toddler on a sugar high. After trading some early punts, Notre Dame struck again, and oh boy, that 21-3 halftime deficit felt like a mountain to climb—while it was still snowing!
As we reached the latter stages, FSU tried to make a dent but just couldn’t find the road—a shutout becomes the goal when you’re less of a team and more of an exhibition on how not to play football. They’ll have a bye week to ponder their misfortunes before hosting Charleston Southern. A change of scenery? A last chance to stumble toward the finish line? Either way, I hope they can turn this ship around, but let’s be honest—it’s going to take more than a pep talk from the coach!
Final Thoughts
If nothing else, this game offered a brilliant display of what happens when a football team forgets how to… well, play football. Let’s hope for the sake of their fans, FSU can transform this dip into a renaissance. And if not, we’ll always have Ryan Fitzgerald’s kicks to celebrate! Maybe he’ll become the poster boy for what little remains of glory in a hard season.
Cheers to football, where at least we can all agree: next week can only get better. Or worse. But let’s aim for better, shall we?
During their final road contest of the season, the Seminoles encountered a formidable opponent, marking their third meeting with a top-15 ranked team this year and their second against a top-10 rival in the past three weeks. This clash against Notre Dame was significant as it was their first encounter since 2021, and it marked Florida State’s first visit to the iconic Notre Dame Stadium since 2020, leaving the all-time series evenly matched at 6-6.
In terms of offensive performance, FSU (1-9) struggled with a total of 208 yards, combining 120 rushing yards and 88 passing yards. Meanwhile, the Fighting Irish (8-1) showcased their strength with an impressive 453 total yards, consisting of 252 yards through the air and 201 on the ground.
Leading the Seminoles’ offense, running back Lawrance Toafili amassed 77 rushing yards on 16 carries, also contributing through the air with three receptions for an additional 20 yards. Quarterbacks Brock Glenn and Luke Kromenhoek struggled, completing only 10 of their 26 passes for 88 yards and throwing two critical interceptions.
Kicker Ryan Fitzgerald managed to salvage some pride for the team by executing a 23-yard field goal in the first quarter, marking his 11th consecutive successful kick this season. This performance places him in an exclusive group, as only two other kickers in Florida State history have executed at least 11 consecutive field goals to start a season, including the renowned Roberto Aguayo.
Fitzgerald’s field goal also accounted for the 56th of his career, elevating him to seventh place on the prestigious FSU all-time scoring list.
Defensively, the Seminoles compiled a total of 53 tackles, including 6.0 tackles for loss and two sacks. This marks an impressive streak for the team, as they have recorded at least 5.0 tackles for loss in nine consecutive games, the longest such stretch since achieving a remarkable 12-game run in 2013.
Defensive back Shyheim Brown led the team’s defensive efforts with 5.0 total tackles, standing out among five players who each contributed with 3.0 solo tackles. Notably, defensive back Kevin Knowles II also recorded 3.0 solo tackles, adding one of the team’s two sacks to his tally.
The contest began competitively, remaining a one-score game throughout the first quarter, with both teams successfully scoring on their opening drives. Following Notre Dame’s initial touchdown to go up 7-0, FSU countered with a methodical 16-play drive spanning 75 yards, consuming nearly eight minutes before Fitzgerald narrowed the gap to 7-3 with 5:22 remaining in the quarter.
After a brief struggle, during which Notre Dame was forced to punt on two consecutive drives, they managed to extend their lead to 14-3 just seconds into the second quarter. Following another punt and a missed field goal, Notre Dame capped off the first half with a touchdown 17 seconds before halftime, bringing the score to 21-3.
In the second half, ND capitalized on an interception to increase their lead, with a touchdown 9:38 into the third quarter making it 28-3. FSU’s subsequent drive ended in disappointment as they turned it over on downs at the Irish’s 40-yard line, although their defense managed to limit ND, forcing them to settle for a field goal that further extended the lead to 31-3 late in the third quarter.
As the final quarter unfolded, Notre Dame found the end zone again with 10:53 remaining and added another score with just over four minutes left in the game. The final nail in the coffin came when an interception was returned for a touchdown with 1:23 left on the clock, sealing FSU’s dominating defeat.
Looking ahead, FSU will enjoy its final bye week of the season before wrapping up with consecutive home matchups. The first contest features Charleston Southern on Saturday, November 23, at Doak Campbell Stadium, with kickoff time and television broadcast details yet to be announced.
/>
In terms of game progression, the Seminoles managed to score first with a field goal, making it 7-3 early on. However, the Fighting Irish quickly took control, and by halftime, Florida State found themselves in a 21-3 hole. After some back-and-forth action early in the second half, Notre Dame solidified their dominance, stifling any attempts from FSU to mount a comeback.
The Seminoles will head into a bye week to regroup and prepare for their next game against Charleston Southern. As they reflect on this disheartening loss, the hope is that they can leverage this time to refine their strategy and improve their performance on both sides of the ball.
Reflections on the Season
This season has been particularly challenging for Florida State, with a record that now falls to 1-9. It’s been a test of resilience and character for both players and coaching staff alike. The rest of the season is now about building for the future, learning from mistakes, and hopefully finding a way to finish the season on a high note with their remaining games. Fans will be hoping to see a team that not only learns but also grows from these tough experiences, and perhaps spark some excitement headed into the next season.
Cheers to football, the unpredictable game where every week presents an opportunity for redemption! We can only hope that the Seminoles will seize this chance to turn their fortunes around.
