Florida State football sleepwalks past Wake Forest

The ‘Noles came into Saturday’s game, looking to even up its ACC record at 2-2, which is exactly what it did following a 17-6 victory. The Seminoles are now 56-12-1 on homecoming and 5-2 in the 2016 season.

Florida State and Wake Forest started the game trading meaningless drives that neither team was able to capitalize on. The closest either team got 12-minutes in to the game was Florida State’s Ricky Aguayo, who missed a 47-yard field goal wide left.

On the ensuing drive, Marquez White recorded his first interception on the season, giving FSU possession on the Wake 36-yard line. As time expired, Ricky Aguayo made a 29-yard field goal, giving Florida State it’s first, first quarter points in three games.

Opening up the second quarter, Wake Forest returned a kick for a touchdown, however the return was called back due to a penalty, which proved to be costly as Tarvarus McFadden intercepted his fifth pass of the season.

The ‘Noles gave it back up just as quickly though when Dalvin Cook fumbled the ball on a screen play, and remained down on the field for quite some time with an injury before walking off on his own power. On the next drive, he would share snaps with Jacques Patrick, and eventually got his normal workload.

Wake Forest would capitalize off Cook’s fumble, tying the game on a 34-yard field goal after driving 56 yards, its furthest on the game up to that point.

The Florida State offense continued to struggle in the first half, an ongoing trend this season, punting the ball away, yet again.

Wake Forest attempted to give the ball back to Florida State, but as they had all game, turned it over to Florida State on a botched snap, setting the ‘Noles up at the WF 26-yard line. Deondre Francois would cap the drive with a two-yard touchdown run, making the score 10-3.

On the last play of the half, a 58-yard pass was completed as time expired, however Travis Rudolph could not make it further than the two yard line. Missing from that play was Bobo Wilson who was carted off with a leg injury, and missed the remained of the game.

At the half, leading 10-3, FSU’s Josh Sweat recorded a team high six tackles with 1.5 sacks.

Once the team’s returned for the final half, Dalvin Cook fumbled on the first play from scrimmage, giving Wake ball inside the FSU-30, and would turn that into three more points, cutting the lead to 10-6.

For the third time on the day, the ‘Noles would give up the ball again when Deondre Francois threw his first interception in 15 quarters, giving Wake the ball again in striking distance.

The Demon Deacons would go on to pin Florida State on its four-yard line following the ensuing punt, putting a challenge on the FSU offense. It took them only six plays to go the distance of the field, ending the drive in a touchdown catch by Auden Tate, his fourth of the season.

With Florida State driving and up by 11, Deondre Francois fumbled the ball away, the fourth FSU turnover of the day, and set up Wake Forest inside the red zone. On a 40-yard attempt that would have made it a one possession game, Wake Forest missed it, handing FSU the ball, all but sealing up a victory.

Deondre Francois, clearly not 100%, still threw 22-37 for 319 yards and one touchdown. Receiver Travis Rudolph was back to his old self after a less than average game vs. UM, receiving a career high 238 yards. Auden Tate also added a touchdown. Dalvin Cook added 115 yards on the ground. In all, Florida State accumulated 442 yards of total offense, 5.9 yards per play, compared to the 252 yards and 3.8 yards per play given up to Wake by the team’s defense.

Ermon Lane, once again at defensive back, had a fantastic showing, recording seven tackles, tying the team lead with Trey Marshall. Defensive ends Josh Sweat and DeMarcus Walker recorded 1.5 and two sacks respectively.

Florida State now has a bye week before the team takes on Clemson, who will also have a bye this upcoming week.