FSU 34, UVA 14: Noles Pummel Cavaliers in First Half, Lose Interest in Second

Saturday’s matchup between the Florida State Seminoles and Virginia Cavaliers featured a few long touchdown runs, some bone-crushing sacks, and the deep ball, but the biggest event of the day is what was said in the locker rooms during halftime (or what wasn’t).

Up 27-0, FSU coach Jimbo Fisher commented at the end of the half on how his team needed to come out in the third quarter, play like it was 0-0 and fight hard to the finish.  Virginia’s head coach Mike London echoed the same sentiments over at the other tunnel. 

But it was Virginia who came out swinging in the second half.  The Noles staggered through the third and fourth quarters without any semblance of urgency or life, while the Cavaliers were hell bent on leveling the score.

Let’s take a look at what transpired through the first thirty minutes.

From the opening kickoff, Florida State dominated the first two quarters.  The Seminoles compiled 294 total yards and were 7-for-10 on third downs.  In contrast, Virginia could muster only 42 total yards and went 0-for-7 on third downs.

FSU quarterback Christian Ponder posted a modest 9-for-17 tally for 103 yards and one TD. UVA’s Marc Verica was a paltry 4-for-15 for 27 yards and no scores.

Verica’s numbers were easy to explain: the Noles defense looked stout in the first half.

On a second-and-7 play early in the second quarter, Verica would get sacked by Seminoles defensive back Xavier Rhodes for a seven yard loss.  On the very next play—a third-and-15—the FSU defense would drop eight men into coverage and get another sack, this time by defensive lineman Demonte McAllister, part of a three-man rush.

On the other side of the ball, FSU’s running game looked unstoppable, but the passing game had its problems at times with dropped passes and bad throws.

Running backs Jermaine Thomas (12-for-100, two TD’s, 8.3 yd. avg.) and Chris Thompson (6-for-55, 9.2 yd. avg.) led the way for the Noles as the tandem simply controlled the game.

Florida State’s first offensive series of the contest, however, really encapsulated the game—and maybe the entire season—for the Noles and their inconsistent offense.

On the first play from scrimmage at his own 22-yard line, Ponder was hit and fumbled the football.  Jermaine Thomas picked the ball up, retreated back to the FSU 5, then magically slipped through multiple defenders and got up to the 19.

Staring disaster in the face and not flinching, the Noles would convert on a third-and-long as Ponder hit tight end Beau Reliford for a 16-yard gain and a first down.

On the next play, Ponder hit wide out Willie Haulstead for a 13-yard gain and another first down up at the Virginia 48.

The Noles' offense then became stagnant.  An incomplete pass and 3 rushing attempts that would amass only 14 yards, it was a UVA face-masking penalty that would bail the Noles out and get FSU into the red zone.

Florida State all of a sudden looked to put seven points on the board with a golden opportunity: a first-and-10 at the Virginia 20.

Chris Thompson would lose the ball on first down, but recover his own fumble.  Call it bad play calling or bad execution, but the next two plays were pointless, incomplete passes.  In the blink of an eye, it was fourth-and-9, and the Noles were lining up for a deflating field goal.

FSU’s next three drives were well executed.  All three ended in the endzone.  Jermaine Thomas had rushing touchdowns of 70 and 10 yards, and Willie Haulstead caught a 15-yard touchdown pass.

Virginia helped the Seminoles out on countless drives, as they racked up 9 penalties for 86 yards throughout the game.  A 10-yard penalty doomed the Cavs on their opening drive, and their second is what put FSU into the red zone.

Thereafter, it seemed like every Seminole drive was aided by a big Virginia penalty, whether it was defensive holding, pass interference or a personal foul.

If the first half saw Virginia implode, the third quarter seemed like a completely different game.

The Cavaliers got their only sack of the game on FSU’s first drive of the second half, forcing a punt.  On the next possession, Marc Verica immediately hit Chris Burd for 76 yard touchdown.  The Noles had no safety over the top, and it seemed Verica did a double-take, surprised at how wide open Burd was.

The Cavaliers outscored the Noles 14-7 in second half, racking up 262 total yards, and went 3-for-6 on third downs.  Back-up quarterback Ross Metheny posted decent numbers as well (7-9-68, 1 TD in the fourth quarter).

After a stirring first half, FSU would only squeak out a laughable 134 total yards in the second half.

Looking at the game from a broader perspective, it’s easy to see some basic problems that FSU has yet to shore up.  There were also some bright spots worth noting.

Ponder seems to be more comfortable on the move, rolling out, and throwing.  The play calling still has him sitting in the pocket all too often, though, and lately, that plan has gotten him hammered. 

The thought process may be that injured left tackle Andrew Datko will be back for the Miami game, so there’s no reason to rock the play calling boat.  But there’s no denying CP7’s talent when he’s on the move. 

Coordinators finally got tight end Beau Reliford involved, targeting him a number of times.  He pulled down two big receptions (2-32) but also had a dropped pass.  He seemed to disappear in the second half, though.  It’s no secret the big man gets hyped up after a reception, and does his best blocking after he’s involved in a big play.

Despite a muffed punt in the third quarter, defensive back Greg Reid finally made some noise by intercepting two passes, including one in the end zone which prevented a Cavalier touchdown.

The Seminoles defense bolstered their NCAA-leading sack total, registering six against Virginia.  They now have 25 on the season.

Call it boredom or restlessness, but the Seminoles displayed every indication that they can travel to Miami and whip the Hurricanes next weekend in the first half, and every reason why they can’t in the second.

If nothing else, the Noles running attack will look to batter a Miami defensive line that allowed Clemson’s running backs to gain 162 yards.  Andre Ellington had a blistering 71-yard touchdown run.

And let’s not forget: Miami’s over-hyped quarterback Jacory Harris has thrown eight interceptions in his last three games and completed only 13 passes (39 percent) against Clemson. 

With the Canes and Noles set to square off this Saturday at 8:00 pm in North Miami, we may be in for another nail-biter that sees one team’s hopes dashed as time expires.