Florida State football's disastrous offense aids Duke's first-ever win over Seminoles, 23-16

Florida State football’s disastrous offense aids Duke’s first-ever win over Seminoles, 23-16

Posted by Admin October 19, 2024 Football

The streak is over as Florida State football lost to Duke for the first time in program history.

Despite the best-rushing performance of the season for the Seminoles, finishing with 162 yards, a spell of three turnovers in three plays by Brock Glenn proved costly as the Blue Devils won, 23-16.

It’s the sixth time this season FSU has scored fewer than 20 points. The Seminoles outgained Duke, 291-180, but had four total turnovers.

“I thought our guys coming off the bye week were prepared and ready,” FSU head coach Mike Norvell told reporters after the game. “Turned the ball over four times, missed opportunities, dropped balls. Crircital penalties showed up. All things that led to the result tonight.”

In the first quarter, Glenn threw a pick-six to Duke defensive back Chandler Rivers. On FSU’s next offensive snap, Glenn fumbled on a designed run and he followed that up with an interception on his next snap.

The 17 points off the three turnovers paired with a number of drops from FSU’s wide receivers.

Glenn was replaced by Luke Kromenhoek after the third turnover. The true freshmen went 3-of-7 for 19 yards and had a touchdown pass dropped before Glenn returned to the game at the end of the third quarter.

The Seminoles’ defense did its part, frustrating the Blue Devils’ offense with strong coverage and keeping FSU within striking distance.

Redshirt freshman running back Samuel Singleton Jr. ran the opening second-half kickoff back for a 95-yard touchdown, cutting the lead to 17-13. Duke added a field goal on its next drive, but FSU’s defense continued to stuff the Blue Devils to try and give the Seminoles a chance.

FSU’s offense was unable to take advantage.

A chaotic night for Brock Glenn, Luke Kromenhoek

It was anything but an ordinary day for Glenn and Kromenhoek.

After leading an opening drive field goal with two completions for over 30 yards, Glenn looked calm and confident in the pocket. However, a chaotic three-snap sequence changed the complexion of the game.

A pick-six, followed by a fumble and another interception on three consecutive snaps led to Glenn being pulled for Kromenhoek in the second quarter. Glenn was 3-of-10 for 37 yards, two interceptions and a fumble before being replaced.

Kromenhoek showed flashes, though. He was plagued by two huge drops: a long would-be touchdown pass to Kentron Poitier, and a strike to Hykeem Williams at the end of the first half that would have set up a field goal.

The true freshman quarterback spent most of his time on the field running to avoid pressure before Glenn returned at the end the third quarter. But the game’s starter couldn’t get much going in his second stint.

“I was proud of the way Brock responded. Obviously, the game didn’t start very well for him with the turnovers,” Norvell said. “Luke came in, I thought he handled himself and managed himself well. I was excited to see him make good decisions.”

“I’m excited about both those guys. Who they are, and what they are capable of. They were under some pressure, some of it was issues that we had and Duke did a good job with their pressure packages. There were some things where we probably held the ball too long in a couple of situations.”

Glenn finished the game 9-19 for 110 yards. Kromenhoek finished 3-of-7 for 19 yards.

Miscues on offense, flags, special teams cost Seminoles an opportunity

FSU has made a habit of getting in its own way this season, with drops, penalties and communication errors costing the Seminoles multiple chances to compete in games this season.

Friday was no different. FSU committed nine penalties for 65 yards, with a handful coming in critical situations. Alongside flags, there were too many drops, again.

“We got to finish those plays,” Norvell said. “As much as we can go be aggressive and attack the ball, it needs to show up. We are drilling it, working it, I think there is with some guys the mental part of it and they’ve got to be able to work through it. Trust the techniques and fundamentals and have an opportunity to go make the play.”

A third-down drop from Malik Benson, if caught would have been a first down, forcing FSU into a 48-yard field goal try. After a poor snap and strange kick attempt from Ryan Fitzgerlad, it was blocked by Duke.

In the fourth quarter with the Seminoles on the Duke 16-yard line and driving to take the lead, FSU was called for a delay of game and then a block in the back on consecutive plays, pushing the Seminoles back to the Duke 31.

That drive ended in a long field goal from Fitzgerald, instead of the end zone.

Later in the fourth quarter, Kam Davis lost a fumble.

On the final drive, a 9-yard sack and a false start from Jeremiah Byers had FSU face second-and-24. Glenn threw an interception two plays later that was ruled incomplete, followed by Glenn having to lateral out of a fourth-down sack that ended the futile comeback attempt.

FSU’s defense did enough to win, offense couldn’t deliver

The Seminoles’ defense did enough to give FSU a chance at its first road win of the season.

FSU held quarterback Maalik Murphy to 12-for-24 passing for 70 yards. The FSU secondary came up with a number of pass breakups, with Fentrell Cypress and Azareye’h Thomas the standouts.

“I thought they battled,” Norvell said. “I was really pleased with the way our defense played. We had the one run we gave up on a misfit. But I thought you saw the competition from the defensive backs. I thought guys flew around, and were disruptive there in the run game for the most part. Great on third downs.”

“It’s a team sport and it’s a team game. Sometimes you get put in good situations and sometimes you get put in tough situations. I thought those guys, they fought through it all.”

The Blue Devils averaged just over 3 yards a play and were forced to punt nine times. FSU’s defense allowed one touchdown, coming on a fourth down after one of the three Glenn turnovers that gave Duke the call at the Seminoles’ 36-yard line.

The defense kept FSU in the game until the final play, but the Seminoles’ offense couldn’t deliver.

Liam Rooney covers Florida State athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at LRooney@gannett.com or on Twitter @__liamrooney