Duke Takes Down Florida State to Move to 6-1 on the Season (10-18-24)

By: Xavier Jones

Headline Photo Credit: Travis Cheek-LMS Network 

On a cool, crisp Friday fall evening at Wallace Wade Stadium in Durham, North Carolina, the Duke Blue Devils face the Florida State Seminoles. The Blue Devils are looking to move to 6-1 on the season, and also become bowl eligible at the end of the season. A win could also get them closer to playing in the ACC championship game. Florida State is looking to play spoiler in tonight’s contest while trying to salvage the rest of their season by picking up key victories from now until the end of the season.

The Duke Blue Devils received the opening kickoff and quickly went three and out for their first possession of the game. On Florida State’s first possession, they managed to move the ball down the field. However, their offense stalled out, and had to settle for a 23-yard field goal by Ryan Fitzgerald. With Duke’s offense still managing to produce nothing on the scoreboard, they’re forced to punt the football back to the Seminoles. On this possession for FSU, they were able to pull off a fake punt to move the ball down the field. However, their 48-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Wesley Williams. Again, the Blue Devils’ offense wasn’t able to do anything. Florida State once again possesses the ball, but this time Duke’s defense was able to put points on the board after a pick-6 by Chandler Rivers to give them a 7-3 lead.

The defense for the Blue Devils would force another turnover after Brock Glenn fumbled and Duke recovered it. Duke would find their way into the end zone after a 2-yard run by Star Thomas. Duke would force its third straight turnover after an interception by LB Ozzie Nicholas. After that turnover, the Blue Devils would cash in on a 27-yard field goal by Todd Pelino. On their next possession, Florida State would make a change at QB for the freshman, Luke Kromenhoek. After the change at QB, the Seminoles were able to move the ball downfield to attempt and make a 53-yard field goal before halftime to make the score 17-6. 

Coming out of halftime, the Seminoles returned the opening second-half kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown to cut into their deficit. The only offense that Duke mustered up in the third quarter was a 44-yard field goal by Todd Pelino to push their lead to 20-13. While in the fourth quarter, Florida State made another switch at QB bringing Brock Glenn back into the game. The change at QB didn’t make a difference for the Seminoles because both teams traded field goals in the fourth quarter. The final score of the game was 23-16, and the Duke Blue Devils moved to 6-1 on the year dropping the Florida State Seminoles to 1-6. 

The Blue Devils next game is Saturday, October 26 against the SMU Mustangs and Florida State’s next game is against the Miami Hurricanes.