Florida State at Pittsburgh: Five Plays That Changed The Game As Seminoles Dodge Upset Bid

Which key plays helped the Seminoles thwart a valiant effort by the Panthers?

Nearly ten years ago, the Florida State Seminoles opened up their 2013 season with a matchup against the Pittsburgh Panthers on Labor Day night. A young, redshirt freshman quarterback by the name of Jameis Winston burst onto the scene and led the ‘Noles to a convincing 41-13 victory. The win was the first of many en route to the BCS National Championship and a Heisman campaign for Winston. Fast forward ten years and Florida State is back in the running for a national title. They boast one of the most talented rosters, they have a Heisman-hopeful quarterback, one of the nation’s best wide receivers, and the similarities go on and on. As fate would have it, the path back to the National Championship ran through Pittsburgh once again.

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The Seminoles took their 2023 campaign on the road to face off against the Pittsburgh Panthers. Heading into Saturday, FSU was boasting an 8-0 record, a number four CFP ranking and they were one win away from clinching their spot in the ACC Championship Game. Meanwhile, the Pitt Panthers were coming off the heels of an embarrassing 58-7 loss to Notre Dame and holding on to a 2-6 record. By every account, the Seminoles were expected to win handily. Instead, the Florida State faithful were left biting their nails whilst watching a close contest between the ‘Noles and Panthers.

FSU's struggles were plentiful throughout the opening moments of the game. Meanwhile, Pat Narduzzi's Panthers were putting forth a spirited performance and hanging tough with the national title contenders. Back and forth, these two teams traded blows for a majority of the afternoon, but when the dust finally settled and the clock hit zero, it was Mike Norvell’s team that came out on top. The Seminoles were far from perfect on the day, but a 24-7 victory was enough to keep the unbeaten streak alive, enough to clinch a spot in Charlotte, and enough to remain in contention for the playoff. 

Let’s take a look at some of those key plays from Saturday’s game that allowed the ‘Noles to survive their trip to Pittsburgh. Then, it’s all eyes on Florida State’s protection of Doak from the incoming storm, the University of Miami Hurricanes.

1. Fentrell Cypress II Forces Fumble At The Goal Line

There’s no sugarcoating it. The beginning of this game was an ugly display of football from both sides. Florida State opened up with a fumble on its first drive followed by a turnover on downs in the red zone on their second and then rattled off four consecutive punts. Throughout their first six drives, the ‘Noles had over 160 yards of offense and nothing to show for it. Luckily for them, the Pitt offense was having just as much trouble with the Florida State defense. They, too, had a flurry of punts and their fair share of turnovers. At the end of the first quarter, the score was locked up at zero. However, quarterback Christian Veilleux was finding a rhythm, and he began to exploit the holes in Adam Fuller’s defense.

Following Florida State’s second punt on their fourth offensive drive of the game, Veilleux and the Panther offense set up shop at their own 18-yard line. On 2nd & 10, the quarterback faked the handoff to the running back and then lofted the ball over the middle of the field. The ball came down around the FSU 40-yard line where it landed in the hands of the streaking wide receiver, Konata Mumpfield. The crowd erupted as Mumpfield sprinted towards the end zone with one man to beat. Undetermined, Florida State defensive back Fentrell Cypress II gave chase to the receiver. The pair went stride for stride before Cypress was able to wrap up Mumpfield around the Florida State goal line. As the two crashed to the ground and crossed the goal line, the ball popped free and rolled into the end zone. Cypress was the first to land on it, and, surprisingly, the call on the field was a fumble recovered by Florida State in the end zone for a touchback.

Upon further review, Cypress has lodged the ball free from the receiver’s grasp before hitting the ground or crossing the goal line. As such, the call on the field stood and the touchback was upheld. The Seminole defense thwarted what had appeared to be a surefire 82-yard touchdown reception, and for the slightest of moments, Fentrell Cypress was the living embodiment of never giving up. The turnover, while not entirely game-deciding, brought an abrupt end to a shift in momentum in favor of the Panthers. It kept the game level for a bit longer and afforded Florida State’s offense some more time to correct the ship without falling too far behind in the process.

2. Jordan Travis Connects With Ja'Khi Douglas For 37 Yard Gain, Leads To Travis Rushing TD

Pitt eventually capitalized in the wake of Florida State’s offensive struggles with a 4-play, 64-yard drive that saw Bub Means cross the goal line for a receiving touchdown. Down 7-0 at this point, FSU’s offense was searching for answers. With marquee wide receivers Keon Coleman and John Wilson both out of the lineup, it was evident that quarterback Jordan Travis was sorely missing his favorite targets. Deep ball after deep ball fell incomplete for the Seminoles, and they were unable to generate explosive plays through the air, something they had become so accustomed to doing. They needed a vertical threat and fast. Otherwise, the ‘Noles were in danger of becoming entirely one-dimensional.

Taking over after the Pitt score, Travis immediately hit the ground running with two carries for a combined gain of 14 yards. He then completed three of his next four passes to push FSU across the 50 and into Pitt territory. However, they were quickly faced with 3rd and short. Travis called for the snap and faked the handoff to running back Lawrance Toafili. The quarterback took a quick three-step drop and uncorked a throw toward the left sideline. The ball was thrown on a dime, floated over the defender’s head, and fell right into the arms of wide receiver Ja’Khi Douglas in stride. Douglas was wrestled down near the 5-yard line, but the damage was done. Travis was starting to heat up and the ‘Noles had found themselves a vertical threat.

Two plays later, Travis called his own number and rushed the ball in for the first Seminole touchdown of the day. It was a 10-play, 75-yard drive that saw the ‘Noles tie the score back up at 7 a piece. Douglas went on to finish the day as the team’s leading receiver with 6 receptions for 115 yards. FSU’s offense, on the other hand, was just getting started. 

3. Jordan Travis Throws A Dart To Markeston Douglas For A TD

Despite the rocky start in the opening moments of the game, Florida State carried a 10-7 lead into halftime after kicker Ryan Fitzgerald nailed a 32-yard field goal just before the end of the half. Having finally found their rhythm, the FSU offense continued its scoring into the second half. On just their second offensive drive of the second half, the Seminole offense charged downfield in a hurry. Travis shared the wealth through the air, connecting on 3 of his 5 pass attempts for 50 yards. The combined rushing attack of running back committee Trey Benson. Toafili, and Rodney Hill (along with a pass interference call against Pittsburgh) helped to push the ‘Noles down to the Pitt 22.

In a blink-and-you-miss-it moment (which the nationally televised broadcast did), Travis dropped back to pass in an empty backfield and quickly fired a dart over the middle to a streaking Markeston Douglas. The tight end had absolutely no one around him as he reeled in the throw and waltzed his way across the goal line untouched. The connection with Douglas was Travis’ lone touchdown pass today, which accompanied an impressive stat line of 22 completions on 36 attempts for 360 yards (all without his primary targets). The 22-yard touchdown reception completed an eleven-play, 80-yard drive and pushed the Seminole lead to 10. Now with some breathing room between them, the ‘Noles went to work on closing out the game.

4. Trey Benson Torches The Panther Defense On His Way To A 55-Yard Rushing TD

Florida State fans did not have to wait long between touchdown celebrations. The Pittsburgh Panther offense, which was all but non-existent in the second half, was unable to respond to the Douglas touchdown. Instead, they punted for the seventh time in the game and gave the ball back to a Seminole offense that had found their groove. On the second play from scrimmage, running back Trey Benson received the handoff in the backfield from Travis. 

He stormed through a running lane that had opened up in the middle of the offensive line, and before long, he was off to the races. No one was going to catch him. Benson was clocked at a top speed of 21.3 miles per hour en route to a 55-yard touchdown run. Florida State scored its 17th unanswered point and all but locked up the game leading 24-7 heading into the fourth.

5. Conrad Hussey Intercepts Christian Veilleux And Dispels Any Sort Of Comeback (Plus, A Bonus Nod To Hussey's Forced Fumble)

Early in the fourth quarter, the Pittsburgh Panther offense was slowly creeping into Seminole territory in a last-ditch attempt to claw back into this game before time expired. With 11 minutes remaining, there was still some time for the Panthers to cut into a 17-point lead. Crazier things have happened in college football after all. Pitt slowly and methodically pushed across the 50 and into Florida State territory, but consecutive false start penalties forced them to play from behind the sticks.

Facing 1st & 20 from the FSU 44, quarterback Christian Veilleux dropped back to pass. He and his receiver must not have been on the same page because Veilleux’s pass sailed over the head of any intended target. Instead, it fell into the lap of freshman defensive back Conrad Hussey for an interception. The pick from Hussey all but shut the door on any comeback opportunity. Not to mention, Hussey would later be credited with delivering the hit that forced another Pitt fumble, which was recovered by fellow defensive back Shyheim Brown. That fumble would serve as the definitive nail in the coffin for the game.

However, Hussey’s interception is a testament to the display of defensive dominance by Florida State on Saturday. FSU’s defense held Pitt to 333 total yards of offense, held them to 89 total rushing yards, forced 3 turnovers, totaled 3 sacks, did not allow Pitt to convert a single 3rd down (0-11), and held the Panthers scoreless throughout the entire second half. Without such a performance, things would have been drastically different on the day. Hussey’s interception and forced fumble may have been the highlights that brought matters to an end, but the entire defense deserves its roses. They imposed their will on the Panthers and emphatically stopped the Pitt offense in its tracks.

It was far from a pretty victory for the ‘Noles on Saturday, but it was another one in the win column all the same. Florida State now boasts its first 9-0 record since 2014 with a spot in the ACC Championship Game already clinched. If they can withstand the final four games on their schedule, the Seminoles could be face to face with a College Football Playoff berth. However, that’s easier said than done because standing in their way are a pair of bitter rivals itching to take a crack at the unbeaten team from Tallahassee. This week, one of those rivals, the Miami Hurricanes, will get their shot at derailing FSU’s national title hopes.

The ‘Noles and ‘Canes will face off on Bobby Bowden Field in Doak Campbell Stadium on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 3:30 PM.

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