No. 4 Florida State Advances To 6-0 With 41-3 win over Syracuse

It was the Keon Coleman show inside Doak Campbell Stadium.

The No. 4 Florida State Seminoles took on the Syracuse Orange on Saturday in what would turn out to be a 41-3 rollercoaster victory. With leading receiver Johnny Wilson out with an undisclosed injury, the Seminoles needed a player to step up in his absence. That player would be wide receiver Keon Coleman who finished the day with nine catches for 140 yards and a score. 

On the other side of the ball, the defense handled the opposition with ease spearheaded by safety Shyheim Brown who led the team in tackles with seven (one TFL, one sack) on a stellar performance. Syracuse left the stadium after punting a whopping nine times.

The Seminoles won the toss and deferred to the Orange and started off strong with the defense sacking Syracuse quarterback Garrett Shrader. Brown and linebacker Kalen DeLoach were able to get into the backfield quickly and Syracuse would go three and out to give the ball to the 'Noles.

READ MORE: Seminoles Lose Starting Offensive Lineman To Lower-Body Injury Against Syracuse

Quarterback Jordan Travis got the offense in rhythm with a 10-yard pass to Keon Coleman. A fumbled snap could've put Florida State behind but after a scramble by Travis, tight end Jaheim Bell converted and Coleman made a highlight catch for a 27-yard game. The next play Coleman fumbled but running back Trey Benson was able to recover. Running back Lawrance Toafili got the 'Noles to the two-yard line and Travis was able to punch it in for the first score of the game.

Keon Coleman makes RIDICULOUS one-handed snag 🤯 #Noles pic.twitter.com/wPZYIRngs1

— Logan B. Robinson (@LogansTwitty) October 14, 2023

Syracuse tried to switch up the game plan for their second drive by keeping the ball on the ground and the first pass of their second drive ended with a batted-down pass by defensive end Patrick Payton to give the FSU offense the ball. The 'Noles would go three and out on the following drive. 

Defensive end Byron Turner Jr showed up with a sack and a pass deflected by defensive back Azareye'h Thomas ended the drive for Syracuse. 

Running back CJ Campbell helped move the chains on the following drive with a 19-yard rush and wide receiver Darion Williamson pushed the offense across midfield. The drive would stall ending in a 47-yard field goal by Ryan Fitzgerald which put the Seminoles up by 10. 

Syracuse running back La'Quint Allen got the offense midfield and a trick play to Shrader put the Orange in scoring distance for the first time of the game. A 37-yard field goal from Brady Denaburg gave the Orange their first points of the night. 

Florida State's offense kicked it in gear after starting a little sluggish. Travis found Coleman again for a 58-yard score. The touchdown from Travis helped Keon break the 100-yard mark in the second quarter. 

The defense had a major play of their own when defensive tackle Josh Farmer strip-sacked Shrader and defensive end Jared Verse advanced it to the four-yard line giving the offense another opportunity to score but Syracuse was able to hold them to a turnover on downs. The turnover marked the first red zone possession all season the 'Noles haven't come away with points. 

Penalties plagued Florida State in last week's win over Virginia Tech and they showed up late in the second quarter. On what would be a first and goal off a punt return by Coleman, two costly flags pushed FSU back 25 yards. Syracuse would force their second turnover on downs. Florida State ended the half up by 14.

To start the second half, the two offenses would trade three and outs. Bell would get FSU going on the next drive with a big 39-yard reception and Benson would inch them inside the five. Travis would get his second rushing touchdown of the day as Florida State pulled away. 

Allen and the Orange responded with their own explosive play with their longest rush of the day on a 27-yard scamper followed by their longest pass of the day to Umari Hatcher for 22. FSU linebacker DJ Lundy would help the defense hold Syracuse to a field goal attempt with a batted-down pass. The kick went wide leaving the scoreboard at 24-3. 

Coleman came up big again late in the third with a 72-yard punt return that put FSU at the nine-yard line. The Syracuse red zone defense came to play on Saturday after breaking the 20 for 20 scoring drives and holding the Seminole offense to yet another field goal.

Toafili would add insult to injury early in the fourth tacking on seven with a 50-yard score. The touchdown would mark the second time in as many games that he's found the open field for a massive run.

Travis was relieved by quarterback Tate Rodemaker finishing the night 23-37 for 238 yards and three touchdowns. On the third play of the drive, true freshman wide receiver Hykeem Williams scored his first touchdown as a Seminole on a 44-yarder complimented by a juke that broke him free for the big run. 

Florida State returns to action next weekend against Duke in a night game in Tallahassee.

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