TALLAHASSEE– The 2022 State of Florida At Garnet & Gold Spring Game, the offense scored 24 points in the first half when it was good versus good under the head coach’s direction Mike Norvell and his coaching staff.
The scoring opened on a 31-yard field goal from starting kicker Ryan Fitzgerald, that was the only goal in the first 15 minutes of the spring game. An earlier attempt by Fitzgerald was blocked by the defensive end Jared Versewho jumped the line. In a real game, Verse is likely to be penalized for the method he used to get into the backfield.
In the second quarter, a trio of Seminoles hit the ground.
Back race Lawrence Toafili had a one-yard rush. Reserve table football Aidan Shahriari shoots the extra point.
wide receiver Mycah Pittman then took a right-to-left sweep action and finished it from four yards to push it into the end zone. Pittman had back-to-back games where he finished aggressively and up front. Fitzgerald made the extra point attempt.
Back race DJ Williams then it charged in from 10 yards just before the end of the first half. Fitzgerald hit it through the post again.
The passing game never got going in the first half. starting quarterbacks Jordan Travis was 7-of-13 for 71 yards. Tate Rodemaker (3 of 9, 28 yards) and AJ Duffy (1-of-5, 4 yards) also saw action.
On the ground, walking backwards Trey Benson was the day’s top offensive player with seven carries for 77 yards, including a 22-yard long. Toafili had nine carries for 43 yards and his touchdown. CJ Campbell had four rushes for 41 yards, including the longest rush of the first half (28 yards). Williams had five rushes for 40 yards, including his touchdown.
The leading receiver for the Seminoles was Pittman with four receptions for 25 yards. The longest finish of the first half came on Wyatt RectorScreen action that jumped 18 meters.
On the defensive side of the ball in that first half, linebacker Stephen Dix led with six tackles, including three solo tackles. Vers had two tackles, both of which were sacks. security Schyheim Browndefensive end Quashon Fullerand defensive tackle Malcolm Ray each also picked up a sack. linebacker DJ Lundy also had a tackle for loss.
Six penalties (three in offense, three in defence) were committed in the first half.
The second half, which included the “Main Event” featuring Seminole alumni EJ Manuel, Danny Kanell, Peter Boulwarand Bryant McFadden seen a bit more fireworks on the offensive side of the ball as a guest coach.
The second half started with a 6-play 50-yard touchdown drive that saw Rodemaker connect after a 25-yard pass to the freshman running back Rodney Hill. It was capped off by an 11-yard touchdown pass from Rodemaker to Poitier. Fitzgerald put another through the post after the goal.
Reserve Quarterback Gino English would then make a 4 play 50 yard touchdown drive which he completed with a 10 yard touchdown run. English completed a 20-yard pass to Campbell before his touchdown run. Hill also had an 18-yard rush on the drive. Shahriari made another extra point attempt after the goal.
Travis saw no action in the second half. Rodemaker finished the day 5 of 11 for 64 passing yards and a touchdown. Duffy finished 1 of 8 for four yards. English was 1-of-1 for 20 yards, plus his 10-yard rushing touchdown.
Campbell increased his rush total to six rushes for 46 yards. Hill finished with nine rushes for 37 yards. He also had his 25-yard reception, which ended up being the longest reception of the day.
The day ended with an FSU posting of 38 points. In 91 games, the FSU produced a total of 329 yards (270 rushing/159 passing).
FSU will wrap up its spring season with final practice on Tuesday.