Seminole Sunday Sauce — Oct. 22, 2023: FSU Football Uses Big Fourth Quarter to Down No. 16 Duke, 38-20
It took a monster fourth quarter, but No. 4 Florida State football remained perfect on Saturday night. The Seminoles erupted with three touchdowns in the final period to down No. 16 Duke, 38-20.
FSU went ahead for good as quarterback Jordan Travis scored from two yards out to cap a 96-yard drive. His touchdown run gave the Seminoles their first lead of the evening.
FSU added to its lead with a 21-yard touchdown pass on a screen from Travis to Lawrance Toafili and a 9-yard touchdown run by Rodney Hill. FSU finished with 420 yards to just 273 for Duke.
Travis finished with 330 yards of total offense and three total touchdowns in the win. Duke led by 10 points on two occasions early, but after a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by FSU’s Deuce Spann, the Blue Devils never led by more than three points.
Shyheim Brown recorded an interception while Fabien Lovett tallied two tackles for loss for the FSU defense. Duke’s Jaquez Moore finished with 110 yards rushing and a touchdown for the Blue Devils in the loss.
With the win, FSU moves to 7-0 for the first time since 2014 and 5-0 in ACC play. The Seminoles would likely clinch a spot in the ACC Championship with two wins in their next three games.
FOOTBALL
Record: 7-0 (5-0 ACC)
Ranking: No. 4 AP Poll; No. 4 USA Today Coaches Poll
Past Week: (1-0), beat Duke on Saturday, 38-20
Upcoming: at Wake Forest (Saturday)
Recognitions: Keon Coleman, WR (ACC Teams Special Teams Player of the Week); Mike Norvell, HC (Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year Award watch list); Jordan Travis, QB (Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year watch list)
Commitments: Ethan Pritchard, 2025 4-star LB* (No. 292 overall*)
Decommitments: None
2024 Recruiting Class Rank: No. 6 nationally, first in ACC (21 total commitments)
Wrap-up: FSU trailed in the final quarter for the first time all season, but found a way to rally past Duke.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Commitments: Alier Maluk, 2025 4-star F* (No. 51 overall*)
Decommitments: None
2024 Recruiting Class Rank: No. 65 nationally, 13th in ACC (1 total commitment)
Wrap-up: FSU picked up a big addition for its 2025 class this week. Less than a month separates us from the start of basketball season.
SOCCER
Record: 12-0-1 (7-0-1 ACC)
Ranking: No. 1 United Soccer Coaches
Past Week: (1-0), beat Pittsburgh on Thursday, 3-2
Upcoming: at Duke (Sunday); vs. NC State (Thursday)
Recognitions: Onyi Echegini, F (ACC Offensive Player of the Week)
Wrap-up: FSU picked up another thrilling win on Thursday. The Seminoles can clinch the ACC regular season title with a win in either of its two matches this week.
VOLLEYBALL
Record: 14-7 (8-1 ACC)
Ranking: N/A
Past Week: (2-0), beat Clemson on Sunday, 3-0; beat Boston College on Friday, 3-0
Upcoming: vs. Syracuse (Sunday); at Louisville (Friday)
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: FSU has bounced back nicely from its first ACC loss with a pair of sweeps.
CROSS COUNTRY
Ranking: USTFCCCA No. 3 South Region; women USTFCCCA No. 6 South Region
Past Week: Idle
Upcoming: ACC Championships (Friday)
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: FSU will chase championships this week at home in Tallahassee.
MEN’S GOLF
Ranking: No. 20 Bushnell/Golfweek Coaches Poll
Past Week: Idle
Upcoming: East Lake Cup (Oct. 30-Nov. 1)
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: FSU has just one event remaining this fall.
WoMEN’S GOLF
Ranking: No. 10 WGCA Coaches Poll
Past Week: Finished sixth at Tar Heel Invitational
Upcoming: IJGA Collegiate Invitational (Feb. 2-3)
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: The fall slate has come to an end for FSU.
Swimming and Diving
Ranking: Men No. 24 CSCAA
Past Week: Men beat Georgia Tech on Thursday, 151.1-148.5; women lost to Georgia Tech on Thursday, 160-140; men beat Florida Southern on Friday, 168-58; women beat Florida Southern on Friday, 209-47; women beat West Florida on Friday, 200-63; women beat North Florida on Friday, 203-54
Upcoming: vs. LSU and Alabama (Nov. 4)
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: FSU went a combined 5-1 this week. The Seminoles will remain home to take on a pair of SEC foes in two weeks.
*Recruiting rankings according to the 247Sports Composite rankings
- Mike Ferguson is the lead writer for Double Fries No Slaw. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson. For all of his work, “Like” or “Follow” Mike on Facebook.
