Current:Home > reviewsNo. 8 Florida State dominant in second half, routs No. 5 LSU -Wealth Momentum Network
No. 8 Florida State dominant in second half, routs No. 5 LSU
View
Date:2025-04-14 19:39:30
Florida State and Louisiana State put on a show in a primetime matchup in front of 65,429 fans at Camping World Stadium Sunday.
In a back-and-forth affair early on, No. 8 FSU scored 31 unanswered points in the second half - punctuated by 21 in the fourth quarter - for a 45-24 victory over No. 5 LSU.
It's an early key victory in the Seminoles' effort to make the College Football Playoff for the second time in program history and their sixth straight win over the Tigers.
It was also FSU's seventh consecutive win dating back to last season.
Here are three takeaways from FSU's victory.
SPORTS NEWSLETTER: Sign up now to get top sports headlines delivered daily
Keon Coleman lives up to the hype
There was a lot of excitement when Keon Coleman announced his transfer from Michigan State to FSU. He led the Spartans' passing offense last season with 798 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. It didn't take him long to leave an impact as the Seminole. He recorded both of FSU's touchdowns in the first half, and only continued to produce into the second half.
Early into the third quarter, he had already broken triple figures in receiving yards, making a diving 41-yard grab from quarterback Jordan Travis to move the Seminoles into midfield. The drive would eventually conclude with a touchdown from Travis, giving the FSU the lead. He added his third touchdown of the game in the fourth quarter, cementing the victory.
He'd finish the night with 122 yards and three touchdowns, passing his career high in touchdowns in a game. He also neared his career high in receiving yards in a game with 155, which he set in Michigan State's 29-7 loss against Michigan on October 29, 2022.
Travis also passed a career-high in passing touchdowns with four.
Consistent defensive presence allows offense to settle in
It wasn't an ideal start for the Seminoles. Two long plays, and a penalty, put LSU at FSU's one-yard line, looking like it was going to take an early lead.
However, a goal-line stand changed the tone. While the offense took a second to find its rhythm, eventually hitting full stride in the fourth quarter, the defense kept the Seminoles steady the entire game.
It was the linebacker corps, which has had a lot of questions to answer since losing players to graduation and the portal in the offseason, that highlighted the defensive performance. Tatum Bethune recorded a team-leading nine tackles, and Kalen DeLoach and DJ Lundy combined 1.5 sacks.
Lundy's sack was on Jayden Daniels was on fourth and goal in LSU's first drive of the game. Dennis Briggs also had a sack, bumping FSU's total to three on the night. Renardo Green also picked off Daniels.
While the offense had a sound night, especially in the fourth quarter, it was the defense that kept Daniels and the Tigers' offense at bay, eventually shutting them down in the fourth quarter.
Early penalties sting Seminoles
By halftime, FSU had already garnered 58 yards in six penalties, compared to LSU's zero. Three of the calls were unsportsmanlike conduct, showing some discipline issues early on. The first unsportsmanlike conduct call was on Patrick Payton, which brought LSU all the way down to the Seminoles 1-yard line.
If the defense didn't stop on fourth and 1, FSU would've been in a hole on the first drive of the game. LSU only converted three out of five times from the red zone in the first half, showing that FSU caught some slack when it came to its penalty issues.
FSU cleaned up its game in the second half, only committing one penalty and losing five yards. It was a sound adjustment that benefitted the Seminoles in the end, but FSU could've had an easier road to victory if it had stayed disciplined early.
veryGood! (878)
Related
- Stamford Road collision sends motorcyclist flying; driver arrested
- 'It took approximately 7-8 hours': Dublin worker captures Eras Tour setup at Aviva stadium
- Former American Ninja Warrior Winner Drew Drechsel Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Child Sex Crimes
- Nicole Scherzinger Explains Why Being in the Pussycat Dolls Was “Such a Difficult Time
- Taylor Swift Eras Archive site launches on singer's 35th birthday. What is it?
- Air tankers attack Arizona wildfire that has forced evacuations outside of Scottsdale
- Lakers reveal Bronny James' new jersey number
- Will northern lights be visible in the US? Another solar storm visits Earth
- Retirement planning: 3 crucial moves everyone should make before 2025
- Inside the Haunting Tera Smith Cold Case That Shadowed Sherri Papini's Kidnapping Hoax
Ranking
- Justice Department, Louisville reach deal after probe prompted by Breonna Taylor killing
- Argentina receives good news about Lionel Messi's Copa América injury, report says
- Pink's Reaction to Daughter Willow Leaving Her Tour to Pursue Theater Shows Their True Love
- The Federal Reserve's preferred inflation tracker shows cooling prices. Here's the impact on rates.
- Where will Elmo go? HBO moves away from 'Sesame Street'
- Lakers reveal Bronny James' new jersey number
- Yellowstone officials: Rare white buffalo sacred to Native Americans not seen since June 4 birth
- Over 130,000 Baseus portable chargers recalled after 39 fires and 13 burn injuries
Recommendation
Paula Abdul settles lawsuit with former 'So You Think You Can Dance' co
US Soccer denounces racist online abuse of players after USMNT loss to Panama
Missouri governor vetoes school safety initiative to fund gun-detection surveillance systems
Argentina receives good news about Lionel Messi's Copa América injury, report says
Average rate on 30
Nancy Silverton Gave Us Her No-Fail Summer Party Appetizer, Plus the Best Summer Travel Tip
Bachelorette Star Jenn Tran Teases Shocking Season Finale
Mount Everest's melting ice reveals bodies of climbers lost in the death zone