football

Seminoles survive nail-biter vs. Louisville after injuries plauge FSU

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The Seminoles start 3-0 (1-0) for the first time since 2015.

The Florida State Seminoles kicked off ACC play on Friday night against the Louisville Cardinals on the road. Heading into the matchup, FSU was 2-0 for the first time since 2016, and winning close is a welcomed albeit nerve-wracking attribute this team is starting to acquire. Up against adversity, the Seminoles persevered and we were able to see grit in a team that will not be defeated despite everything thrown at them.

Linebacker Kalen Deloach and company started their first drive off with Deloach spying Louisville quarterback Malik Cunningham and forcing an incompletion. Safety Renardo Green was able to stop the Cardinal’s drive and force the punt to start the Seminole offense

On offense, it only took one play to move the team into scoring position after a 41-yard pass to tight end Camren McDonald and another 3rd and long completion to wide receiver Johnny Wilson set up the Noles’ first score of the night with a touchdown pass to tight end Preston Daniel.

Louisville went on the attack soon after, with Cunningham completing passes to Dee Wiggins along with big runs by Jordan Jawhar. Louisville’s first score of the game came from a rushing touchdown by Malik.

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Florida State hangs on for last-second, thrilling 24-23 win over LSU

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In the days leading up to Florida State’s Sunday night showdown with LSU, Florida State football coach Mike Norvell said he was excited about the game because it would give him a chance to show off the guys he gets to coach.

FSU Quarterback Travis Jordan

And it took every second of the game, but the Seminoles found a way to pull out a 24-23 victory with a blocked extra point — their second blocked kick of the game — to improve to 2-0 on the season.

Redshirt freshman Shyheim Brown blocked the kick after LSU scored a touchdown on the final play of regulation.

Redshirt Freshman Shyheim Brown

“What a finish,” Norvell said, “We talked to our team all week that this game could come down to one play, to one opportunity. And, you know, as you watch throughout the course of the game, I thought our guys put on display an incredible heart. You know, the passion which they played with, just the effort, the physicality, I thought we dominated the game for the majority of it. Obviously, there at the end, you know, we had some things that happened that we just can’t have. But the one thing that happened on the last play is what we absolutely need.

“It’s determination. It’s heart. It’s a willingness that, even after a disappointing moment, our guys responded.”

After falling behind by a field goal on the game’s opening drive, FSU took its first lead on a 39-yard flea-flicker from Jordan Travis to Ontaria “Pokey” Wilson. The Seminoles had a chance to extend their lead just before halftime, but a fourth-down pass from Travis fell incomplete, and the lead stayed at 7-3 at halftime.

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Florida hires Billy Napier as Gators next football coach, replacing Dan Mullen

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The University of Florida will hire Louisiana-Lafayette’s Billy Napier as the Gators’ next head football coach and the man to stabilize one of the nation’s top programs for the first time in more than a decade.

Napier will replace Dan Mullen and become the Gators’ fourth head coach since 2014.

“We are humbled and honored to accept this incredible opportunity,” Napier said in a statement released by UF.

Athletic director Scott Stricklin fired Mullen on Nov. 17 after an overtime loss at Missouri continued the program’s stunning downward spiral during the past 12 months. But the school had decided to move on from Mullen before the Gators’ 24-23 loss to the Tigers and met with Napier the week of the game, a source told The Orlando Sentinel last week.

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Super 16 High School matchups in Orlando

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District champions could be crowned and career records broken Friday night in Week 9 of the high school football regular season.

Tavares hosts Eustis in a Class 5A battle of Lake County rivals who have gone nearly two decades without a district title. The Bulldogs can claim the trophy outright for the first time since 2004 with a win.

Eustis, district champs in 2005, likely needs a win Friday and another next week vs. Mount Dora to end its drought. The Eagles won four in a row against Tavares from 2015-18 before the Bulldogs scored a 22-20 win in 2019.

Four district matchups between Sentinel Super 16 teams will help paint the postseason picture moving forward.

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