Seminoles Rely on Strong Defense to Earn First Win

© Melina Myers-Imagn Images

Fans of the Florida State Seminoles (1-3, 1-2 in the Atlantic Coast Conference) breathed a collective sigh of relief on Sept. 21, after the Seminoles earned their first win of the season with a strong defensive performance against the Cal Golden Bears (3-1, 0-1). The Seminoles prevailed in a 14-9 slugfest.

The Seminoles First Win

The defense took control of the game for head coach Mike Norvell and the Seminoles. After opening the season with three disappointing losses, the Seminoles and head coach Mike Norvell lean on the team's defense to hold a dynamic Golden Bears offense to three field goals. The Seminoles' defense wreaked havoc on the timing of Cal quarterback Fernando Mendoza and his offense.

The Seminoles opened up the scoring in the first quarter with a two-yard touchdown run by Lawrance Toafili, capping off an 8-play, 60-yard drive. Late in the third quarter, Cal took the lead on the leg of kicker Ryan Coe whose 51-yard field goal put the Golden Bears up 9-7.  The Seminoles answered with a game-winning 36-yard touchdown strike from QB DJ Uiagalelei to wide receiver Ja'Khi Douglas.

Player of the Game

Seminoles edge rusher Patrick Payton registered a career-high 3 sacks on the evening. He seemed to live in the Golden Bears' backfield as he was consistently a disruptive force for the Seminoles.

Significance for the Seminoles

While only a game, the fact that the Seminoles secured their first victory of the season lifted a giant weight off the team and the coaching staff. Althought it was not a statement win or a lopsided triumph, the performance is a building block for the Seminoles moving forward. Florida State next plays the SMU Mustangs (3-1) on Sept. 28.

© Melina Myers-Imagn Images

Significance for the Golden Bears

The Golden Bears were outplayed in the trenches. Their offensive line could not protect Mendoza, and their defensive line did not generate enough pressure on Uiagalelei. Nevertheless, the Golden Bears will likely remain a challenging foe for their upcoming opponents. Mendoza and running back Jaydn Ott are a dynamic pair, complementing one another well. Following a bye next weekend, Cal and head coach Justin Wilcox will square off against the Miami Hurricanes (4-0) on Oct. 5.