Stanford 20, FSU 13: Poor performance drops Seminoles to 3-4

Four consecutive defeats this season.

Nine consecutive conference losses.

Another failure of performance in a game where FSU was favored by several scores.

Maybe that’s all she wrote.

Florida State, just like in its previous losses, was outplayed and outplayed tonight against Stanford – but this time it was against a team that had looked particularly hapless this season.

The Seminoles, still one of the top three offenses in the country, put up a measly 13 points against a Stanford defense that allowed the third-most red zone trips in the country and gave up 30.2 points per game.

Perhaps the biggest indictment of Florida State’s poor preparation against Stanford was the Cardinal’s 13-play, 94-yard drive in the third quarter, a touchdown drive that put them up by two scores.

Yet somehow, Florida State found itself competitive in the game late in the game, scoring a touchdown on a field goal with 9:22 left in the fourth. FSU got the ball back shortly after, but despite entering the red zone once again, it gave the ball back on downs after a Castellanos scramble was ruled a yard short. The Seminoles defense forced a quick three-and-out, giving FSU another chance to tie with 3:46 in the game.

Florida State then began to move down the field, seemingly getting another miracle play from Castellanos when disaster struck – not only was his 38-yard run negated by a holding penalty, but, on one of the dirtiest late plays you’ll see, was knocked out of the game by taking a hit straight to the head.

True freshman Kevin Sperry was then given the monumental task of avoiding another embarrassing loss, an effort that resulted in an intentional groundout and prayer shot on fourth down. Stanford ran some more before giving Florida State the ball again, when Sperry was able to push FSU into Hail Mary territory, where Micahi Danzy was able to make a 53-yard catch with 2 seconds left and give FSU one last shot.

Sperry attempted to connect with Duce Robinson in the end zone, but failed, but a pass interference penalty nonetheless gave the Seminoles another attempted to tie the game, putting them on the 2-yard line with no time on the clock.

The play call? A shovel pass to Gavin Sawchuck, who was ruled a yard out, ending the game upon review.