Win over Pitt puts FSU in ACC title game
Photo by Charles LeClaire
Seminoles.com
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Florida State scored two third-quarter touchdowns in less than two minutes to break open a defensive battle on the way to scoring a 24-7 win over Pittsburgh.
The victory guarantees that the Seminoles have a spot in the ACC Championship game.
FSU improved to 9-0 on the season and extended its winning streak to 15 straight.
Quarterback Jordan Travis was 22 of 36 for 360 yards and a touchdown on a day when running yards were scarce for both teams.
With leading receivers Keon Coleman and Johnny Wilson unavailable, Ja’Khi Douglas came up big for FSU with six receptions for 115 yards. Tight end Jaheim Bell had five catches for 23 yards and fellow tight end Kyle Morlock had four receptions for 80 yards.
Trey Benson led the Noles in rushing with 97 yards on just 12 carries.
FSU’s defense did not allow Pitt a third-down conversion in its 10 attempts and limited Pitt quarterback Christian Veilleux to 15 of 35 passes for 244 yards and one touchdown.
Rodney Hammond led the Panthers with 60 yards on 13 carries and the Panthers managed just 89 yards on the ground for the game.
After a scoreless first quarter, Pitt scored first with 8:38 left in the first half. The Panthers drove 64 yards on four plays with 38 coming on two passes. Veilleux found Konata Mumpfield open on a 29-yard pass and the two combined on the next play for a nine-yard touchdown.
With its offense lacking production early in the game, Florida State’s first offensive drive in the second quarter took on added importance and the Seminoles made it count. Travis completed 4 of 5 passes, including a perfectly placed 37-yarder to Douglas to the Pitt 14 and three plays later FSU tied it at seven on a quarterback sneak with 4:10 left in the half. The critical drive covered 75-yards on 10 plays.
FSU took a 10-7 lead into the locker room on a 32-yard Ryan Fitzgerald field goal with 30 seconds left in the half. The Seminoles got the ball with 2:06 on the clock and drove 61 yards on seven plays the biggest being a 63-yard catch and run by Morlock.
The Noles’ defense limited the Panthers’ running game to just 47 yards on nine attempts.
Travis completed 14 of 25 passes for 231 yards with no interceptions and no touchdowns.
Benson was FSU’s top first-half rusher with 40 yards on seven carries, and Douglas was the top receiver with four receptions for 67 yards. Morlock had three catches for 77 yards in the first half.
Veilleux was 9 of 22 through the air for 181 yards and a touchdown for Pitt over the first 30 minutes.
Travis put the Seminoles up 17-7 with 3:26 left in the third quarter when he connected with tight end Markeston Douglas on a 22-yard touchdown pass on another critical drive. Travis completed passes of 18, 13, 19 and 22 yards on the scoring drive to move the offense 80 yards on 11 plays.
A running play finally broke loose for FSU on their ensuing possession when Trey Benson bolted up the middle for a 55-yard touchdown putting the Noles up 24-7 with 1:11 in the third.
Defensive back Conrad Hussey stuffed a Pitt drive on FSU’s side of the field early in the fourth quarter with an interception over the middle that would prove to be the Panthers’ last scoring threat of the game.
Florida State plays rival Miami on Saturday at Doak Campbell Stadium.
