FSU up to 12-0 after UF win: ‘Long period of time coming’

Andrea Adelson, ESPN

• Senior WriterNov 26, 2023, 01:10 AM ET Close ACC reporter.
• Joined ESPN.com in 2010.
• Graduate of the University of Florida.GAINESVILLE, Fla.– Down 12-0, with a backup quarterback, on the road against its competitors, Florida State did what it has done throughout the course of the season.Found a way to win.Behind three touchdowns from Trey Benson and an elite second-half defensive efficiency, the Seminoles beat Florida 24-15 on Saturday night– their 18th straight victory and initially without quarterback Jordan Travis, out for the season with a leg injury.Florida State is now 12-0 for the fourth time in school history, headed to the ACC national championship next weekend against Louisville in Charlotte

  , North Carolina. Coach Mike Norvell went 8-13 in his very first 2 seasons with the Seminoles. He is 21-3 because then.Editor’s Picks

  1 Associated”This is a long time coming. We had a heck of a journey, and the terrific aspect of it– it’s refrained from doing yet,” Norvell said.Though Travis was

  out of the contest, his presence loomed large. Travis, injured last Saturday against North Alabama, told Norvell from his healthcare facility bed after the game he was going to be in Gainesville with the group. Throughout the week of preparation, Travis was with the group and helped starting quarterback Tate Rodemaker prepare. He likewise told a pregame video for the team that Benson said offered him chills and worked as additional motivation.Players wore #Finishfor 13 Tee shirts throughout pregame warmups with Travis on the field on crutches, wearing his No. 13 jersey, his hurt foot covered in a trash can to safeguard it from a steady drizzle. When asked how he felt, Travis simply stated,”I more than happy to be here. “He viewed upstairs from the suite of athletic director Michael Alford with his sibling, Devon. Later, defensive end Jared Verse stated the players informed Travis,”We did that for you.”” It indicated a lot for us to go out there and place on for him,”Verse said.”We offered everything we had. Everyone struck another psychological

  gear, another physical equipment. That’s what we can.” Florida State did not leave to an excellent start, as Florida put max pressure on Rodemaker and packed Benson and the run game. After

  a safety on Rodemaker made it 12-0, the Seminoles regrouped. Benson scored a goal right before the half that closed the gap.Verse said in the locker room at halftime, the defense stated,”You looked at everybody’s eyes, they got that look in their eyes, if they don’t score, we

  win this game simple. It’s not even a competitors. We went out with that frame of mind. They got a little field goal, started feeling themselves, we were like they do not get to score once again. Our offense started moving. It was over for them. “Certainly, after Florida took a 15-14 lead, the Seminoles scored the final 10 points. Though the run game was available in stops and begins, Benson did what it required to discover a method into the end zone. He has been a particular hazard versus the Gators. Benson has 6 goals and 206 total yards in 2 games against Florida. “I just stayed patient, and awaited it to pop and it popped,”Benson stated.” This group is developed on finishing, which describes our team.”Undoubtedly, Florida State needed to get rid of a deficit for the seventh time this season. The defense played a huge part with its second-half performance. Florida had 48 backyards in the second half, with four sacks. Verse in specific showed up big, constantly bugging freshman quarterback Max Brown, who had 12 passing lawns in the second half. “We were never fretted,”defensive lineman Braden Fiske said.”3 points in the second half, that’s who we are. We know we’re a second-half group, we understand what we prep for, it’s what we get ready for all spring, all summer, all fall. “Rodemaker completed 12 of 25 for 134 backyards, but he had some substantial plays, including a fourth-and-3 completion to Ja’Khi Douglas that caused the consent basket in the 4th quarter. Perhaps even larger, or possibly more symbolic, Rodemaker rushed for 10 lawns on third-and-14 and took a shot to the head when he moved at the end of the play.He left the game for 2 plays. When he returned, he handed off to Benson for the clinching goal. “I wished to finish that game more than ever, for 13. It was substantial,” Rodemaker said.Florida State won at Florida for the very first time because 2017. Benson said afterward he had no idea, but he enjoyed getting to clip

  off sod from the field with Verse to take back to Tallahassee for their sod cemetery.While beating both their in-state competitors– Florida State beat Miami 27-20 on Nov. 11– for the 2nd straight year is a big accomplishment, the Seminoles will attempt to win their first conference championship because 2014 next weekend.

  Perhaps then they can put a full game together rather of relying on returns. “We still have a long way to go, “Verse said.”We still have to create a complete game. Always strive for greatness, it’s not how can we beat our rivals or if we beat this team or that team. It’s when are we going to play the ideal game where

  we reach our complete capacity? If we do that, I’m sorry for any person in the country, they’re going to need to get it.”