Saturday two familiar coaches faced off for the first time in the NDL. Second year FSU coach SGC and first year Duke coach SnealShiesty have plenty of history which would add a little more fuel to this ACC showdown. FSU has had a rough start to the season, starting 2-3 while Duke has started 4-2 with a couple of upset wins. Duke is fresh off a loss to conference leading Georgia Tech and looking to get back on track this weekend against Florida State.
FSU gets the scoring started with a 1 yard rushing TD on a 4th and goal from the 1. Duke looked to lean on the rushing attack early as they rattle off a couple of first downs but eventually stall out. FSUs defense continued to disrupt the Duke offense with a forced fumble and locking down the passing game. Finally after forcing a couple of punts Maalik Murphy connects with Jordan Moore to tie it up 7-7. Following the TD drive the Duke defense gets in on the action and takes an interception 46 yards to the house to take a 14-7 lead. FSU eventually ties the game in the second quarter. A minute and some change left before halftime and the Duke defense steps up again with their second interception of the game. Unfortunately for the Blue Devils, Murphy finds himself under pressure and tosses a ball up for grabs that FSU was able to come down with. They go down and kick a field goal before the half to take a 17-14 lead.
The second half gets under way and its all Seminole defense the rest of the game. Dukes offensive line had absolutely no answer for Patrick Payton and the stout FSU defensive line. Murphy was pressured time and time again leading to a career high 7 interception game. SEVEN! The Duke offense wasnt able to get anything going, leading to their defense being on the field way too often in the second half. The Blue Devils did show a little life late in the 4th quarter scoring a quick TD to cut the lead to 34-21. Duke was able to recover the onside kick. Needing to get down the field quickly, Murphy tried forcing a ball deep to a blanketed receiver and ended up throwing an interception that sealed the victory for Florida State. Ultimately Duke couldnt make the adjustments on offense they needed to make to offset a tremendous pass rush that shut down drive after drive. Duke drops to 4-3 on the season and the road to the ACC title game looks less and less likely.
The Blue Devils look to bounce back with games at SMU in week 9 and at home against Miami in week 10. The road ahead for Duke is a tough one but coach Shiesty said he and his team are going to take it week by week as they still have hopes of making it to the conference championship. On to week 9.
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