It was the largest comeback in FSU history.
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FSU Kicker Ricky Aguayo, yes he is former FSU kicker Roberto Aguayo’s brother, also chipped in with 6 field goals.
“We did not deserve to win the game the way we played the second half”, Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze said.
Led by redshirt freshman Deondre Francois, who stepped into the starting quarterback role with senior Sean Maguire recovering from a broken foot, Florida State proceeded to score 33 unanswered points.
Webster needed to be carted off of the field, leaving the Rebels secondary to be picked apart by Francois and Florida State. You just got to have the willingness to come back. That’s what a game manager does; they’re playmakers.
Among the bright spots in the loss, however, was the collective play of the receivers at times.
Francois finished 33 of 52 through the air. “So I just kept chopping”.
For the Rebels (0-1), the old cliche was unfortunately true Monday: This game was simply a tale of two halves.
Francois did not split any time and put up video game numbers against the Ole Miss defense. Chad Kelly showed his flawless passing to gain the Rebels a TD in the first four minutes.
Florida State defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi (91) celebrates after recovering a MS fumble during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Monday, Sept. 5, 2016, in Orlando, Fla.
WHAT WE’LL BE TALKING ABOUT: It’s nearly inconceivable Florida State could score 33 consecutive points on Ole Miss.
The Seminoles certainly looked like it when the clock struck zero. The Seminoles forced Kelly into back-to-back turnovers early in the third quarter on an interception and a fumble on a hit by Walker. Engram was the Rebels’ leading receiver with nine catches for 121 yards.
Ole Miss slipped to No. 19 in The AP Top 25 poll Tuesday afternoon after the Rebels squandered a 22-point lead and lost to then-No. The Buccaneers gave North Dakota State a solid test in the FCS opener two weekends ago and demolished Kentucky State at home this past weekend.
“He’s a different guy, man”, running back Dalvin Cook said.
The Florida State Seminoles opened their college football season with a metaphoric punch to the mouth.
Ole Miss’ defense was led by defensive back Zedrick Woods with 11 solo tackles, but it wasn’t almost enough.
OC Dan Werner’s offense went form unstoppable to self-destructive quicker than you can say four turnovers, which is what the Rebels had in the game. The Seminoles host Charleston Southern on Saturday and then face another tough test on September 17 at No. 13 Louisville. Sometimes you just get beat. I kind of get it, though. The Florida State defense, after being embarrassed in the first half, simply overwhelmed Ole Miss after halftime.
Winston, who threw for 356 yards and scored six touchdowns in his first game in 2013, was on Florida State’s sideline during Monday’s game. Both were carted off the field at Camping World Stadium in the first half. “I was a first-time starter so had a lot of first-game jitters but then I settled down”.
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