FSU football, sick from flu, falls at home to NC State

TALLAHASSEE — Florida State couldn’t overcome a flu bug or North Carolina State in Saturday’s 28-14 loss at Doak Campbell Stadium.

An illness — not COVID-19 — that’s making its way around campus dented FSU’s depth. Starting quarterback Jordan Travis was among the players sidelined.

And FSU (3-6, 2-4 ACC) showed early just how much it missed him. With former UCF star McKenzie Milton at quarterback, the Seminoles’ offense struggled. FSU totaled 78 yards of offense in the first half. Its first seven drives: six punts and an interception.

The ‘Noles got on the scoreboard on the first drive of the third quarter thanks to the spark of a surprise onside kick. It was FSU’s first successful onside kick since 2009 (vs. Wake Forest). The Seminoles made the risk pay off when Milton scrambled around and hit Keyshawn Helton for a touchdown.

FSU’s defense was stout enough to keep the Seminoles in the game. The unit played well aside from a few costly breakdowns. The Wolfpack (7-2, 4-1) scored first on a 62-yard touchdown pass from Devin Leary to C.J Riley, and Trent Pennix broke two tackles on his way to a 45-yard score in the third quarter.

FSU cut the deficit to 21-14 midway through the third quarter when Jashaun Corbin spun out of a fourth-down tackle and dove into the end zone.

The Seminoles’ defense continued getting stops in the second half, but the offense could not convert. After FSU made it a one-score game, it failed to get past its 43 on the next three drives. The Seminoles went for it on fourth and 4 midway through the final quarter, but Milton’s pass fell incomplete.

The Wolfpack made that failure fatal. Leary hit Ricky Person on a third-and-10 screen pass. FSU defensive back Jarrian Jones missed the open-field tackle, and Person ran 43 yards into the end zone to put the game away.

FSU hosts rival Miami next week before closing the season at Boston College and Florida. FSU must win all three games to reach bowl eligibility.

• • •

Never miss out on the latest with the Bucs, Rays, Lightning, Florida college sports and more. Follow our Tampa Bay Times sports team on Twitter and Facebook.