Duke at Florida State: Gameday Open Thread

Duke travels to Tallahassee to face Florida State in the 2020 regular season finale.

Author:
Isaac Schade
Dec 12, 2020 2:05 PM EST

In a 2020 college football season featuring wild and unexpected twists and turns, the final Saturday of the regular season is no different. Duke has an opportunity to accomplish something never before done in the history of Blue Devil football: knock off Florida State.

The Seminoles come into today's game having not played in almost a month. Their last game was a 38-22 loss to North Carolina State on November 14 in Raleigh.

Each team has two victories to their credit. The Blue Devils hold wins over Syracuse (38-24) and Charlotte (53-19) while the Seminoles beat North Carolina (31-28) and Jacksonville State (41-24).

The Blue Devil offense will be looking to get back on track a week after being blanked 48-0 at home by Miami. That shouldn't be a problem as Florida State ranks last in the ACC in total defense and 13th in points allowed. Not only that, but the Seminoles are severely depleted on both sides of the ball.

On offense, the Seminoles get back quarterback Jordan Travis who has missed the previous six quarters of game action. Similar to last week against Miami's D'Eriq King, the Blue Devil defense will have their hands full with Travis, who is an electric athlete.

A historic win on the road would give Chase Brice positive momentum heading into his senior year.

Tune in at 4:00pm ET to join us as we keep track of the Blue Devils and Seminoles in the regular season finale.

The game will air on the ACC Network.

Game Thread

70 degrees at game time.
Duke to kick off.
FSU's 1st Drive

FSU will start at their own 25.
Jordan Travis showing off his legs on the first play from scrimmage with a 25 yard pick-up.
FSU's first 5 plays are all runs
A methodical 7-play, 75-yard drive puts Florida State ahead 7-0 with 12:09 to go in the first quarter.

Duke's 1st Drive

Nice return for Duke is nullified due to a block in the back. Blue Devils start on their own 8.
Blue Devils' first two offensive plays result in a two-yard loss and a hold. 2nd & 15 from the 3.
Nice 2nd down pick-up, but an incomplete pass on 3rd down leads to a punt.
FSU ball at the 50.

FSU's 2nd Drive (starts at 50, 10:35 on the clock)

Blue Devils are finally able to bring down Jordan Travis for the first negative offensive play of the game for FSU on 2nd & 4.
FSU picks up first down, but is negated by a block in the back. Brings up 3rd & 12.
Seminoles going for it on 4th & 1 after 11 yard pick-up on 3rd down. Corbin gains 3 yards on the ground. First down at the Duke 41.
Great TFL for DeWayne Carter to cause a three yard loss on 1st down. However, a deep pass on the next play puts FSU at the two-yard line.
Wildcat with Travis split out to the left of the formation. Corbin's 2nd effort nets FSU's second touchdown in as many drives. 14-0 FSU.

Duke's 2nd Drive (starts at own 19, 6:41 1st Quarter)

Eli Pancol tips a pass to FSU who returns the pick to the Duke 14.
Blue Devils add to their nation-leading 36 turnovers.

FSU's 3rd Drive (starts at Duke 14)

1 play and Jashaun Corbin punches in his second touchdown of the day. 21-0 FSU.

Duke's 3rd Drive (starts at own 26,5:46 1st Quarter)

Blue devils keep the ball on the ground for the first 2 plays. Loss of 2, gain of 3 for Durant.
Pass outside to Jalon Calhoun gives the Blue Devils their first 1st down of the day.
3 straight incomplete passes lead to another punt.

Duke currently has more penalty yards than yards gained on offense.
FSU's 4th Drive (own 35, 4:03 1st Quarter)

Jordan Travis is so good at extending plays. Smartly throws the ball out of bounds when necessary and on another play hits receiver on the sideline.
Another touchdown for the Seminoles. 26 yard run for Treshaun Ward. Noles now lead 28-0.

Blue Devils are down 4 scores with still 1:54 left in the first quarter. Time to go to work. Outscored 97-0 over the past 6 quarters.
Duke's 4th Drive (own 48, 1:44 1st Quarter)

Great return for Damond Johnson to the 48. Just what Duke needs to jump start some offense.
On cue, the offense puts together a 3-play touchdown drive. Pancol catches the 26-yard pass to cut into the FSU lead. 28-7 Noles.

Now it will be incumbent on the defense to get off the field.
FSU (5th | own 25 | 0:59 1st Quarter)
1st Quarter ends with Florida State completely in control. Blue Devils have responded, but now will need the defense to help out.
2nd Quarter begins with a 2nd & 7 for the Seminoles on their own 43.

Duke forces a fumble. This is exactly the play the Blue Devils were looking for.

Duke (5th Drive | FSU 44 | 14:51 2nd Quarter)

Duke keeps the ball after a review. Now need to march quickly down the field again.
Blue Devils moving, aided by a Florida State penalty.
Bad news: Durant limps off after a run. Keep your eyes on this.
Jake Marwede can't hang onto a pass and FSU grabs another interception.

FSU (6th Drive | FSU 7 | 13:29 2nd)

After a pass play is reviewed and ruled incomplete, Jordan Travis picks up 20 yards on a 2nd down scramble.
3rd & 12 coming up. Can Duke force a punt for the first time today?
No they can't. But it's because Nate Thompson makes a diving interception.

Duke (6th drive | Duke 36)

1 play - Durant is back in the game and breaks through the line and beats everyone to the end zone. Just like that the Blue Devils have cut the FSU lead in half - 28-14.

FSU (7th Drive | FSU 35)

Another 3 & out. Duke forces a punt for the first time today.

Duke (7th drive | 10:33 | Duke 15)

3rd & 1 at the 24. Can Duke pick it up?
Yes. Blue Devils have 1st down at their own 25. But then a five-yard loss on first down.
A second pass interference on Florida State gives the Blue Devils first down at the 26.
The ground game has been really effective for Duke and has helped turn the tide.
3rd & 5 at the Duke 48. Big play coming with 6:59 left before halftime.
Not only do they pick it up but Durant breaks another long run to the FSU 13.
Chase Brice has had two solid designed runs on this play, the second bringing the Blue Devils to the 1 yard line. Deon Jackson punches it in on the next play.

Duke has now scored 21 straight and are right back in this football game. Seminoles lead 28-21 with 5:14 left before halftime.
Everything changed after FSU's 4th touchdown when Coach Cutcliffe gathered the whole team at the same time as the Blue Devils had a long return.
FSU (8th Drive | 5:14 | FSU 25)

3rd & 8 for the Noles. Can Duke get off the field yet again?
Yes, they can. A sack for Drew Jordan brings on the punt team.

FSU's first 4 drives: TD, TD, TD, TD. FSU's next 4 drives: fumble, INT, punt, punt
Duke (8th Drive | 2:51 | Duke 31)

Hard to believe this is true but Duke has the opportunity to tie this game going into halftime.
4th & 1 at the FSU 49. 1:09 left before halftime. What does Coach Cutcliffe do?
Blue Devils decide to go for it. Really neat play where Noah Gray goes under center and draws FSU offside. First down at the FSU 44.
There's a pause in action while FSU attends to Fabien Lovett who has been down for awhile. UPDATE: Lovett is walking to the locker room under his own power.
Duke draws a third DPI of the first half. This is fortunate because Brice threw a bad ball. First down Blue Devils at the FSU 18 with 0:42 left.
Back-to-back holding penalties bring up a 1st & 30 for Duke at the FSU 38. At this point you hope to just get back into field goal range.
ANOTHER flag. ANOTHER hold on Duke. 1st & 40. 0:26. Ball on FSU 48.
Brice throws it away on 1st & 2nd down.
Duke decides to kneel down and send it to halftime down 7.

When FSU held a 28-0 lead:

Total Yards: Duke - 18, FSU - 199
First Downs: Duke - 1, FSU - 11

Since:

Total Yards: Duke - 231, FSU - 45
First Downs: Duke - 14, FSU - 2

Duke (9th | 14:54 3rd Q | Duke 26)

Chase Brice takes a huge hit on the sideline and fumbles. Brice is down and being attended to. FSU recovered the fumble. Play is under review.
Ruling is confirmed.

FSU (9th | Duke 29)

Two plays later, Jordan Travis is in the end zone. FSU scores for the first time since the first quarter but now has a two score lead.

Chase Brice looks like he is done for the night.
Duke (10th | 12:52 3rd Q | Duke 27)

Freshman Luca Diamont in at quarterback.
2 runs and a sack. Blue Devils will have to punt.

FSU (10th | 11:19 | 3rd Q | FSU 45)

Noles methodically moving the ball down the field.
FSU punches it in. 8 plays, burned 3:45 of clock. Back to a three-score game. 42-21 Noles.

Duke (11th | 7:34 | 3rd Q | Duke 25)

The time is now if the Blue Devils are going to make a final push.
Diamont still in at QB.
Diamont picks up a first down with his legs. Ball at Duke 36.
Interception for FSU's Travis Jay at the Duke 46. Yet another turnover for the Blue Devils - 4th of the day.

FSU (11th | 5:51 | 3rd Q | Duke 46)

Noles continue to run clock. In the red zone. Under 3:00 in the 3rd.
Blue Devils are able to bring Jordan Travis down and FSU will have to settle for a field goal.
Miss! Score holds at 42-21 with 1:31 left in the 3rd.

Duke (12th | 1:31 | 3rd Q | Duke 20)

Diamont back out there.
3rd and 3 from 28. Have to have a first down. Diamont run is short, so Blue Devils will contemplate going for it on 4th & 1 heading into the 4th Quarter.
Noah Gray picks up the first down. Drive continues.
Diamont can't handle the snap but is able to fall on it, 12 yards behind the line of scrimmage. Diamont picks up 4 yards on 3rd down and the Blue Devils will have to punt.

Things were already trending in a negative direction, but the Blue Devils haven't been able to do much of anything offensively since the injury to Chase Brice.
FSU (12th | 13:24 | 4th Q | FSU 26)

First play is a pass to a WIDE OPEN Ja'Khi Douglas for a 68-yard touchdown. This is getting out of hand. 49-21 Seminoles.

Duke (13th | 13:15 | 4th Q | Duke 33)

Diamont has two nice runs on this drive. 23 and 11 yards. Would be an encouragement to punch one in here.
Touchdown! Deon Jackson connects with Dennis Smith for a 29 yard strike on a handoff from Diamont.

FSU (13th | 11:43 | 4th Q | FSU 27)

Bad news. Another one-play touchdown drive. Lawrance Toafili takes it 73 yards for the score. Unbelievable. 56-28 Noles.

Duke (14th | 11:28 | 4th Q | Duke 23)

3rd & 8 for the Blue Devils. We're back to a 28 point margin, just like the first half.
And nothing doing - Durant loses about 5 yards. Bring on the punt team.

FSU (14th | 9:42 | 4th Q | FSU 32)

New QB in for Florida State - Tate Rodemaker. Don't expect any throws though given the game script.
Noles allow Rodemaker to make a couple throws. Both are off target. Brings up 4th & 8 on the Duke 33 so Noles will go for it. Nice screen play, but comes up short. Duke takes over on downs.

Duke (15th | 7:28 | 4th Q | Duke 27)

Diamont completes a 4th & 9 to keep the drive going. Duke into the red zone at the 14 yard line. 3:22 to go.
Diamont threads the needle and has the Blue Devils with 1st & goal from the 3.
Diamont has to come out after his helmet falls off, so Daniel Carlin comes in and sneaks the ball across the goal line.