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FSU football unable to execute, slow Hurricanes in blowout loss to Miami | 3 takeaways
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- FSU football unable to execute, slow Hurricanes in blowout loss to Miami | 3 takeaways
MIAMI GARDENS -A sea of orange in the stands and black jerseys on the field washed away Florida State football Saturday night as Miami beat the Seminoles 36-14 .
FSU was unable to execute anything effectively in front of a sold-out crowd at Hard Rock Stadium as the Hurricanes improved to 8-0 .
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The loss snaps FSU's three-game win streak over the Hurricanes and drops FSU to 1-7 this season. Luke Kromenhoek replaced Brock Glenn in the first quarter and he finished the game 6-of-14 for 61 yards, adding 71 rushing yards to lead FSU on the ground.
Glenn finished 5-of-18 for 54 yards and one touchdown. Miami's Cam Ward finished the game 22-of-35 for 208 yards.
"A disappointing result in that game," FSU head coach Mike Norvell said. "The game means so much to this program, university, past players, all Florida State Seminoles . I apologize for the outcome of that game."
The Hurricanes outgained FSU 439-248 in total offense. The Seminoles have yet to record over 300 yards of total offense this season and haven't scored more than 20 points since the Georgia Tech game in week zero.
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The Hurricanes opened the scoring with a seven-play, 67-yard scoring drive. Mark Fletcher punched in a one-yard rush to give Miami the lead.
Miami added an 18-yard Damien Martinez touchdown to go up two scores. The Seminoles turned to Kromenhoek on the third drive and he led a touchdown drive.
Oct 26, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Hurricanes running back Damien Martinez (6) runs with the football for a touchdown against the Florida State Seminoles during the fourth quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
A fourth-down quarterback sneak turned into a 42-yard gain for Kromenhoek. FSU couldn't get into the endzone on three tires before Caziah Holmes scored on a short rush on fourth and goal to make it 14-7.
Miami drove down the field and added a field goal before halftime to go into the break up 17-7.
The Hurricanes controlled the second half, and while there were no touchdowns until the end, Miami was happy to add a few field goals. Kicker Andres Borregales nailed a pair of 40-yarders in the third quarter.
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Ward caught, yes caught, a touchdown in the fourth quarter and Martinez added one more score to secure the blowout. FSU added a touchdown from Glenn to Malik Benson in the final seconds.
Here are three takeaways from FSU's 36-14 loss to Miami
Luke Kromenhoek can't save FSU from embarrassing offensive showing
It wasn't a pretty game for the Seminoles offense, in fact, it was one of the worst offensive showings of the season.
Kromenhoek gave FSU some of its better quarterback play this season, however, it didn't matter.
He entered the game and immediately led a scoring drive, with his 42-yard run on fourth down setting up FSU with its best field position of the night. He followed that play with an 11-yard scramble to set up first and goal. After three failed attempts the Seminoles got into the endzone on Holmes's short run.
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"Luke's doing a really good job. He's learning a lot. Each of those game situations and scenarios that show up are going to be monumental for him and his future" Norvell said. "When he went in, obviously he was able to create things with his legs. Drove us down, able to get into the endzone. Wanted to continue to give him a few series and opportunities there when we got into the fourth quarter."
Kromenhoek wasn't able to lead another scoring drive as FSU posted its lowest scoring total of the season.
While the true freshman provided some strong moments for the Seminoles, he wasn't able to overcome a strong Miami pass rush as he spent most of his snaps running away from pressure and looking for short checkdowns or throwing the ball away.
Glenn led FSU down the field for a late scoring drive, going 12 plays for 75 yards for a touchdown.
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The late score saved FSU from its lowest point total since the 63-3 loss to Georiga in the Orange Bowl and the lowest regular-season total since a 30-7 loss to Syracuse in 2018.
"I like how they both when their moment came, they did what they could," Benson said about the quarterbacks. "A guy like Luke stepping up as a freshman and a guy like Brock keeping his calm."
The Seminoles' defense couldn't get off the field
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 26: Wide receiver Isaiah Horton #2 of the Miami Hurricanes rushes after a reception ahead of defensive back Kevin Knowles II #3 of the Florida State Seminoles during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on October 26, 2024 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
The inability to get off the field on third down has been a struggle for the Seminoles all season, and it was again present vs. Miami.
The Hurricanes went 8-of-14 on third downs and even picked up three fourth-down conversions. FSU forced Miami into a couple of third-and-long situations and still couldn't get off the field, with a third and 20 at the end of the first half a glaring missed opportunity.
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"We knew he was going to scramble around and try to find guys down the field. We should have been better at getting him on the ground," linebacker Omar Graham said. "Our technique in the back seven, we should have been better. The whole defense should have been better, we should have been playing better."
"Those are huge plays," Norvell said on third downs. "A couple of different elements that showed up in those moments that we got to be better. We've got really good guys out there that have played a lot of football. We have to be better in those situations."
'Miami was on the field for a minimum of five minutes or more on four of its seven scoring drives. The Hurricanes drained the clock and were able to run tempo and keep FSU's defense on the field for multiple plays at a time.
Miami didn't look downfield much, favoring shorter throws and runs in the middle of the field. The Seminoles had very little answer for Miami despite keeping Ward's improvisation to a minimum.
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Sloppy penalties and execution
Oct 26, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Hurricanes wide receiver Isaiah Horton (2) runs with the football ahead of Florida State Seminoles defensive back Quindarrius Jones (16) during the second quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
FSU committed eight penalties for 65 yards and lacked sharp execution on both sides of the ball.
The Seminoles committed two illegal substitution penalties, having too many men on the field twice in the first half to give Miami free yards. FSU gifted the Hurricanes multiple first downs on penalties, wiping off two third-down stops in the process.
"There were a couple of different communication issues there," Norvell said. "It's unacceptable."
The offensive line struggled again and was unable to match up well against Miami's pass rush with the Hurricanes getting to either Kromenhoek or Glenn on seemingly every play.
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FSU struggled to execute any game plan, and there was a lack of adjustments by the coaching staff. That allowed the Hurricanes to control the flow of the game from start to finish.
Liam Rooney covers Florida State athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at LRooney@gannett.com or on Twitter @__liamrooney
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU football vs. Miami takeaways, Seminoles struggle to execute
