Daniels Runs for Five Touchdowns as Florida State Downs Virginia 38-7
The short version
- Florida State defeated Virginia 38-7 on Oct. 3 at Doak Campbell Stadium, improving to 3-2 with its first ACC win.
- Ashton Daniels rushed for 136 yards and five touchdowns and completed 12 of 19 passes for 183 yards.
- The Seminole defense made 10 sacks and held Virginia to 206 total yards and 37 rushing yards.
- Ja'Bril Rawls left the game with an injury.
- Florida State visits Louisville on a Friday night before facing Miami.
Florida State improved to 3-2 with its first ACC win of the season, riding five rushing touchdowns from Ashton Daniels and a 10-sack defensive night against Virginia.
Florida State earned its first conference win of the season on Oct. 3, defeating Virginia 38-7 at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee. The result moved the Seminoles to 3-2 and above .500. After a flat opening quarter, Norvell's team controlled the final three periods.
Quarterback Ashton Daniels did most of his damage on the ground. The senior ran for 136 yards and five scores, setting a school single-game mark for rushing touchdowns at the stadium and narrowly missing the program's best rushing day by a quarterback. He added 183 yards through the air on 12-of-19 passing, with his lone interception coming on a second-quarter throw that trailed Jayvan Boggs. Accuracy on deep balls and timing against pressure remain areas to address.
As a unit, the Seminole offense produced 465 yards, 281 of them on the ground at 6.1 yards per carry. Ousmane Kromah's third-down run, on which he shed several tacklers, gave the offense favorable field position, and a lengthy screen pass to Tre Wisner led to Daniels' first touchdown. Florida State gained 218 yards before halftime and took a 17-7 lead into the break. Micahi Danzy led the receivers with four catches for 70 yards, Wisner added two for 60, and the line opened holes all evening even while surrendering four sacks and drawing several holding flags.
Defensively, coordinator Tony White's group held Virginia to 206 total yards and 37 rushing. Consecutive sacks from JuJu Wynn and Mandrell Desir swung the game, and the Cavaliers managed minus-18 yards in the second quarter. Beau Pribula passed for 168 yards and a touchdown but was under fire all night as Florida State registered 10 sacks, two by Rylan Kennedy, with Chris Jones a persistent presence in the backfield. Virginia went 3-for-15 on third down and 0-for-4 on fourth, and a late turnover capped the defensive effort.
On special teams, punter Daniel Hughes averaged 47.2 yards on five punts, including a 65-yard boot that backed Virginia up deep in its own end. Jasen Lopez broke off a 31-yard punt return that just missed going for a score, though his judgment on fielding punts or letting them bounce still needs refinement.
The turnaround after the opening quarter reflected the coaching staff's approach. Norvell's plan stressed a physical, aggressive style on both offense and defense, and the roster carried it out over the final three quarters.
One setback from the night involved Ja'Bril Rawls, who exited with an injury. No further details were provided.
The schedule stiffens from here. Florida State plays at Louisville on a Friday night, with Miami to follow over the next two weeks, a stretch that will say more about where the Seminoles fit in the ACC race.
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