Florida State Ends Two-Game Skid With 34-7 Win Over Central Arkansas
The short version
- Florida State beat Central Arkansas 34-7 on Sept. 26 to improve to 2-2 (0-1 ACC).
- Ashton Daniels went 12-of-18 for 224 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
- Ousmane Kromah posted his fourth straight 80-plus-yard rushing game and scored twice.
- Jayvan Boggs set a career high with 122 receiving yards on six catches, including a 34-yard touchdown.
- FSU was penalized 10 times for 115 yards, and penalties set up Central Arkansas's lone score.
The Seminoles moved to 2-2 behind a sharp passing day from Ashton Daniels, two rushing touchdowns from Ousmane Kromah and a career game from Jayvan Boggs.
Florida State snapped a two-game losing streak with a 34-7 win over Central Arkansas on Sept. 26 at Doak Campbell Stadium, where the crowd was sparse. The victory lifted the Seminoles to 2-2 overall and 0-1 in ACC play.
The win carried extra meaning for head coach Mike Norvell, who beat his alma mater. Florida State also topped 400 yards of total offense for the second straight game.
Starting quarterback Ashton Daniels led an efficient afternoon, completing 12 of 18 passes for 224 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Every FSU drive with Daniels at quarterback produced points except the final possession of the first half, which ended when Central Arkansas's Ashtyn Williams picked him off. Kevin Sperry replaced Daniels in the fourth quarter and went 2-for-2 for 14 yards on his only drive, the lone non-scoring series for the Seminoles.
Ousmane Kromah ran for 80 or more yards for the fourth consecutive game and scored twice. He accounted for 86 of Florida State's rushing yards on gains of 10-plus yards and averaged 7.3 yards per carry. Duce Robinson and Jayvan Boggs also reached the end zone, with Robinson adding two catches for 52 yards.
The offense was defined by big plays. The Seminoles connected on seven passes of 15 or more yards for 238 yards and ripped off eight runs of 10-plus yards totaling 181. Florida State averaged 8.9 yards per play and 17 yards per completion.
Defensively, Florida State limited Central Arkansas to 248 total yards — 138 passing and 110 rushing — and allowed the Bears to cross midfield three times on nine drives. But penalties were a recurring issue, as the Seminoles were flagged 10 times for 115 yards, most of them on the defense.
Penalties directly contributed to Central Arkansas's only touchdown. After a facemask on a third-and-long stop extended a late second-quarter drive, a pass interference call placed the ball at the two-yard line, and Jalen Washington punched it in. Nehemiah Chandler was also called for roughing the kicker, and the offense drew several holding calls.
Jayvan Boggs turned in the best game of his career with six catches for a game-high 122 yards. He entered the contest with six receptions for 118 yards through three games this season. Three of his catches went for 25 or more yards, including a 34-yard touchdown in the third quarter, and four explosive plays accounted for 110 of his yards.
Florida State continues its schedule with a home ACC game against Virginia on Oct. 3, followed by road trips to Louisville on Oct. 9, Miami on Oct. 17 and later matchups including Clemson, Boston College, Pittsburgh, NC State and Florida to close the regular season.
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