|
|
FSU 37 MD 3
Overall: This one is a tough pill to swallow. We had everything you could ask for. A night game, national TV, an energized crowd, and blackout that was actually mostly black. Only one thing was missing. The only thing that didn’t turn out in our favor was having BC beat Wake, which meant had the Terps beat FSU, they still would have had to beat BC to get to Tampa. The Terps just didn’t show up. By the end of the night the, outcome was never in question, the blackout became an aluminum out as all but a thousand people or so were there until the bitter end. It is hard to imagine we were some of the few remaining people still left at the end. The excitement and euphoria that had been building all week, was gone in roughly a five and a half minute stretch of the second quarter that allowed FSU to go up 14-0 following the Da’Rell Scott fumble and return for a touchdown. You could feel it instantly once the replay had confirmed the fumble. It was over, the wind was out of the sails, or whatever your favorite metaphor is for impending disaster when you know it is over, even though the clock shows otherwise. It wasn’t that they lost, it was that they were totally dominated, didn’t make adjustments, and couldn’t stop the same 3 or 4 plays that FSU was running. On offense, we turned it over, in fact we had as many turnovers as points. It was just a fall flat on your face type of showing at the worst possible time scenario. Not unlike two years ago when we had Wake in town for a chance to go to the ACC Championship game and got dominated, it was the same thing this time around.
What does it all mean? Well we aren’t going to the ACC Championship game, but IF we win at BC this week, we can still get selected to a pretty good bowl, and get to 8 regular season wins, which wouldn’t be bad, it just stings that we were so close to having what could have been a great season.
Game Highlights: Honestly do we have to have this section each week? There is nothing that stands out to me as a highlight. I would like to say the crowd, but why does it take such a huge game to get the place sold out?
Game Lowlights: Man there isn’t enough time in a day to complete this section. Lets start with another nice drive, that gets us in to FG range, only to come away empty early in the game. That just kind of set the tone for the game. Da’Rell Scott’s inablility to hang on the ball has become a huge problem, that seems to be getting worse. He better be walking around campus carrying a ball all week long and all the students should be trying to strip him. Offensive line, is not getting away easy either. 6 sacks will do that for you. The Defense is also getting called out. The way they allowed BOTH the passing, and rushing QB to run all over them. The inability to make the first tackle is also a trend that has to stop.
Around the ACC:
Georgia Tech 41 Miami 23: I was really excited to watch this one, only to get bored early as GT ran all over the Canes. All you heard all week was how good Miami’s young defense was. I must have missed it.
NCST 41 UNC 10: This one is a real head scratcher. . .until you come across this stat. UNC 6 turnovers, NCST 0. Russell Wilson had a big day, and is starting to look like a QB to reckon with in the future.
Clemson 13 UVA 3. I am still stunned that we gave up 31 to UVA. Clemson hangs on to bowl hopes with the win.
BC 24 Wake 21: As discussed earlier, this win on a late BC TD combined with MD’s loss to FSU eliminated the Terps from the ACC Championship game.
VT 14 Duke 3. The good news is we get Duke next year finally. The bad news is this is not your early 2000’s Duke squad. Mark my word. We will struggle against them.
|