Duke Football Dominates Florida State with 11 Tackles for Loss, 6 Sacks, and 4 Turnovers in 23-16 Victory

Duke Football Dominates Florida State

Duke secured a thrilling 23-16 victory over Florida State on Friday night at Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium, showcasing a dominant defensive performance. The Blue Devils recorded 11 tackles for loss, six sacks, and forced four turnovers, which translated into 17 crucial points.

The game's momentum shifted early when junior defensive back Chandler Rivers ignited Duke's defense with a 36-yard interception return for a touchdown, putting Duke ahead 7-3 late in the first quarter. Florida State's offense faltered soon after, as graduate linebacker Ozzie Nicholas forced a fumble on the very next play. The loose ball was recovered by graduate defensive end Ryan Smith, leading to a 2-yard touchdown run from graduate running back Star Thomas, extending Duke's lead to 14-3.

Duke continued to capitalize on Florida State's mistakes, with Nicholas intercepting a pass shortly after to set up a 27-yard field goal by junior kicker Todd Pelino. This streak of turnovers gave Duke a solid 17-3 lead.

The Seminoles managed to score a field goal before halftime, narrowing the gap to 17-6. However, they returned the second half kickoff for a touchdown, making it a close contest at 17-13. Duke responded with a 10-play drive that ended in a 44-yard field goal from Pelino, pushing their lead back to seven.

As the fourth quarter progressed, Florida State clawed back again with a 38-yard field goal, reducing Duke's lead to 20-16. But Duke's offense, led by Thomas, moved into scoring position, and Pelino added another field goal, extending the lead to 23-16.

In a nail-biting finish, Florida State threatened to tie the game, advancing to Duke’s 33-yard line. However, the Blue Devils' defense held strong, forcing a fumble recovered by freshman tackle Preston Watson with just over five minutes left. Duke's defense continued to shine, wrapping up the game with their sixth sack, sealing their sixth win of the season.

Duke improves to 6-1 overall and 2-1 in ACC play, while Florida State falls to 1-6 and 1-5 in the conference.

Next week, Duke will host No. 21/23 SMU on Saturday, October 26, with kickoff set for 8 p.m. on ACC Network. For the latest updates on Duke Football, follow the Blue Devils on social media by searching "DukeFOOTBALL."

Duke Football Dominates Florida State with 11 Tackles for Loss, 6 Sacks, and 4 Turnovers in 23-16 Victory