In a game that was rescheduled after being cancelled earlier this season, the Seminoles, who were led by Interim Head Coach Odell Haggins, became bowl eligible for the 36th straight year with their 42-10 win over UL-Monore. Haggins, who took over for Jimbo Fisher who recently left the school for the head coaching job at Texas A & M, got five rushing touchdowns from the Florida State offense, sparking the Seminoles' 6th win of the season.
The win was the Seminoles third straight win overall & with Florida State totaling 305 rushing yards, it was first time this year the Seminoles had two running backs breaking the 100 yard mark in the same game with Jaques Patrick running for 155 & Cam Akers getting 117.
Louisiana Monroe had the ball first but quickly punted after just three plays. And after a 16 yard punt return by Wide Receiver D.J. Matthews, the Seminoles took over from their own 39 yard line. Ten plays later, the Seminoles put the first points of the afternoon on the scoreboard when Patrick ran it in from two yards out, making it 7-0 Florida State.
Following the first touchdown of the game, Louisiana Monroe took the next possession into Seminoles' territory but the drive stalled. Meanwhile, Florida State tried adding to their 7-0 lead but Quarterback James Blackman threw an interception, giving the ball back to the Warhawks. And at the start of the second quarter, once again the Warhawks put together a drive that got them into Florida State territory. But instead of trying a field goal outside the redzone, the Warhawks went for it on a fourth & three but failed.
The turnover on downs not only was a change of possession, it led to the second touchdown of the game. After a big 35 yard pass play from Blackman to Patrick, the Seminoles lead jumped to 14-0 after Blackman threw a 14 yard touchdown pass to Matthews.
Florida State got the ball to start the second half & in less than three minutes had their third touchdown of the game, mainly on the backs of the running game. The second half opening drive ended when Akers trotted in from the four yard line, making the Seminoles lead 21.
Any thoughts of a Florida State shutout ended on the next drive when the Warhawks put another productive drive together with this one getting into the redzone. But unlike their other productive drives, this one for the Warhawks led to points when Kicker Craig Ford made good on a 28 yard field goal.
The points by the Warhawks seem to wake up their sideline & give them some more momentum. And they grabbed some more momentum when Blackman threw his second interception of the game, helping to set up the Warhawks touchdown, a six yard pass from Quarterback Caleb Evans to Wide Receiver R.J. Turner, shrinking the Seminoles' lead 21-10.
As for the Seminoles next drive after that last touchdown, they seemed to be awaken by giving up points because after a kickoff return from Running Back Amir Rasul that nearly got them to midfield, a 24 yard touchdown run by Akers, his second of the day gave Florida State a 28-10. And after forcing a three & out, Florida State used the running game again to get their fifth touchdown of the game, when Patrick joined his backfield mate Akers with his second touchdown of the game.
The Seminoles added another rushing touchdown, this one by Ryan Green, late in fourth quarter to cap the scoring for the afternoon.
Florida State will now await the bowl selection process to find out where they will have their opportunity to finish the season above .500, a place they have not been this season.