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Florida State’s Defense Grinds Out a 16-10 Win at Pittsburgh
By Sadie Calloway
Photo: Cbaile19 / Wikimedia Commons (CC0)
Florida State moved within one victory of bowl eligibility Friday night, using a defensive performance and three field goals from Gabe Panikowski to defeat Pittsburgh 16-10 at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The Seminoles improved to 5-5 overall and 3-4 in the ACC, winning their second consecutive game under interim head coach Rick Stockstill. Florida State is now 2-0 under Stockstill and has posted back-to-back road victories for the first time since 2023. One more win would make the Seminoles bowl eligible and put them in position for their first bowl appearance since 2023.
Pittsburgh fell to 6-4 and 3-4 in the ACC on its Senior Night.
On a cold night with temperatures in the mid-30s, the game developed into a defensive contest. Florida State finished with 260 yards of offense, while Pittsburgh gained 306 yards on 71 plays.
Panikowski accounted for Florida State’s first six points, connecting from 37 and 27 yards to give the Seminoles a 6-0 lead. Pittsburgh answered before halftime when freshman quarterback Corey Dailey threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Ja’Kyrian Turner, sending the Panthers into the break ahead 7-6.
Dailey, a third-string true freshman making his second start with Holden Geriner sidelined by a hip injury, finished 16 of 34 for 157 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
That interception produced the game’s decisive swing in the third quarter. A Dailey pass deflected into the hands of Florida State defensive lineman Rylan Kennedy deep in Pittsburgh territory. Freshman running back Amari Thomas converted the opportunity with a 1-yard touchdown run, giving the Seminoles a 13-7 lead and their only touchdown of the night.
Pittsburgh cut the margin to 13-10 with a third-quarter field goal, but Panikowski answered in the fourth with a 47-yarder to restore Florida State’s six-point advantage. The kicker remained perfect this season at 11-for-11 and is 26-for-26 in his career.
Florida State quarterback Ashton Daniels passed for 163 yards and protected the football, while the Seminoles’ defense handled the closing stages. Florida State finished with seven tackles for loss, two sacks and six quarterback hurries. The Seminoles also stopped Pittsburgh on downs three times in the second half, including on the Panthers’ final possession.
Florida State will host North Carolina State on Nov. 21 with bowl eligibility at stake. Pittsburgh will travel to Louisville on the same day.
Sadie Calloway
College Football, The Library Media
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