FSU 21, Alabama 13: Seminoles looking to pull off upset on the road

Well, that’s not a first half that many were expecting.

Florida State currently leads Alabama 21-13 in a lightning-delayed matchup. After first seeing kickoff pushed back, the game was suspended with 2:36 left in the first half immediately following an Alabama touchdown.

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From the first drive on, Florida State hasn’t looked anything like it has in the first two games of the season — a major compliment. The Seminoles have consistently generated negative plays and pressure in the backfield, shutting down Alabama on third down while excelling on the offensive side of the ball, especially through the air.

Quarterback Ashton Daniels, while throwing an ill-timed interception early on, has been the catalyst for multiple explosive plays. Currently, he’s 7-for-8 with 156 yards and a touchdown, including a score on the ground. Ousmane Kromah scored the Seminoles’ second touchdown.

Alabama, 1-for-11 so far on third down, has largely been unable to deal with the defensive game plan Tony White has been overseeing. The Tide have been able to pull off some big plays through the air when Keelon Russell has found receivers downfield with rushers in his face, but through 30 minutes, nothing has come easy.

The Crimson Tide finally found the endzone on a touchdown drive towards the end of the second quarter, going 75 yards in 12 plays.

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Meanwhile, the Seminoles are averaging 10.8 yards per play (22.3 per completion) and have apparently shaken off their third-down woes, currently converting 100% (4-for-4) against an Alabama defense that entered the day leading the nation in third-down conversion percentage.

When play resumes, FSU will have 2:36 left in the second quarter to try to add onto its lead and then begin the second half on offense. There will be no halftime.

FSU 21, Alabama 13: Halftime stats

Total Yards: FSU 216, Alabama 169
Pass Yards: FSU 156, Alabama 142
Rush Yards: FSU 60, Alabama 27
Penalties: FSU 0-0, Alabama 2-10
1st Downs: FSU 8, Alabama 9
3rd Downs: FSU 4-4, Alabama 1-7
4th Downs: FSU 0-0, Alabama 2-2
Total Plays: FSU 20, Alabama 33
Avg Yds/Play: FSU 10.8, Alabama 5.1
Avg Yds/Completion: FSU 22.3, Alabama 10.1
Avg Yds/Rush: FSU 5.0, Alabama 1.9
Sack-Adj Rush Yds (Avg): FSU 60 (5.0), Alabama 38 (2.9)
Red Zone: FSU 3-3, Alabama 1-1
Time of Possession: FSU 9:54, Alabama 17:30
Turnovers (Def. Points Off): FSU 1 (3), Alabama 0 (0)
Fumbles-Lost: FSU 0-0, Alabama 0-0
Sacks (Def. Yds): FSU 1 (11), Alabama 0 (0)
TFL (Def. Yds): FSU 6 (19), Alabama 2 (3)