Tomahawk strike at FSU football game in Dublin, Ireland
Florida State Athletics captured this video from the sidelines of Aviva Stadium before FSU played Georgia Tech on August 24, 2024 in Dublin, Ireland.
Contributed video by FSU Athletics
It will be a long journey back for the Florida State football team after the unexpected 21-24 loss to Georgia Tech in the season-opening international game in Dublin, Ireland.
A game-winning 44-yard field goal by Aidan Birr as time expired secured the victory for the Yellow Jackets.
Georgia Tech earned its first win over the Seminoles since 2020, which was also the program’s last victory over a ranked team.
It is the Seminole’s first ACC loss since 2022.
The Seminoles start the season 0-1 in both the overall standings and the ACC, while the Yellow Jackets proved to be dangerous in the ACC by defeating the 10th-ranked Seminoles.
Things didn’t go according to plan for Mike Norvell and his coaching staff in terms of play calling and game management.
Here are the grades for FSU’s season opener.
Offense: C –
FSU’s running game really got going early in the opening drive. The Seminoles utilized all four running backs and launched a 58-yard touchdown drive led by Lawarance Toafili and Roydell Williams. Toafili scored a 28-yard touchdown.
QB DJ Uiagalelei was efficient. Despite being on and off the field, he made game-winning throws on two consecutive fourth-down plays.
Uiagalelei completed 19 of 26 of his passes. Georgia Tech’s first seven overwhelmed the Seminoles’ offensive line, applying pressure and disrupting FSU’s backfield.
Despite a fast start to the running game, the Seminoles were limited to 98 yards. Wide receiver Ja’Khi Douglas led the way with four catches for 55 receiving yards.
Defense: D
The defense struggled to stop Georgia Tech’s run.
Georgia Tech’s offensive line overwhelmed FSU’s defensive line, which should be its strength, creating open spaces for running back Jamal Haynes. Haynes finished the day with 75 yards on 11 carries and two touchdowns.
The back line was on the ground, missing tackles in the open field and chasing the ball against the carrier. The defense allowed 336 yards. On the ground, the Yellow Jackets allowed 190 rushing yards.
Special Teams: A
FSU kicker Ryan Fitzgerald kept the game alive with his leg, making two 50-yard field goals in the first half. His 59-yard field goal tied the game at 14 and was the second-longest in FSU history. It’s also the senior’s career best.
After the first touchdown on the opening drive, FSU tried to score an extra point with a trick play. A throw to tight end Brian Courtney gave the Seminoles two points.
Edwin Joseph made an open-field tackle on an Alex Mastromanno punt, putting the Yellow Jackets at their 10th. The only disappointment on special teams was the Yellow Jackets’ game-winning field goal.
Coach: F
This was a gut punch for Norvell and his coaching staff, as they allowed the Yellow Jackets to outplay the Seminoles.
FSU’s time management during a two-minute drive proved costly after trailing 14-11. FSU had three timeouts remaining and only used one with 18 seconds left at GT’s 40. It took a full minute of the drive to reach a tie-breaking score.
No adjustments were made in the second half and FSU’s running game couldn’t respond to Georgia Tech’s run defense. Norvell had no choice but to throw some shots up front and relied on Uiagalelei to put some points on the scoreboard. And the Seminoles’ defense, especially up front, couldn’t record a sack and let Tech run at will.
CLEARLY = ACC
* = Neutral location
Peter Holland Jr. covers Florida State athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Reach him via email at [email protected] or at X @_Da_pistol.
