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Gators, Baugh run roughshod over FSU defense; 'Noles finish season at 5-7

On3 imageby: Ira Schoffel20 hours agoiraschoffel

GAINESVILLE — If Florida State’s administration was hoping its announcement that Mike Norvell is returning in 2026 would give the Seminoles an emotional lift on Saturday, that theory went out the window early.

Despite facing an interim head coach and a team that had won three games all season, Florida State fell behind early, never led and eventually fell to the rival Florida Gators, 40-21, before a crowd of 90,007.

Bruising UF running back Jaden Baugh rushed for 266 yards and two touchdowns on 38 carries, and the Gators racked up over 400 yards of offense in the victory. The Gators finished the year at 4-8, while Florida State fell to 5-7.

It marked the second time in Norvell’s tenure that Florida State needed a win in Gainesville to become bowl eligible but ended up losing to an interim head coach. The same scenario played out here in 2021.

Norvell has now had four losing seasons in his six years at Florida State head coach.

Saturday marked UF’s only victory this season under interim head coach Billy Gonzales; the Gators had lost all four of their previous games following the midseason dismissal of Billy Napier.

As has been the case in every Florida State road game this season, the Seminoles found themselves trailing by double-digits when DJ Lagway threw his second touchdown pass of the first half. That score gave the Gators a 17-7 lead midway through the second quarter, and they appeared to have a golden opportunity to add to that advantage when Tommy Castellanos fumbled at the UF 26-yard line.

Lagway repaid the favor, however, throwing an interception two plays later — on a pass that was deflected by cornerback Jerry Wilson and hauled in by Edwin Joseph. And on the fourth play of the ensuing drive, Castellanos ran in from 4 yards out to cut the Florida State deficit to 17-14 before halftime.

UF pushed its lead to 24-14 early in the third quarter after stopping Florida State on a fourth-and-1 on its own 40-yard line. The Gators needed just three plays — two strong rushes by Baugh and a 3-yard TD pass from Lagway to Hayden Hansen — to cash in.

Despite losing each of its first four games under Gonzales — and scoring just 11 points at home last week — the Gators looked sharp offensively against Florida State. UF scored on each of its first three possessions, including touchdown drives of 11 plays for 76 yards and 13 plays for 75 yards.

Florida State’s first score came after a nine-play, 75-yard drive that was capped off by a 13-yard pass from Castellanos to Micahi Danzy. The Seminoles’ final score came late in the fourth quarter on a 17-yard TD pass from Castellanos to Lawayne McCoy.

The Seminoles went 0-for-5 on the road this season and failed to win a game away from Doak Campbell for the second straight year.

The 40 points scored by Florida was the most for the Gators since a season-opening win over LIU. They had scored 24 points or less in nine of their other 10 games.

Stay connected with Warchant.com for complete post-game coverage.

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