TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida State didn’t have many drives against Virginia Tech in a run-heavy night at Doak Campbell Stadium, but it made every one of them count.
The Seminoles scored touchdowns on four straight possessions, going at least 60 yards on each of them, to pull away in a 34-14 win against the Hokies on Saturday night.
In his third and final game against Virginia Tech — and first in an FSU uniform after transferring from Boston College — Thomas Castellanos accounted for 234 yards and three scores, getting two on the ground and throwing for another.
While most of Hokie Nation had already turned its attention to James Franklin watch, the result cemented what had long been assumed for the Hokies (3-7, 2-4 ACC) after they fired Brent Pry by mid-September following a disastrous start to the season: They’ll fail to qualify for a bowl for the second time in the last four years.
Florida State (5-5, 2-5 ACC) and embattled coach Mike Norvell, meanwhile, won in league play for the third time in the last two years and now sit one win shy of bowl eligibility with games at NC State and Florida remaining.
The Hokies ran for 238 yards, the most by a team against Florida State this season. Marcellous Hawkins went over the 100-yard mark for the second time this year, finishing with 101, and quarterback Kyron Drones toughed out 79 yards.
A lackluster passing attack again did in the Hokies. Drones finished 10-for-18 passing for just 125 yards.
Florida State also ran the ball well, churning out 237 yards on 46 carries. The Noles are the fifth team to reach 200 yards on the ground against the Hokies and the third opponent to do it in the last four games, joining Georgia Tech (268) and Louisville (235). Tech has allowed 12 rushing touchdowns in the last four contests.
In an odd result, the game featured no punts, a first for the Hokies going back to at least 1987. The previous low was two combined punts in a 1991 game against Akron.
The Seminoles extended a 10-7 halftime lead with a strong third quarter. FSU appeared as though it would have to settle for a field goal on its first drive after the break, facing a fourth-and-5 at the Tech 9. Jake Weinberg came on for a field goal, but Tech cornerback Thomas Williams jumped offside off the edge, making it a fourth-and-short.
It was one of eight Hokies’ penalties on the night for 59 yards.
The Noles instead went for it, moving the sticks on a 4-yard Randy Pittman run. Two plays later, Castellanos got into the end zone on a 1-yard run to push Florida State’s lead to 17-7.
The Hokies’ hopes of answering went south when Drones got sacked on a third-and-11 in FSU territory and lost a handle on the ball. Noles linebacker Blake Nicholson jumped on the loose ball at the 33, preventing Tech from even getting a long field goal opportunity.
Pittman, a tight end by trade, took a Wildcat snap from the 1-yard line on FSU’s next drive, powering his way into the end zone to give the Noles a 24-7 lead with 54 seconds left in the third.
Drones connected with Ayden Greene for an 8-yard touchdown with 11:20 to play, getting the Hokies within 24-14, but FSU, as it did all night, had an answer. Castellanos pulled a handoff and raced around the right edge for an 18-yard touchdown to push the lead to 31-14.
After a scoreless first quarter, FSU looked like it got in the end zone early in the second quarter when Duce Robinson went up over Williams on an 8-yard fade pattern. He had to re-secure the ball after initially reeling it in, however, and didn’t get his foot in, leading replay officials to overturn the touchdown call.
The Seminoles got a 26-yard field goal from Weinberg instead to make it 3-0.
Tech answered with a methodical 10-play, 75-yard drive, doing most of its damage on the ground before Drones swung a pass across the field to running back Jeffrey Overton, who weaved through the FSU defense for 36 yards. Drones powered his way in on the next play for a 4-yard touchdown to make it 7-3 Hokies with 5:35 left in the half.
FSU struck back with a quick 75-yard drive of its own, finding the end zone on a 50-yard hookup up the seam from Castellanos and Robinson, who ran over nickelback Joseph Reddish after catching the ball and cruising to the end zone for a 10-7 lead at the break.
Robinson finished with six catches for 134 yards.
Virginia Tech played without receiver Donavon Greene, who is no longer a member of the team, according to a team spokesman. He was removed from the team’s online roster this week. Greene’s abbreviated season with Tech ended with 16 catches for 274 yards and two touchdowns. He did not have a reception in his final three games.
Tech also played without defensive line coach J.C. Price, who did not make the trip due to a personal matter. A spokesman said the team expects him back soon. Assistant D-line coach and quality control coach Jan Johnson Jr. took on a larger role coaching the unit Saturday.
Box Score: Florida State 34, Virginia Tech 14
