Florida State finds momentum in rout of Central Arkansas

There was no upset scare at Doak Campbell Stadium on Saturday.

Florida State took care of business with a 34-7 victory over Central Arkansas, snapping a two-game losing streak and climbing back to .500 at 2-2. More importantly, the Seminoles closed September with momentum and now turn their attention toward a critical stretch of ACC play that could shape the trajectory of their season under coach Mike Norvell.

With the win, here’s how Florida State graded out against the Bears.

Ashton Daniels turned in another solid performance, completing 12 of 18 passes for 224 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.

Daniels looked comfortable operating the offense and continued to show confidence pushing the ball downfield. His connection with Jayvan Boggs was particularly effective, as the receiver finished with 122 yards and a touchdown.

The lone blemish came on an interception intended for running back Tre Wisner, a play that appeared to stem from a miscommunication between the two. Against an FCS opponent, Daniels still left some room for improvement in terms of overall polish and consistency.

Backup Kevin Sperry made his collegiate debut in the fourth quarter, completing 2 of 2 passes for 14 yards while helping Florida State close out the victory.

The Seminoles amassed 419 total yards and produced one of their most balanced offensive performances of the season.

Sophomore running back Ousmane Kromah was the standout. He consistently moved the chains, created scoring opportunities and finished with 86 rushing yards and two touchdowns on just 11 carries, averaging 7.8 yards per attempt.

Wisner added 39 yards on six carries, while Boggs recorded his first 100-yard receiving game. Duce Robinson also contributed with several downfield catches, and Florida State mixed in a few gadget plays featuring Micah Danzy.

Perhaps most encouraging was the performance of the offensive line. Florida State did not allow a sack and gave Daniels ample time to survey the field and attack vertically. The unit was equally effective in the running game, opening lanes that helped the Seminoles control the tempo throughout the evening.

Florida State’s defense surrendered just seven points and largely kept Central Arkansas contained, but the performance was not without flaws.

The Bears generated several explosive plays on the ground, and penalties frequently extended drives and kept the Seminoles on the field longer than necessary.

Despite being without starting defensive lineman Darryl Desir, the defensive front remained disruptive. Florida State recorded six tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks, including contributions from Rylan Kennedy and Mandrell Desir.

Kevin Wynn made the most of his first start of the season, while Ma’Khi Jones forced a fumble. CJ Richard led the team with eight tackles.

The biggest concern came from discipline issues. Nehemiah Chandler was flagged three times, including a penalty that helped set up Central Arkansas‘ lone touchdown drive.

One bright spot among the younger players was Antonio Cromartie Jr., who recorded a pair of tackles and nearly came away with an interception.

Florida State received a strong performance from its special teams unit.

Gabe Panikowski connected on both of his field-goal attempts, with a long of 31 yards. Punter Daniel Hughes’ lone punt traveled 49 yards and was downed inside the 20-yard line.

Jasen Lopen provided a spark in the return game with a 25-yard punt return, while Danzy stepped into the kickoff return role and helped execute a trick return that resulted in a 29-yard gain.

It was a clean and efficient night from a unit that has quietly become one of the Seminoles’ most reliable groups.

Norvell and his staff got exactly what they needed from Saturday’s matchup.

Florida State not only secured a much-needed win, but also gained valuable experience for several younger players who received extended snaps in the fourth quarter. The game plan was effective, the team appeared prepared and the Seminoles avoided the type of letdown performance that can occur against an FCS opponent.

The challenge now becomes sustaining that momentum as the schedule intensifies.

Florida State won’t earn many style points for beating an FCS opponent, but Saturday’s result was still significant. The Seminoles snapped a two-game skid, regained some confidence and showcased improvement on both sides of the ball in a game they were expected to control.

The road ahead becomes considerably tougher as ACC play intensifies in October, but Florida State enters the next phase of its season with renewed momentum, a healthier outlook and a chance to build on its most complete performance of the year.

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• Aug. 29: vs. New Mexico State, W 34-17

• Sept. 7: vs. SMU, L, 27-24

• Sept. 13: Bye

• Sept. 19: at Alabama, L 50-36,

• Sept. 26: vs. Central Arkansas, TBD

• Oct. 3: vs. Virginia, TBD

• Oct. 9: at Louisville, 7 p.m. (ESPN, Friday)

• Oct. 17: at Miami, TBD

• Oct. 24: Bye

• Oct. 31: vs. Clemson, TBD

• Nov. 7: at Boston College, TBD

• Nov. 13: at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m. (ESPN, Friday)

• Nov. 21: vs. NC State, TBD

• Nov. 27: vs. Florida, 3:30 p.m. (ABC, Friday)

Sept. 26: vs. Central Arkansas, TBD

Oct. 9: at Louisville, 7 p.m. (ESPN, Friday)

Nov. 13: at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m. (ESPN, Friday)

Nov. 27: vs. Florida, 3:30 p.m. (ABC, Friday)

Peter Holland Jr. covers Florida State athletics and Big Bend Preps for the Tallahassee Democrat. If you like to pitch a story on a high school athlete, don’t hesitate to get in touch with him via email at PHolland@Gannett.com or on X @_Da_pistol.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida State finds momentum in rout of Central Arkansas