By Bob Ferrante
Orlando Sentinel Correspondent
GAINESVILLE — A quarterback’s best friend often is an effective ground attack to complement the passing game. On Saturday night, in Tate Rodemaker’s second career start, the run game and a stifling defense were necessary.
Florida State rallied from a 12-point deficit, again showing the Seminoles’ response to adversity in a second half, as they took a 24-15 win at Florida. While much of the pregame attention was on Rodemaker, a fourth-year backup who stepped in for injured starter Jordan Travis, it was Trey Benson who produced three touchdown runs and a defense that allowed just a field goal after halftime.
The Seminoles (12-0) finished their first perfect regular season since 2014 after going undefeated in 2013. FSU also went 12-0 en route to the 1999 national title and 11-0 in the 1979 regular season. FSU next plays Louisville on Saturday in the ACC title game in Charlotte.
Here are three things learned from FSU’s victory:
Benson was often wrapped up — until he wasn’t
The junior ran 19 times for 95 yards in what was often a boom-and-bust night. He had a number of runs that were stopped for short gains or no yardage but also had touchdown runs of 1, 36 and 26 yards. When he was able to break through the line of scrimmage, Benson weaved between defenders or pinballed off them.
He has 14 touchdowns this season and five straight games with a TD run.
Benson has 10 touchdowns in four games against Miami and Florida, and perhaps it’s no coincidence the Seminoles are 4-0 in those games. He also had three rushing touchdowns vs. UF in 2022.
FSU’s defense was exceptional after shaky start
The Seminoles had trouble early adjusting to mobile quarterback Max Brown, who was able to make some plays with his legs. But FSU’s defense was impressive when the game mattered the most, holding Florida to just a field goal in the third quarter and the Gators had -15 yards on nine plays in the fourth quarter.
“I was really proud of our defense and the defensive staff for what they were able to do, especially there in the second half,” FSU coach Mike Norvell said.
The Seminoles delivered pressure frequently, tying a season high with six sacks. Jared Verse had 2.5 sacks while Patrick Payton had two.
Kalen DeLoach finished off the Gators with a fourth-down interception when UF trailed by nine points and was in desperation mode with 1:15 to go.
Brown finished 9 of 16 for 86 yards, the fourth time FSU has held an opponent under 100 passing yards.
FSU’s defense did not allow more than 20 points in the Seminoles’ eight games in October and November.
Rodemaker not polished but battled
Rodemaker looked more like a quarterback making his second start than one who has four years of college experience. He completed 12 of 25 passes for 134 yards, with four drives resulting in negative yards (including a safety). Not all of it was on Rodemaker but his struggles were evident from the start.
Some bright spots: Rodemaker was 4 of 6 on FSU’s touchdown drive late in the second quarter. That included a 29-yard completion down the seam to his friend since middle school, tight end Jaheim Bell.
On the opening drive of the third quarter, Rodemaker found Johnny Wilson for 12 yards and Keon Coleman for 24 yards. That set up FSU’s second touchdown.
Rodemaker was sidelined briefly by a head shot on FSU’s fourth-quarter touchdown drive but came back into the game and handed off the ball to Benson on the game-sealing drive.
“He just continued to answer the call,” Norvell said.
