Florida State shuts out University of Maryland, scores 63 points at home

The No. 8 Florida State University Seminoles defeated the No. 25 University of Maryland Terrapins in conference play 63-0 on Saturday at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee.

The Seminole defense was out to prove a point after Boston College scored 34 points last week.

The game started slow with both teams going three and out. FSU found the end zone with 8:54 remaining in the first quarter on a one-yard run by junior running back Karlos Williams.

The Noles’ (5-0, 2-0 ACC) offense continued to pound the ball in the second quarter. Devonta Freeman found the end zone on a five-yard touchdown run with 6:15 left in the half. FSU would score again just before halftime with a five-yard touchdown pass to Kelvin Benjamin, heading into halftime with a 21-0 lead against the Terps (4-1) (0-1 ACC).

FSU’s offense kept up the pace in the third quarter. Freshman quarterback Jameis Winston capped a 7-play, 94-yard drive to open the half, escaping a Maryland defender’s grip in the pocket and finding tight end Nick O’Leary in the corner for a 12-yard touchdown pass.

The Seminoles continued to dominate until the end of the game. The offense scored five more touchdowns and the defense shut out Maryland’s offense.

Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher was content with the Noles’ performance. He said they won in all three phases of the game.

“I thought the defense took the show,” Fisher said. “They dominated from start to finish.”

Winston also spoke on the defense’s performance, saying the theme in practice all week was starting fast.

“The defense was clicking,” he said. “They kept giving us the ball. When you give our offense the ball, something is going to happen.”

Winston’s day ended early after completing 23 of 32 for 393 yards and five touchdowns. FSU had 634 yards of total offense.

The FSU defense kept the Terps’ offense quiet all day, limiting them to only 234 yards of total offense.

The defense played well on every level. Senior defensive tackle Jacobbi McDaniel, who finished with three tackles, said he felt like the defense had something prove after giving up 34 points last week.

“We had to have a fast start,” McDaniel said. “People started to doubt us. We came together as a defense. Starting from this week off, we are going to play as a team.”

After a bye week, FSU will travel to South Carolina to play conference foe No. 3 Clemson University on Oct. 18. The Noles have not won in Death Valley since 2001.