By Manny Navarro, Grace Raynor and Alex Andrejev
The Invoice O’Brien period at Boston Faculty opened with a win as No. 10 Florida State fell to 0-2.
The Eagles’ offensive line dominated as Seminoles quarterback DJ Uiagalelei struggled Monday, going 21-for-42 for 272 yards with one landing and one interception. The loss marks the second for Florida State in as many video games to start out the 2024 season, with each upsets to unranked groups after Georgia Tech defeated FSU 24-21 of their season-opener in Eire on Aug. 24.
Boston Faculty put up 263 speeding yards in Monday’s 28-13 victory, led by Kye Robichaux (18 carries for 85 yards) and Treshaun Ward (12 carries for 77 yards). Ward additionally posted three catches for 61 yards and one receiving TD.
Welcome to BC, @9mxvi_!
80 all goal yards and a TD for 0️⃣.
📺 @ESPN pic.twitter.com/W25JCzd5nx
— Boston Faculty Soccer (@BCFootball) September 3, 2024
Eagles quarterback Thomas Castellanos went 10-for-16 for 106 yards with two TDs and no interceptions. He added 15 carries for 66 yards and one TD on the bottom within the victory.
Florida State, in the meantime, turns into the fourth AP High-10 ranked staff to start out 0-2 within the final 10 seasons. The others had been 2022 Notre Dame, 2020 Penn State and 2017 Florida State.
What’s flawed with FSU?
In a phrase: All the pieces. The Seminoles misplaced 10 gamers from final season’s ACC championship squad to the NFL Draft, together with three who earned first-team All-ACC honors and 6 others who had been on the second or third staff. A lot of these stars clearly haven’t been changed.
Uiagalelei has been unable to fill the sneakers vacated by Jordan Travis, and his accuracy down the sphere has been a constant difficulty. Uiagalelei has missed a number of open receivers in his first begins together with a memorable one in the long run zone late within the first half on Monday towards Boston Faculty.
However it’s greater than the quarterback. FSU has probably the most skilled offensive line within the ACC when it comes to profession begins, however the Seminoles haven’t opened many holes for his or her operating backs. After speeding for 98 yards and averaging solely 3.16 yards per carry within the opening loss to Georgia Tech, the Seminoles had 28 yards speeding by means of three quarters Monday and deserted the run after they fell behind by 15 factors.
The most important disappointment, although, has been the Seminoles entrance seven. Anticipated to have among the finest defensive strains within the nation, FSU was carved up for 190 yards and 5.28 yards per carry in its opening loss in Dublin and was shredded once more Monday by Boston Faculty.
FSU’s cross rush? The Seminoles had three sacks Monday — three greater than they’d towards Georgia Tech. Nothing actually has gone in line with plan. — Manny Navarro, faculty soccer workers author
Invoice O’Brien’s massive debut
The nationwide dialog this week can be centered round Florida State’s demise, and rightfully so. The Seminoles are already damaged and it’s not even Week 2. However give Boston Faculty props underneath O’Brien in his first sport with the Eagles. O’Brien was employed late within the teaching carousel and didn’t take over this system till Feb. 9. However he retained one of many extra explosive quarterbacks within the ACC in Castellanos, who gave the Eagles every part they may have requested for Monday night time. Castellanos performed inside the system and by no means tried to do an excessive amount of, however got here up big in conserving the chains shifting, particularly early. The Eagles had been additionally dominant up entrance, speeding for 263 yards on 52 carries. Florida State, in the meantime, barely ran the ball, choosing up simply 21 yards on 16 makes an attempt.
Boston Faculty was projected within the preseason to complete 14th within the ACC out of 17 groups. FSU was predicted to win the convention. Clearly, these projections had been off and the Eagles could also be higher than anticipated, whereas the Seminoles are already in turmoil. The Eagles have an enormous take a look at in two weeks towards Missouri, however for now, that is fairly the splash for the start of the O’Brien period. Boston Faculty is traditionally a tricky place to win, however he could be the man to assist the Eagles take the subsequent step. — Grace Raynor, faculty soccer workers author
Treshaun Ward has his second
Ward, Boston Faculty’s graduate operating again, transferred to the Eagles from Kansas State this offseason. However earlier than his one-year stint with the Wildcats, he spent 4 seasons at Florida State from 2019 to 2022. Monday marked Ward’s first time taking part in at Doak Campbell Stadium once more and he made certain to benefit from it.
Behind a dominant offensive line, the 5-foot-10, 190-pounder had averaged 6.4 yards per carry. With Boston Faculty operating the ball the best way they did Monday night time, anticipate this to be a power of the Eagles shifting ahead. — Raynor
Required studying
(Picture: James Gilbert / Getty Photographs)