Marshall’s big night leads NC State past Florida State, to bowl eligibility :: WRALSportsFan.com
Florida State Seminoles
11
North Carolina State Wolfpack
21
Final
RALEIGH — NC State was without six defensive backs due to injuries for Friday night’s home game against Florida State. Cornerback Devon Marshall did his best to make up for the absences.
Marshall, one of three NC State defenders to start every game this season, had six pass breakups and two interceptions as NC State defeated the Seminoles 21-11 on Friday night at Carter-Finley Stadium.
“He’s tough,” NC State coach Dave Doeren said. “He’s a competitor. He wants to be coached. He wants to be pushed. He wants opportunities to make plays.”
NC State (6-5 overall, 3-4 in the ACC) earned its sixth win of the season, securing bowl eligibility for the sixth straight year.
Marshall, a 5-foot-11 senior who entered the game with 11 pass breakups on the season, was matched up against Florida State receiver Duce Robinson (6-foot-6, 223 pounds) for most of the night. Robinson had four catches for 76 yards on a game-high 13 targets. The Seminoles didn’t complete a pass to a receiver Marshall was defending until the fourth quarter despite repeated attempts. He picked off a final desperation heave for his second interception.
“I got a feel for them after the first drive,” said Marshall, who said the tendencies he studied on film played out on the field.
The Wolfpack got some help from the visitors, too.
With NC State leading Florida State 14-11 in the fourth quarter, the Seminoles (5-6, 2-6) botched two punt returns in the final minutes of the fourth quarter that kept them from having a chance to tie the game or take the lead.
The first, on a short punt by NC State, hit a Florida State player in the helmet, bounced back nearly 30 yards and was recovered by Wolfpack punter Caden Noonkester. The second, just minutes later, was muffed by Florida State returner Squirrel White. NC State recovered deep in FSU territory.
A lucky play, no doubt.
“Thank you God for that one,” Doeren said. “To see Caden Noonkester recover a fumble was like the craziest thing ever because that’s the one dude on our team that wants no contact.”
Noonkester said he used his past experience as a soccer goalie on his fumble recovery slide.
“Glad I had that in my bag of tricks,” he said.
Florida State dropped an interception on the play before the muffed punt. And the Seminoles missed two field goals, costly miscues.
NC State scored a game-clinching touchdown with the short field when quarterback CJ Bailey connected with Justin Joly for a 12-yard score on fourth downs.
The Wolfpack were without safeties Rente Hinton, Daemon Fagan and Brody Barnhardt and defensive backs Isaiah Crowell, Jaren Sensabaugh and Jamel Johnson. Johnson had started every game at cornerback this season.
Cornerback Jackson Vick was flagged for targeting in the first quarter, but the call was overturned after a replay review. It was fortunate, Doeren said, because the Wolfpack is nearly out of players at some positions.
“We didn’t have anyone else to put in the game,” Doeren said. “I don’t know what we would have done there.”
After Marshall’s first-quarter interception ended Florida State’s first drive, NC State scored on the ensuing possession on a 23-yard pass from Bailey to wide receiver Terrell Anderson to take a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter.
Florida State added a field goal early in the second quarter. The Seminoles had a 17-play drive that ate up more than half of the second quarter, but missed a 35-yard field goal to end the drive.
NC State added to its lead with a long 15-play, 79-yard drive that consumed almost nine minutes in the third quarter, capped off by a 1-yard touchdown run by quarterback Will Wilson – the team’s short-yardage rusher. Wilson had six carries for 26 yards on the drive, including a fourth-down conversion on a fake punt from the NC State 30.
“Scared money don’t make money,” Doeren said.
Florida State quarterback Tommy Castellanos completed 8-of-20 passes for 79 yards in the first three quarters, but picked it up in the fourth quarter. He finished 16-of-32 for 203 yards and one touchdown. Castellanos rushed for 76 yards, Florida State’s best offense for most of the night.
“We felt like we haven’t put a full game together as a defense, and I feel like we did that,” said linebacker Caden Fordham, who had 15 tackles. Fordham’s father played at Florida State and his younger brother is committed to play for the Seminoles.
The Seminoles scored on a 10-play, 86-yard drive in the fourth quarter and converted on the two-play try to cut their deficit to 14-11.
The Seminoles fell to 0-4 on the road this season. Florida State hasn’t won an ACC road game since 2023, a span of eight games. NC State has won six of its last seven against Florida State.
“There is no quit here,” Doeren said.
And then he turned his attention to next week when NC State hosts rival North Carolina. NC State has won four straight against the Tar Heels.
“I expect a crazy, crazy ass crowd next week,” he said. “I mean crazy. 730 kick on Saturday night Thanksgiving week against the baby blue.”
Then Doeren, perhaps already celebrating, held up a red plastic cup.
“Cheers.”
Scoring summary
First quarter
NCSU — Terrell Anderson 23 pass from CJ Bailey (Kanoah Vinesett kick), 2:56. Drive: 9 plays, 73 yards, 5:05. Key plays: A Florida State pass interference call on third-and-3 from the FSU 27 kept the NC State drive alive. NC State 7, Florida State 0.
Second quarter
FSU — Jake Weinberg 46 field goal, 14:06. Drive: 10 plays, 52 yards, 3:44. Key plays: NC State cornerback Devon Marshall broke up a pass in the end zone to thwart the Seminoles’ drive. NC State 7, Florida State 3.
Third quarter
NCSU – Will Wilson 1 run (Vinesett kick), 4:17. Drive: 15 plays, 79 yards, 8:59. Key plays: Wilson converted on fourth-and-1 with a 4-yard rush up the middle at the NC State 30. NC State 14, Florida State 3.
Fourth quarter
FSU — Duce Robinson 9 pass from Tommy Castellanos (Jayvan Boggs pass from Castellanos), 8:17. Drive: 10 plays, 86 yards, 4:42. Key play: Castellanos finally completed a pass against Marshall, a 34-yarder down the left sideline on third-and-6 from the NC State 44. NC State 14, Florida State 11.
NCSU — Justin Joly 12 pass from Bailey (Vinesett kick), 1:47. Drive: 4 plays, 16 yards, :34. Key play: On fourth-and-6 from the Florida State 12, NC State went for it rather than kicking a field goal. Bailey found Joly in the end zone for a game-clinching TD. NC State 21, Florida State 11.
