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‘Noles over Virginia Tech, 30-20

TALLAHASSEE - Penalties, penalties penalties.

Penalties have hurt the Seminoles in almost every game this season and the yellow flag appeared ready to doom the Noles early in Saturday's game.

However, a roughing the punter call against Virginia Tech (5-3, 2-2)with seven minutes left in the third quarter turned the game around for FSU giving the Seminoles their first victory against a team with a winning record this season.

FSU took the game 30-20 before a sell out crowd at Doak Campbell Stadium.

With seven minutes left in the third quarter, both teams had gone three and out a few times since the break. FSU (6-1, 3-1) dropped back to punt once again when Virginia Tech got called for that roughing the kicker call. The call gave an automatic first down to FSU.

That turned the momentum around and two plays later redshirt freshman Taiwan Easterling went over the top of two Virginia Tech defenders and snagged a circus-catch in the back of the end zone giving the Noles their first lead of the game at 17-13.

After forcing the Hokies to go three and out once again, FSU once again responded with a touchdown.

Holding onto the momentum in the game, FSU forced a fumble on the ensuing kickoff allowing senior kicker Graham Gano to kick his 12th straight field goal.

During the fourth quarter Gano kicked his third field goal of the game setting the FSU team record with 13 field goals in a row.

After all the years in which kicking has been an issue for the Seminoles, Gano has taken on the field goal duties this year after being the team's punter for the past three years and has added yet another offensive weapon to the Seminoles game plan.

While the penalty situation may have turned around for FSU, injuries became an issue.

Full backs Antone Smith and Jermaine Thomas both went out of the game with injures.

With the win and Wake Forest's loss to Miami, the Seminoles are technically tied with Maryland for first place in the ACC Atlantic Division. However, the difficult part of the Seminoles season is coming up.

FSU travels to face #18 Georgia Tech next week, faces an up and coming Clemson team at home November 8, hosts Boston College November 15, wraps up their ACC schedule November 22 at Maryland before the season-ending showdown at home against the Gators November 29.

FSU's only loss this season was at home against Wake Forest. However, the Deamon Deacons lost Saturday to Miami which allows the Seminoles to control their own destiny. If they win the rest of their ACC games they will travel to Tampa Bay for the ACC Championship Game.