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How Florida State football's Joshua Farmer knew 'it was over' against LSU | The NoleBook

ehsan kassim, tallahassee democrat
·5 min read
Florida State Seminoles defensive lineman Joshua Farmer (44) celebrates a sack during a game against the LSU Tigers on Sunday, Sept. 3, 2023.

Joshua Farmer said LSU offensive lineman Mason Lunsford made a mistake during the fourth quarter of Sunday's FSU blowout victory over the Tigers.

It wasn't a tactical mistake where he missed a block on Farmer, who finished with three total tackles and a sack of LSU QB Jayden Daniels of seven yards.

No, rather the mistake was a strategic and psychological blunder.

"Number 78 told me, 'Man ya'll are good up front,'" Farmer recalled Lunsford saying. "He told us that in the second half. You don't tell a D-lineman that. It was over when we heard him say that.

"...You don't tell me that because I am going to impose my will against you all game."

Rising: Florida State football makes big jump into top 5 in AP and US LBM Coaches polls

The Seminoles - who moved into the top 5 in both the US LBM Coaches and Associated Press polls - limited the Tigers to just 97 yards of total offense in the second half until a 75-yard touchdown with less than two minutes left swelled the Tigers' final stat line.

The defense finished with four sacks, five tackles for loss and two key fourth-down stops in the first half and cornerback

Renardo Green added an interception of Daniels, which came with LSU crossing midfield and threatening to even the score at 24.

FSU rotated players on the defensive line all game, with Farmer playing 24 of the 65 defensive snaps, per Pro Football Focus. Jared Verse played 45, Patrick Payton 49 and Fabien Lovett 20, as other notable defensive linemen.

"It helps a lot," Farmer said of the depth on the defensive line. "Because you have to go hard, you just have to hone in. We were wearing them down. In the second, third and fourth quarters, we started to get to them a lot for (tackles for loss) and sacks.

"So that helped, staying fresh earlier in the game."

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LSU-FSU brings in huge viewing ratings

Sunday's contest between the Tigers and Seminoles averaged 9.1 million viewers on ABC.

According to SportsPro Media, viewership was up 22% on last year’s matchup and the game peak was 10.3 million viewers.

According to ESPN, the FSU's blowout victory was the most watched Labor Day Sunday game since 2016, while also being the second-best on record.

Here are observations from the Democrat writers in attendance for Tuesday's practice ahead of the Week 2 matchup against Southern Miss (1-0). (Kickoff: 8:30 p.m., ACC Network).

Observations from FSU's Tuesday practice ahead of Southern Missn

  • Scouts from the Indianapolis Colts and New England Patriots were in attendance today.

  • During 7vs7 drills indoors, Azareye’h Thomas recorded a PBU on a throw from Jordan Travis. Keon Coleman had a catch one play earlier. Ryan Fitzgerald connected on a 41-yard field goal

  • CJ Campbell began the next drive with a good run. He added another run two plays later. In between, Malcolm Ray got in for a sack of Tate Rodemaker, ending the play by touching Rodmaker.

  • In 11vs11 drills outdoors, Travis uncorked a pretty deep ball to Johnny Wilson, who dropped the ball which hit him in stride. Wilson also had issues with two drops against LSU on Sunday.

  • Jaheim Bell ran a good route to get wide open and hauled in a pass from Travis.

  • Brock Glenn had a couple of nice passes, throwing to Winston Wright for a long gain and then hitting Darrion Williamson in stride for another good catch and throw.

  • Ashlynd Barker with good penetration on a safety blitz to blow up a running play.

  • In a fourth down drill, Travis is hit with good pressure up the middle, finds a hole when he scrambles and goes in for a score.

  • During live field goals, both Fitzgerald and Tyler Keltner are perfect on kicks for 31 and 41-yards out.

  • Destyn Hill catches a ball with Renardo Green tight in coverage. It was similar to a ball that he was unable to finish against LSU going to the turf.

  • Kentron Poitier runs a comeback route to get open and hauls in a pass.

  • Coleman on a comeback route, catches a pass from Travis on a route from Travis.

  • Rodney Hill cuts inside the middle for a long gain down the middle. Would have been TD if live.

  • Thomas breaks up a pass from Glenn intended for Burrell but Thomas is there for PBU

  • Quindarrius Jones records a nice PBU on a throw from AJ Duffy. Knocked the ball out of the receiver's hand as he tried to come down with it.

  • Edwin Joseph picks off Glenn on a throw. Glenn was late on the throw.

  • Travis to Coleman, again. Picking up where they left off. The commotion is going to be fun all season.

  • Travis to Bell. Bell was able to get wide open on a well-run seam route. The transfers are building good rapport clearly.

  • AJ Cottrill records good PBU on Travis's pass to Markeston Douglas. Great throw and catch from Travis to Williamson.

  • Williamson got wide open and made the snag on a great pass from Travis. Overall a good practice from Williamson.

GAME INFORMATION

Who: AP No. 4 FSU (1-0) vs. Southern Mississippi (1-0)

When/where: Saturday, Sept. 9, 8:30 p.m.; Doak Campbell Stadium.

TV/Radio: ACC Network/94.9 FM

Live game updates: www.Tallahassee.com; @JackGWilliams on X/Twitter; @Ehsan_Kassim on X/Twitter; @JimHenryTALLY on X/Twitter; @__liamrooney on X/Twitter.

Reach Ehsan Kassim at ekassim@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter at @Ehsan_Kassim. You can also follow our coverage on Facebook (NoleSports) and Instagram (tlhnolesports).

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU football: Joshua Farmer, Seminoles defensive line dominate LSU