20 Notes on Florida State's Victory over Cal Football

Here are 20 notes on various data points from the game.

• In its first meeting with Cal, Florida State improved its record against California teams to 4-2 and 2-0 at Doak Campbell Stadium. It was the Bears' first game as a member of the ACC.

• FSU improved its record to 3-1 against teams playing their first conference game in the ACC. The Seminoles also defeated Boston College in 2005 and Pitt in 2013.

• The Seminoles defense posted a season-high 7.0 sacks and 12.0 tackles for loss. The 7.0 sacks are the most of any team coached by Mike Norvell and match his record at Florida State from the 2023 ACC Championship Game win over Louisville. The 12.0 TFLs are the most for FSU since reaching 14.0 against the Cardinals.

• Patrick Payton set career highs with 3.0 sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss. Joshua Farmer added 1.0 sacks and 3.5 TFL, also a career high, while Marvin Jones Jr. added 2.0 sacks, also a career high.

• Edwin Joseph recorded his first career interception and capped Cal's comeback with a fourth-down sack (shared with Darrell Jackson Jr.) late in the fourth quarter. Joseph's interception was FSU's second of the season.

• Cal entered the game with only two turnovers on the year.

• Quindarrius Jones was involved in all three of FSU's pass breakups on the same second-quarter drive. They were Jones' first career PBUs and the most for a Seminole this season.

• Shyheim Brown led Florida State with 11 tackles, his second game this year with double-digit tackles.

• Ja'Khi Douglas caught four passes for 86 yards, including the game-winning 36-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. Douglas caught three passes – all on third down – for 70 yards on the touchdown drive.

• Lawrance Toafili opened the game with a 2-yard touchdown, his 18th touchdown and 14th run score, both of which are FSU's best among active Noles. He ran 14 times in the first half — matching his career-high for rushing attempts in a game — and finished the game with 80 yards on 17 carries.

• DJ Uiagalelei threw for 177 yards and scored a touchdown. In his career, Uiagalelei has thrown for 10,062 yards and is one of five active players to throw for 10,000 yards.

• Sophomore linebacker Blake Nichelson started his third consecutive game and set a career high with eight tackles.

• Jalen Brown caught a 16-yard pass on FSU's second drive of the game, the longest of his career. Brown's 29 receiving yards were a career high.

• Alex Mastromanno averaged 49.7 yards on six punts, including punts of 56, 56 and 52 yards and a 40-yard punt that was downed at the 2-yard line. He entered the week with an NCAA-record 49.8 yards per punt this season.

• Running back Sam Singleton Jr. made his first appearance of the season and ran twice for six yards.

• Florida State improved its record to 23-4 under Norvell when it led at halftime.

• Wide receiver Hykeem Williams made his first start in his 10th career game. He caught two passes for 22 yards.

• On offense, FSU's starters were quarterback DJ Uiagalelei, running back Lawrance Toafili, tight end Kyle Morlock, wide receiver Malik Benson, wide receiver Ja'Khi Douglas, wide receiver Hykeem Williams, left tackle Darius Washington, left guard TJ Ferguson, center Maurice Smith, right guard Keiondre Jones and right tackle Jaylen Early.

• On defense, FSU's starters were defensive end Patrick Payton, defensive tackle Joshua Farmer, defensive tackle Darrell Jackson, defensive end Marvin Jones Jr., linebacker DJ Lundy, linebacker Blake Nichelson, cornerback Azareye'h Thomas, cornerback Fentrell Cypress II, nickel Kevin Knowles, Buck Shyheim Brown and safety KJ Kirkland.

• Following the national anthem, a flyover was conducted by an MH-47G Chinook helicopter flown by the 3rd Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment from Hunter Army Airfield in Georgia.

*Information courtesy of Florida State Athletics

READ MORE: Florida State gets first win of season with 14-9 decision over Cal Football

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