TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Ja’Khi Douglas had a 36-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter and Florida State defeated Cal 14-9 on Saturday in the Bears’ first Atlantic Coast Conference game.
Patrick Payton had three of Florida State’s seven sacks, the last when Marvin Jones Jr. and Edwin Joseph combined to sack Cal’s Fernando Mendoza on fourth down with 54 seconds left. The Bears had driven to the Florida State 23.
“We had to play with that relentless effort and not just worry about making the plays and stats,” Payton said. “I think the whole d-line and everybody made tremendous plays. Everybody played with that effort.”
The effort had often been lacking, or at least in question, during Florida State’s shaky start. The Seminoles opened in the preseason top 10, but they dropped three straight games.
On Saturday, they didn’t look like a top-10 team or even one worthy of contending for the ACC title. But the Seminoles (1-3, 1-2 ACC) were good enough against the Golden Bears.
“It’s been a tough first three weeks of the season, just disappointing in the beginning,” Florida State coach Mike Norvell said. “Going into this week, you say challenge, you say opportunity. We talked about bouncing back. We’re in control of that.”
Lawrance Toafili had season highs in carries (17) and yards (80) as well as a 2-yard touchdown. The senior was the Seminoles’ most consistent offensive option.
FSU’s DJ Uiagalelei was erratic, completing 16 of 27 passes for 177 yards but it was his touchdown pass to Douglas that gave the Seminoles the lead early in the fourth quarter. Uiagalelei led Florida State to just two touchdowns on 11 drives, hardly quieting the vocal critics.
But the Seminoles could enjoy a win in large part because Cal couldn’t finish drives with touchdowns. Ryan Coe made field-goal attempts from 51, 29 and 25 yards but also missed from 36 and 38 yards.
“We had plenty of opportunities,” Cal coach Justin Wilcox said. “We did not capitalize on it. They did. We have to find ways to score points. Nine’s not enough. I don’t care who you’re playing.”
Mendoza completed 22 of 36 for a season-best 303 yards for Cal (3-1, 0-1). The Miami native also had an interception.
Cal running back Jaydn Ott returned after missing a game due to injury, picking up 73 yards on 13 carries.
Florida State played without starting offensive tackles Jeremiah Byers and Robert Scott. Starting tailback Roydell Williams was also out.
California: While the Bears picked up 422 offensive yards, they missed two field-goal attempts of under 40 yards. Pre-snap penalties often hurt Cal drives.
Florida State: The Seminoles were held to just 284 offensive yards, the fourth straight game they couldn’t surpass the 300-yard mark.
Cal has a bye and plays host to No. 8 Miami on Oct. 5.
Florida State plays at SMU on Saturday.
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California quarterback Fernando Mendoza passes against Florida State in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Tallahassee, Fla., Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Wallheiser)
California head coach Justin Wilcox gestures next to Ryan Coe (40) in the first half of an NCAA college football game against Florida State in Tallahassee, Fla., Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Wallheiser)
TOKYO (AP) — Rescue workers searched for at least six people missing Sunday after heavy rain pounded Japan’s northcentral region of Noto, triggering landslides and floods and leaving one person dead in a region still recovering from a deadly Jan. 1 earthquake.
The Japan Meteorological Agency on Saturday issued the highest alert level for heavy rain across several cities in the Ishikawa prefecture, including hard-hit cities Suzu and Wajima on the northern coast of the Noto peninsula.
The agency has since downgraded the heavy rain alert, and kept landslide and flooding warnings in place.
In Suzu, one person died and another was missing after being swept in floodwaters. Another went missing in the nearby town of Noto, according to the prefecture.
In Wajima, rescue workers were searching for four people missing following a landslide at a construction site. They were among 60 construction workers repairing a tunnel damaged by January's quake.
The FDMA said another person was missing due to floods at a different location in the city.
NHK footage at a coastal area of Wajima showed a wooden house torn and tilted after it was apparently hit by a landslide. No injuries were reported from the site.
In Noto town, two people were seriously injured by a landslide while visiting their quake-damaged home.
At least 16 rivers in Ishikawa breached their banks as of Saturday afternoon, according to the Land and Infrastructure Ministry. Residents were urged to use maximum caution against possible mudslides and building damage.
By late afternoon Saturday, about 1,350 residents were taking shelter at designated community centers, school gymnasiums and other town facilities, authorities said.
About 50 centimeters (20 inches) of rain has fallen in the region over the last three days, due to the rainbands that cause torrential rain above the Hokuriku region, JMA said.
“Heavy rain is hitting the region that had been badly damaged by the Noto earthquake, and I believe many people are feeling very uneasy," said Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi.
Hayashi said the government “puts people's lives first” and its priority was search and rescue operations. He also called on the residents to pay close attention to the latest weather and evacuation advisories and take precautions early, adding that the Self Defense Force troops have been dispatched to Ishikawa to join rescue efforts.
A resident in Wajima told NHK that he has just finished cleaning his house from the quake damage and it was depressing to now see it flooded by muddy water.
A number of roads flooded by muddy water were also blocked. Hokuriku Electric Power Co. said more than 5,000 homes were still without power Sunday. Traffic lights were out in the affected areas. Many homes were also without water supply.
Heavy rain also fell in nearby northern prefectures of Niigata and Yamagata, threatening flooding and other damages and suspending train operations, including the Yamagata Shinkansen bullet trains, officials said.
A 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck the region on Jan. 1, killing more than 370 people and damaging roads and other key infrastructure. Its aftermath still affects the local industry, economy and daily lives.
This aerial photo shows the flooded Kawarada river and submerged area after heavy rain in Wajima, Ishikawa prefecture, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (Kyodo News via AP)
In this aerial photo, the car park of a municipal office is seen under water, after heavy rain in Wajima, Ishikawa prefecture, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (Kyodo News via AP)
A car is blocked by rocks covering a road, after heavy rain in Wajima, Ishikawa prefecture, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (Kyodo News via AP)
This aerial photo shows cars are submerged after heavy rain in Wajima, Ishikawa prefecture, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (Kyodo News via AP)
A car is blocked by rocks covering a road, after heavy rain in Wajima, Ishikawa prefecture, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (Kyodo News via AP)
This aerial photo shows the flooded area after heavy rain in Wajima, Ishikawa prefecture, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (Kyodo News via AP)
This aerial photo shows the flooded area after heavy rain in Wajima, Ishikawa prefecture, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (Kyodo News via AP)
A road is flooded after heavy rain in Wajima, Ishikawa prefecture, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (Kyodo News via AP)
