How Deuce Spann's kick return touchdown changed the game in FSU's 38-20 win over Duke

Chants of "Deuce, Deuce, Deuce," filled the Florida State football locker room Saturday night at Doak Campbell Stadium following a 38-20 victory over Duke.

Redshirt junior Deuce Spann was chosen by Seminoles head coach Mike Norvell to break the ceremonial rock following his pivotal second-quarter 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against the Blue Devils.

Norvell felt the return was the moment the game changed for his team.

"When I saw green grass, I just knew I was going to score," Spann said. "So it felt real good."

The moment possibly changed the trajectory of the season for No. 4 FSU (7-0, 5-0 ACC).

The Seminoles were down 17-7 early in the second quarter. Jordan Travis had just thrown a pick-six, allowing the Blue Devils to seize momentum early. FSU was in desperate need of a spark.

Spann provided it.

"When he hit the seam, I knew nobody was going to catch him," Norvell said. "That was the momentum we needed. It was a huge boost to our team."

Following Spann's return FSU outscored Duke 24-3. The Seminoles shut out the Blue Devils in the second half.

The victory could prove crucial for the Seminoles to maintain its undefeated record and keep the program firmly in the sights of the College Football Playoffs.

Stepping into a new role for Deuce Spann

Spann started the season listed behind Winston Wright on the depth chart for kick returns. However, when Wright left the program following a victory over Virginia Tech, Spann's role expanded.

He, along with running back Rodney Hill, served as the kick returners against Duke.

"We had worked hard at that all practice, we just trained it in practice and then when it came to the game, Coach Norvell said before the game I was going to take one back," Spann said. "It just happened."

The kick return was the second in as many years for the Seminoles. Running back Trey Benson returned one for a score last year against Boston College. FSU had not returned one for a touchdown since 2013 prior to Benson.

Spann impressed his cousin and teammate Jaheim Bell with his return.

"I was very proud when he did that," Bell said. "I knew he was gone after he broke that little shoelace, ankle tackle, I knew he was going in. But he did kind of scare me when he first caught it and he stumbled, I thought it was going to get bad. But he stayed toes down and got up out of that, and I couldn't be more proud."

Senior Braden Fiske, who was on the kick return unit when Spann scored his touchdown, said that the attention to detail on special teams is something that separates the Seminoles in tight games.

With Keon Coleman staring on punt returns and players like Spann and Hill taking kickoffs, Fiske wants to see the Seminoles continue to make plays on special teams.

"It's huge for the game. That was a huge spark for us in that game, we needed that," Fiske said. "What that did taking us into the second half was huge, and what that does going forward and the weapons that we have to put back there, the opportunities are going to be there to make plays like that. We've just got to keep capitalizing on them."

Liam Rooney covers preps sports for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at LRooney@gannett.com or on Twitter @__liamrooney

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Special teams, Deuce Spann kick return for touchdown change game for FSU