Nyqwan Murray gave Orlando an early jolt, but the Pirates couldn’t hold off Green Bay in a wild one at the Kia Center.
The Green Bay Blizzard beat the Orlando Pirates 52-50 on Sunday, July 5, in Orlando, handing the Pirates an even tougher road in the playoff race. Orlando had been unbeaten at home before the loss, but the late swing left its postseason hopes hanging by a thread.
Murray, the former Florida State receiver, made his mark quickly. He caught a 26-yard touchdown from Paxton DeLaurent in the first quarter and finished with two receptions for 30 yards and a score. He also had one carry for minus-one yard.
DeLaurent did plenty of damage for Orlando despite the defeat. He completed 11 passes for 124 yards and threw three touchdowns, while also adding 12 rushing attempts for 48 yards and two more scores on the ground.
The Pirates had to keep chasing after Green Bay came out hot. Liam Thompson hooked up with Trevon Alexander on the Blizzard’s first offensive snap, and Thompson added another touchdown pass before the first quarter ended. Orlando answered through Murray, but Green Bay kept piling on in the second quarter, including multiple touchdown catches by Thomas Ownens, to take a 35-23 lead into halftime.
Orlando made its push after the break. The Pirates ran for three third-quarter touchdowns and scored 20 points in the period, trimming the deficit to 45-43.
Then came the brief surge that gave the home crowd hope. DeLaurent punched in a 10-yard scramble in the fourth quarter to put Orlando ahead 50-45. But Green Bay answered late, and a Pirate turnover helped close the door.
Pooka Williams powered the Blizzard with 122 rushing yards on 24 carries and three touchdowns. Defensive back Leon O’Neal led Orlando with 11 tackles, including one for a loss.
The loss leaves the Pirates with two games remaining, and they’ll try to stay alive in the playoff chase when they face the San Antonio Gunslinger on July 11 at the Freeman Coliseum.
Former Florida State quarterback James Blackman did not participate for Green Bay. Blackman played at Florida State from 2017-20 and established himself as one of the top 12 quarterbacks statistically. Ja’hki Douglas also did not play for the Blizzard; the former Florida State receiver was with the Noles from 2020-24 and finished his college career with 1,597 all-purpose yards and nine touchdowns.
Murray played at Florida State from 2015-18, starting 18 games and finishing with 12 touchdowns and 1,854 career yards.
In Other News...
A Beloved Part Of Doak Game Day Is About To Change
For 16 years, Woody Hayes has been one of the most familiar voices inside Doak Campbell Stadium, helping set the tone on Florida State football Saturdays and becoming part of the rhythm of game day for Seminoles fans. The university acknowledged that long run and his contributions when it confirmed a change is coming to the public address role for home football games.
Hayes will still be around FSU athletics, continuing as the announcer for the mens and womens basketball games, but the shift leaves a notable piece of the football experience in transition. It is the kind of behind-the-scenes change that does not alter the scoreboard, yet it can still be felt by a fan base that has heard the same voice echo through the stadium for years. [Read more 🡒]
Another In-State Recruiting Snub Just Put Florida State On Notice
Florida States push to build out its 2027 and 2028 recruiting classes has run into another in-state speed bump, and this one stings because of how much time the Seminoles have already invested. Cornerback Kahmaree Crumity has been a frequent presence around Tallahassee, with multiple recent visits and a background that made him look like a natural local target for the staff.
Instead, the latest cut in his recruitment left Florida State on the outside looking in, a reminder that proximity and familiarity do not guarantee a finish. The Seminoles are also dealing with the fallout from four-star safety Mekhi Williams, whose decision to leave Florida State and land at Miami adds another layer to a recruiting picture that has started to feel uncomfortably familiar. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State May Finally Be Showing A Real Rebuild Signal
Florida States offseason has already started to look different with the hiring of John Garrett as general manager of player personnel, a move that gives the program a revamped front office at a time when Mike Norvells future remains unsettled. The immediate recruiting picture is still rough, with the 2027 class lagging behind where the Seminoles want to be, but there is at least a sense that the groundwork for something longer term is being laid.
The earliest sign of that shift is coming in the 2028 cycle, where Florida State has begun showing real interest in quarterback Chandler Dyson and appears to be positioning itself well in the race for his commitment. It is far too early to call that class a fix-all, but for a program searching for any credible rebuild signal, getting in early on a quarterback target of that caliber matters. [Read more 🡒]