For four quarters, Wake Forest gave Florida State all it wanted, but the Seminoles made enough plays to pick up the homecoming win at Doak Campbell Stadium on Saturday, 17-6.
The contest was hardly a thing of beauty as the two teams combined for seven turnovers. FSU had a season-high four — two each from running back Dalvin Cook and quarterback Deondre Francois. For the FSU defense, cornerbacks Marquez White and Tarvarus McFadden each intercepted Wake Forest quarterback John Wolford, who was under constant pressure on Saturday afternoon. It was White’s first pick of the year and McFadden’s FBS-leading fifth.
More than 26 and a half minutes in, the score was knotted 3-3 with Ricky Aguayo and Mike Weaver trading field goals for FSU and Wake Forest, respectively. With 3:16 to play in the second quarter, Francois scored the game’s first touchdown on a 2-yard scamper. Francois finished the day 22-for-37 passing for 319 yards, two total touchdowns and an interception.
FSU nearly extended its lead right before the half as Francois completed a Hail Mary to Travis Rudolph for 58 yards, but Rudolph was stopped just short of the goal line. Rudolph had a career-day for the Seminoles, finishing with 13 catches for 238 yards receiving.
After consecutive FSU turnovers to start the second half led to a Wake Forest field goal to make it 10-6, Francois capped a 96-yard drive with an 11-yard touchdown strike to Auden Tate — his team-leading fourth touchdown grab of the year. Neither team scored in the fourth quarter.
Cook rushed for 115 yards on 25 carries for the Seminoles (5-2, 2-2 ACC), marking the fourth straight game he eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark, but lost a pair of fumbles. Francois also lost a fumble that returned to the FSU 20-yard-line, but the defense held for the Seminoles as Weaver’s 40-yard field goal attempt to make it a 1-score game clanked off the left upright with 5:03 remaining.
Wide receiver Cortez Lewis was the biggest weapon for a Wake Forest (5-2, 2-2 ACC) offense that finished with just 252 yards. Lewis finished with six catches for 106 yards.
Wolford was just 16-for-34 passing for 184 yards. The Demon Deacons’ rushing attack was held to just 68 yards on 32 carries.
After allowing its first four FBS opponents to average more than 42 points per game, the Seminoles have held each of their last two opponents under 20. Saturday marked Wake Forest’s fifth straight trip to Tallahassee where it failed to score a touchdown.
Both teams will be idle last week before returning to action on Oct. 29. The Demon Deacons will host Army. FSU will remain home to take on Clemson.
Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson
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