Florida State avoided yet another devastating home loss on Saturday as Syracuse kicker Cole Murphy’s 43-yard field goal sailed left as time expired and the Seminoles escaped, 27-24.
Freshman running back Cam Akers rushed for a career-high 199 yards and scored touchdowns of 54 and 63 yards as FSU (3-5, 3-4 ACC) collected its first home victory of the season. Syracuse quarterback Eric Dungey accounted for 278 yards passing and 109 yards rushing to go along with all three Orange touchdowns.
FSU’s James Blackman finished with 136 yards passing with a large chunk of that coming on a 51-yard scoring strike to Nyqwan Murray to get the scoring started on the opening drive for the Seminoles. Akers’ 54-yard touchdown run less than two minutes into the second quarter made it 14-0.
From there, the teams exchanged touchdowns and FSU took a 21-14 lead to the locker room. The Orange (4-5, 2-3 ACC) had a chance to tie late in the first half after D.J. Matthews fumbled a punt inside the FSU 15-yard-line, but Syracuse turned the ball over on downs.
After Murphy and Ricky Aguayo exchanged third quarter field goals, FSU led 24-17 after three quarters. Aguayo put the Seminoles up by 10 with a 38-yard field goal with less than seven minutes to play in the game , but Dungey found paydirt from three yards out with less than three minutes to play on the ensuing drive for Syracuse.
After a failed onside kick, the Orange were able to get a stop and the ball back before being forced to settle for the Murphy attempt after stalling at the FSU 25-yard-line. That’s when Murphy’s tying kick sailed wide. Entering the day, Murphy had missed twice all season. He was 1-for-3 on Saturday.
The ACC’s two leaders in receptions — Syracuse’s Steve Ishmael and Ervin Philips — each went for over 100 yards receiving. Ishmael finished with 12 grabs for a game-high 143 yards and a touchdown. Philips also caught 12 passes, but for 107 yards. Jamal Curtis scored the Orange’s first touchdown on a 47-yard reception — his only catch of the game — midway through the second quarter.
FSU safety Derwin James recorded his second career interception and first of the season in the victory.
The Seminoles will look to win consecutive games for the first time this season next week when they visit Clemson. The Orange will return home to face Wake Forest.
Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson
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