FSU Tops Warhawks to Become Bowl-Eligible, 42-10

For the 36th year in a row, Florida State is going to a bowl game. The Seminoles kicked off the post-Jimbo Fisher era on the right foot Saturday with a 42-10 win over Louisiana-Monroe in a game previously postponed because of Hurricane Irma.

The Seminoles (6-6) opened and closed the game with 21 unanswered points. The 10 points for Louisiana-Monroe (4-8) came in between.

For the first time since last September, FSU had two rushers go for more than 100 yards on the ground. Jacques Patrick finished with 155 yards rushing and Cam Akers ran for 117 yards. Both carried the ball 19 times and both scored twice. Ryan Green also rushed for a touchdown in a contest where the Seminoles finished with 305 yards on the ground.

Louisiana-Monroe quarterback Caleb Evans passed for 262 yards and a touchdown in the loss. R.J. Turner scored the team’s only touchdown on a throw from Evans following the second of two interceptions thrown by FSU quarterback James Blackman. ULM receiver Marcus Green finished with a game-high 106 yards receiving.

Blackman finished the day 14-for-22 passing for 199 yards with the two interceptions. Blackman also threw a touchdown pass to D.J. Matthews — the first of the freshman’s career. FSU finished with 504 yards of offense to ULM’s 300.

The Seminoles improve to 1-0 under interim head coach Odell Haggins and will find out where they’ll be headed for bowl season by Sunday. Louisiana-Monroe’s season is over.

Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson