The Daily Nole

Cook Runs Past Dunn as FSU Handles Orange

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Dalvin Cook rushed for 225 yards and four touchdowns Saturday to surpass Warrick Dunn as Florida State’s all-time leading rusher and helped the Seminoles rout Syracuse 45-14 at the Carrier Dome.

The 17th-ranked Seminoles (8-3, 5-3 ACC) scored on their first two possessions and never looked back. Quarterback Deondre Francois, who finished the day with 315 yards passing and an interception, threw touchdowns to Nyqwan Murray and Travis Rudolph on the first two FSU possessions.

The next four FSU scores came from Cook, who found the end zone on runs of 25, 11, 17 and eight yards. Cook entered the day needing just 19 yards to surpass Dunn as the school’s all-time leading rusher. Cook eclipsed Dunn on his second carry of the day which went for 41 yards and a first down. Cook did lose a pair of fumbles.

FSU outgained Syracuse by a nearly 3-to-1 margin, amassing 654 yards to the Orange’s 233. Both Syracuse scores came on passes from junior Zack Mahoney, who started in place of the injured Eric Dungey. Mahoney got the Orange on the scoreboard with a 46-yard Hail Mary completion to Amba Etta-Tawo on the final play of the first half to make it 21-7.

Mahoney’s second touchdown pass came after Murray muffed a punt for FSU. The junior found Ervin Philips for a 17-yard score with 4:27 to play in the third quarter to cut the FSU lead to 35-14.

Etta-Tawo came into the contest leading the ACC in catches and receiving yards, but was held to two catches for 58 yards. Philips had seven catches for 63 yards to lead Syracuse (4-7, 2-5 ACC). FSU’s Auden Tate led all receivers with 77 yards receiving on five catches.

The teams combined for six turnovers with a season-high four coming from FSU. Mahoney was intercepted twice. Sophomore cornerback Tarvarus McFadden recorded his eighth interception of the season, which is now tied for the second most in Florida State history, in the end zone to thwart an early Syracuse scoring opportunity. Converted receiver Ermon Lane also recorded his first career interception in the win.

Florida State wraps up ACC play with the victory and will conclude the regular season next Saturday at home against rival Florida. Syracuse’s season will end next Saturday at Pittsburgh.

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

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