Florida State running back Cam Akers rushed for 144 yards and four touchdowns as the Seminoles defeated Syracuse 35-17 on Saturday in Tallahassee, Fla.
Florida State (4-4, 3-3 ACC) started quarterback Alex Hornibrook ahead of James Blackman, who is 1-4 as the starter. The move paid off as Hornibrook led Florida State to touchdowns on the first two drives and finished with 196 passing yards with no turnovers.
The Orange (3-5, 0-4) dug themselves an early hole and could never climb out. They went to halftime down 21-3, and then Akers added his third rushing touchdown less than two minutes into the third quarter. That capped a 41-yard drive that began after Syracuse's onside kick went out of bounds to start the half.
Akers scored on runs of 23, 3, 6 and 7 yards. He carried 20 times and added two catches for 9 yards.
Syracuse's only touchdowns came late in the fourth quarter with the game already out of hand. Abdul Adams found the end zone from 2 yards out, and fellow running back Moe Neal scored on a 1-yard run. Adams finished with 11 carries for 56 yards, while Neal had 20 rushes for a team-high 74 yards.
Syracuse quarterback Tommy DeVito was 20 of 33 passing for 151 yards, and he was sacked seven times by the Seminoles' defense, which was led by defensive back Hamsah Nasirildeen, who paced Florida State with 17 tackles.
Syracuse had the nation's longest active streak of games with a takeaway at 21, but the defense failed to force a turnover Saturday. The Orange allowed 487 yards to Florida State.
Florida State's leading wideout was tight end Tre McKitty, who made four catches for 40 yards.
Florida State improved its all-time record against Syracuse to 11-2, including a 6-0 mark at home.
--Field Level Media
