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FSU opens ACC play with rout of Wake Forest

Sep 15, 2012 - 11:05 PM Tallahassee, FL (Sports Network) - Chris Thompson racked up 197 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns on just nine carries, as the No. 5 Florida State Seminoles rolled over Wake Forest, 52-0, at Doak Campbell Stadium.

"What a difference a year makes," FSU coach Jimbo Fisher said. "It's amazing. It can't happen to a better young man. I'm very proud of him today. I'm very proud of our team."

Thompson's outburst came 11 months after he suffered a career-threatening broken neck in a 35-30 loss at Wake last October.

EJ Manuel threw for 176 yards and two scores on 15-of-24 efficiency, also contributing 48 yards and a rushing score for the Seminoles (3-0, 1-0 ACC), who had beaten Murray State and Savannah State handily to begin the year.

Kenny Shaw and Rodney Smith posted TD receptions as Florida State accumulated 612 yards of total offense.

Tanner Price was limited to 82 passing yards on just 8-of-22 passing for the Demon Deacons (2-1, 1-1 ACC), who posted narrow wins over Liberty and North Carolina to kick off the season.

Wake Forest suffered the worst defeat against its conference foe since a 72-13 setback on Oct. 14, 1995.

The Seminoles' opening score was aided by excellent field position following a Wake Forest punt late in the first quarter. Stationed on their opponent's side of midfield, it took three plays and 47 yards to make it 7-0, thanks to Manuel's 16-yard run. Thompson carried on the first two plays, gaining 31 yards total.

After a three-and-out from the visitors, Rashad Greene raced 60 yards up the middle on a punt return for a 14-0 game, and Thompson punctuated an FSU drive early in the second with a 74-yard touchdown run along the right side.

Thompson had an even longer run, an 80-yard dash to the end zone, on the first play of the hosts' ensuing series, and the advantage ballooned to 28-0.

"I didn't know if I'd ever play again. I didn't know if I'd be walking straight," Thompson admitted.

The lead was increased by three after a 19-yard make from Dustin Hopkins, and a 20-yard connection from Manuel to Smith closed out the half at 38-0.

Shaw managed to get one foot in bounds at the back of the end zone for a 17- yard score inside the final minute of the third period.

Debrale Smiley's 18-yard scamper made it 52-0 early in the fourth to cap the rout.

Game Notes

Florida State also recorded 50-plus-point victories over Wake Forest on Nov. 15, 1997 (58-7) and Oct. 30, 1993 (54-0) ... The Seminoles lead the all-time series 24-6-1, including a 17-3-1 mark in Florida's capital ... Saturday's victory marked FSU's sixth by shutout over the Demon Deacons, following similar results in 1963-65, 1993 and 2010 ... Wake Forest picked up just seven first downs, 43 yards rushing and 126 yards of total offense.