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Florida State rips Syracuse to complete perfect ACC slate

Nov 17, 2013 - 2:12 AM Tallahassee, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - Jameis Winston threw for 277 yards and two touchdowns while completing 19-of-21 passes in two quarters of action, as No. 2 Florida State completed its undefeated run through ACC play with a 59-3 demolition of Syracuse at Doak Campbell Stadium.

"I thought Jameis played exceptionally well," FSU coach Jimbo Fisher said. "He made good decisions, got the ball where he had to get it to to guys coming in and out of the right runs and checks. I thought he played a very efficient game today."

James Wilder, Jr. paced the rushing attack with 52 yards and a pair of scores on only three carries for the Seminoles (10-0, 8-0 ACC), who have contests with Idaho and rival Florida standing in the way of a perfect season heading into the ACC Championship Game.

Karlos Williams added 78 yards on four totes, while Kermit Whitfield posted a 74-yard TD run and Devonta Freeman contributed a score on the ground.

Kelvin Benjamin racked up 66 yards and a touchdown on six receptions, while Nick O'Leary caught a TD pass from Sean Maguire.

Maguire took over early in the third quarter and ended up 3-of-5 for 21 yards for Florida State, which improved to 10-0 for the first time since its national title campaign of 1999.

The rout came in the presence of former quarterback Charlie Ward and other members of the Seminoles' 1993 championship team, who were honored in a pregame ceremony.

Terrel Hunt was 10-of-18 for 75 yards and was sacked three times for the Orange (5-5, 3-3), whose two-game win streak was halted in emphatic fashion.

Drew Allen finished the contest 5-of-9 for 29 yards and one interception. Devante McFarlane gained 81 yards on 13 carries and George Morris added 67 yards on 21 rushes in defeat.

"That's one of the best football teams I've seen in my 23 years coaching," Syracuse coach Scott Shafer said. "They are big, they are fast, they are talented and they know what they're doing."

Wilder put the hosts on the board with a 3-yard scamper to paydirt to cap their first drive of the contest.

Whitfield then broke free for a 74-yard TD and 14-0 edge on Florida State's next possession, and Freeman took it in from four yards away to cap the hosts' ensuing series.

The Seminoles' fourth possession of the opening quarter also resulted in a score, as Winston found Greene for a 6-yard strike and 28-0 margin inside the final minute.

That play was marred by a freak injury to Syracuse cornerback Julian Whigham. After a collision with Greene and a teammate, the sophomore was taken from the field on a stretcher and transported to a local hospital, where he was diagnosed with internal bleeding in his chest area.

Kelvin Benjamin's leaping grab in the back right corner of the end zone early in the second quarter boosted FSU's lead to 35.

A career-long 53-yard make by Roberto Aguayo made it 38-0 just before the clock ticked down to five minutes before halftime and that margin stood at the break.

The rout continued in the second half, as Wilder eluded several tackles on a 37-yard touchdown run for a 45-0 game.

A 56-yard dash up the middle from Williams helped set up a 17-yard scoring reception from Maguire to O'Leary with 7:45 left in the third.

"Sean made a beautiful throw," Fisher said about his third-stringer, who was bumped up to second string after the season-ending knee injury suffered by backup Jacob Coker. "You can see some of Sean's talent. He just needs reps."

On the ensuing series, Hill was stripped by freshman Chris Casher, who ran 31 yards for a touchdown and 59-0 edge less than two minutes later.

Ryan Norton's 32-yard make just before the midway point of the fourth quarter prevented a shutout.

Game Notes

Florida State has won six of the seven all-time meetings with Syracuse and six in a row since 1978 ... The Seminoles have scored at least 40 points in every game this season, extending a school and conference record ... Winston was 10- of-10 for 107 yards in the first quarter alone ... Syracuse RB Prince-Tyson Gulley exited after the first quarter with a lower-body injury ... O'Leary's TD catch was the 11th of his career, setting a new program record for tight ends ... FSU's Kenny Shaw led all receivers with 99 yards on seven catches.