No. 13 Florida State (3-1, 0-1 in the ACC) gets a big bounce back 55-35 win against South Florida (3-1). Led by Heisman hopeful Dalvin Cook, who has struggled early in the season, the Seminoles were desperate for a win following the routing that the Louisville Cardinals delivered last weekend.
USF just needed one play to get on the board, Quinton Flowers found Rodney Adams for the 84-yard touchdown pass to open the game, giving the Bulls the early 7-0 lead.
Florida State answered right back with a one play, 75-yard Cook touchdown run to bring us back to a tie game. Two plays one from both offenses resulting in seven points. The Bulls would once again drive down the field, making it 14-7. Florida Stat would then rattle off 31 unanswered points and control the game from then on out.
Following a game which Louisville ran all over the Florida State defense and the ‘Noles offense stalled, head coach Jimbo Fisher needed to see more from his team in every aspect.
Fisher once again watched his defense struggle, which is becoming a growing concern for Seminoles fans. On the bright side freshmen quarterback Deondre Francois led a much improved offense against a USF team that has a respectable defense. Francois threw for 169 yards for one touchdown on 19 attempts.
Dalvin Cook who has struggled largely this season had a coming out party of sorts, Cook ran for 267 yards on 28 carries and two touchdowns. Cook added 62 more yards on four catches.
Sophomore running back Jacques Patrick added 124 yards and also found the end zone once, while fullback Freddie Stevenson was called upon five times good enough for two touchdowns. The ‘Noles had six touchdowns on the ground in total.
Though the defense was still exploited on several plays, both Nate Andrews and Tarvarus McFadden came away with interceptions. Andrews filling a big role with playmaker Derwin James sidelined and McFadden grabbing his third pick in four games.
Florida State will head home next Saturday to play North Carolina (2-1). The matchup with UNC will be the first home conference game of the season for the Seminoles who will look to carry some momentum home with them from Tampa.
