User blog:FSUFAN95/No. 2 Florida State crushes Syracuse



Jim Henry and Ira Schoffel, USA TODAY Sports

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — No. 2 Florida State continued its barrage on Syracuse in the second half Saturday.

And the Seminoles didn't even need quarterback Jameis Winston.

Undefeated FSU buried the Orange 59-3 before a homecoming crowd of 74, 491 at Doak Campbell Stadium.

 The Seminoles (10-0 overall, 8-0 ACC) ended conference play in impressive fashion, finishing with 523 total yards and eclipsing the 50-point barrier for the fifth time this season.

 They are also the first ACC team to score at least 40 points in 10 straight games. Ironically, FSU also beat Wake Forest last Saturday by the identical 59-3 score.

 The Orange (5-5, 3-3) avoided a shutout on a 32-yard field goal midway in the fourth quarter. The points capped a 20-play, 66-yard drive that lasted 10:01.

FSU has surrendered 51 points (8.5 average) in its last six games. Winston did not play in the second half after he completed 19 of 21 passes for 277 yards and two touchdowns in the opening half.

 Sean Maguire, elevated to Winston's backup this week following season-ending knee surgery to Jacob Coker, threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to tight end Nick O'Leary in FSU's 21-point third quarter. Maguire was 3 of 5 for 21 yards. He also threw an interception.

 The Seminoles finished with four rushing touchdowns and three receiving scores.

 The defense got into the scoring act again, when Chris Casher forced a fumble on a sack of Terrell Hunt. Casher recovered the ball on a bounce and raced 31 yards for a touchdown.

 FSU meets Idaho next Saturday at 3:30 p.m. in its final home game of the 2013 season. The game will be televised by ESPNU.