Dalvin Cook Sprints into FSU Record Book
Dalvin Cook ran for 225 yards and four touchdowns while becoming Florida State’s all-time leading rusher in a 45-14 walloping of the Syracuse Orange.
Cook came into the game needing just 19 yards to break Warrick Dunn’s 20-year-old school record of 3,959 yards. Cook broke the record on his second run of the game, a 41-yard run up the sideline, before being pushed out of bounce.  Cook is the sixth player in Atlantic Conference History, and just the first to do so in his first three years, to eclipse 4,000 yards.
Number 17 ranked Florida State (8-3, 5-3) won their third straight game for the first time this season while Syracuse (4-7, 2-5) lost their third straight game, also a first time for them this season.
The ‘Noles defense had an outstanding day with eight sacks, two interceptions and allowed just 3.2 yards per play from the Orange offense.
Cook and the ‘Noles defense weren’t the only ones who shined in Saturday’s win. Florida State quarterback Deondre Francois threw two first quarter touchdowns to put the Seminoles up 14-0 midway into the first quarter. The ‘Noles added to their lead in the second quarter when Cook ran into the end zone from 25 yards out.
Syracuse started their backup quarterback Zach Mahoney for the second straight game due to their starter, Eric Dungey, having to sit out because of a shoulder injury. Mahoney wasn’t able to find his rhythm for most of the first half. On the last play of the second quarter, Mahoney threw a 46-yard Hail Mary to Amba Etta-Tawo in the back of the end zone to put the Orange on the board, but still behind 21-7 at halftime.
The Seminoles didn’t let the Hail Mary affect them mentally as they came right out in the second half with a touchdown from Cook to pull ahead 28-7. After forcing the Orange to punt, the ‘Noles scored another touchdown with Cook running another one past the pylons.
The Orange got their last points of the game with 4:27 left in the third quarter when Mahoney found Ervin Phillips for a 17-yard touchdown. Florida State responded with Cook’s fourth and final touchdown of the day. The Seminoles added a field goal a couple drives later to make the score the eventual final 45-14.
Florida State hosts their rivals the Florida Gators next Saturday. The Gators had a huge win in Baton Rouge over LSU 16-10 earlier today.
