Jordan Travis has a hand in 3 touchdowns and Florida State’s defense stymies Syracuse in a 41-3 win
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — On an afternoon when Florida State honored its 1993 national championship team, the current Seminoles routed Syracuse and secured a 6-0 start for the first time in eight years.
Jordan Travis ran for two touchdowns and tossed a 56-yard scoring pass to Keon Coleman as No. 4 Florida State routed Syracuse 41-3 on Saturday, the Seminoles’ 12th consecutive win.
Travis completed 23 of 37 passes for 284 yards and a touchdown, shaking off an apparent injury to his non-throwing (left) hand in the second quarter. The senior returned after halftime as the Seminoles (4-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) surpassed the 30-point mark for a 12th straight game.
“I want us to be better,” Florida State coach Mike Norvell said. “I am grateful to be 6-0. I am so proud of this team, doing the things that are necessary to get to this point because you get one shot at it. Ultimately, there have been plenty of moments in games where things haven’t gone exactly as we wanted to and we get a chance to showcase our response. But then you have to learn from it.
Mertz’s 3 TDs, career day rallies Florida to 41-39 victory over South Caroilna
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Florida coach Billy Napier found quarterback Graham Mertz and receiver Ricky Pearsall, both transfers, after the game and hugged them hard.
“This,” Napier said, “is why you come to Florida.”
Mertz threw for a career-best 423 yards and three touchdowns, the last a 21-yard strike to Pearsall with 47 seconds left, as the Gators rallied from 10 points down in the fourth quarter to beat South Carolina 41-39 on Saturday.
Pearsall had 10 catches for 166 yards, including the game-winner.
Walker snags 3 TD catches to help No. 12 UNC beat No. 25 Miami 41-31 for 6-0 start
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Devontez “Tez” Walker kept getting a step on defenders, snagging catches and breaking loose to the end zone for No. 12 North Carolina.
“His presence is a game changer,” coach Mack Brown said.
Walker caught three of Drake Maye’s four touchdown passes and UNC took over after halftime to beat No. 25 Miami 41-31 on Saturday night, extending what has been the program’s best start in 26 years.
Walker had 132 yards on his six catches in his first start for the Tar Heels (6-0, 3-0 Atlantic Coast Conference), with that start having been delayed after a long eligibility fight with the NCAA.