FSU rips NC State, sets stage for clash with Hurricanes
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Tallahassee, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - Jameis Winston totaled 292 yards and three touchdowns on 16-of-26 efficiency, as No. 3 Florida State showed no signs of slowing down after a 49-17 demolition of North Carolina State at Doak Campbell Stadium.
Devonta Freeman crossed into the end zone twice, part of a 92-yard, 12-carry performance for the Seminoles (7-0, 5-0 ACC), who rolled to victory thanks to a 35-point first quarter and will clash with 7-0 Miami-Florida at home in prime time one week from now.
Rashad Greene totaled a game-high 137 yards on eight receptions with a score, Kelvin Benjamin and Nick O'Leary added TD catches, while Karlos Williams and Kermit Whitfield posted a rushing touchdown each.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"Rashad is just steady," Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher said of Greene. "He's so smooth you don't realize how fast he is. He's so consistent, you don't realize how good he is. He just does everything so effortless."
Brandon Mitchell was limited to 128 yards on 17-of-33 passing for the Wolfpack (3-4, 0-4), who have dropped three in a row overall. He was picked off twice and sacked three times.
Shardrach Thornton recorded NC State's two touchdowns on the ground, finishing with a game-best 173 yards on 23 totes.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Seminoles needed only 85 seconds of game clock on their first possession to go up 7-0, as Williams rolled into the end zone for an 18-yard score. Terrence Brooks had intercepted Mitchell at the FSU 35 to derail the Wolfpack's opening series.
FSU continued to pour it on before the end of the quarter, as Winston and Benjamin connected for a 39-yard score, Freeman wheeled in for an 11-yard rushing strike, O'Leary hauled in a 14-yard pass from Winston, and Greene added a 42-yard TD reception.
Freeman's 4-yard scamper to paydirt boosted the hosts' lead to 42-0 and the margin stood at halftime.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}NC State showed some life in the third quarter, picking up a 36-yard field goal from Niklas Sade and a 72-yard TD run by Thornton.
Thornton cashed in again, from one yard away in the fourth, but FSU put the capper on the rout on Whitfield's 31-yard scoring dash.
"I challenged our guys to win the second half," Wolfpack head coach Dave Doren remarked. "I know they had their back-ups in at some point in there but until the last reverse they ran for a touchdown I felt like we played a good half defensively."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Game Notes
FSU avenged a 17-16 loss in Raleigh last season, beating NC State for the fifth time in the last seven meetings ... The Seminoles racked up 566 yards of total offense to 316 for the Wolfpack ... Williams finished with 86 yards on 13 carries ... Jacob Coker spelled Winston late in the contest and completed 4-of-8 passes for 50 yards and one interception while being sacked twice.