SYRACUSE, N.Y. _ Syracuse proved Saturday that perhaps Florida State's blowout loss to Virginia Tech in the opener and their survival against FCS opponent Samford last week were no fluke. This could be a long season for Seminoles fans after FSU suffered through a 30-7 beatdown at the hands of the Orange in the Carrier Dome.
It was the first victory for Syracuse (3-0, 1-0 ACC) over FSU (1-2, 0-2 ACC) since 1966 and snapped a 10-game losing streak by the Orange in the series. The 1-2 start by the 'Noles matches last season's start during a year that FSU struggled to clinch bowl eligibility.
It was hot in the Carrier Dome, which has no air conditioning, but the Syracuse offense was even hotter and the announced crowd of 37,457 loved it.
Just when it seemed FSU was waking up against Syracuse, the Orange started hitting the Seminoles with big play after big play. After a 45-yard Jarveon Howard run, Syracuse capped that drive with a Tommy DeVito touchdown pass to Ravian Pierce to make it 20-0. Syracuse would tack on a fourth-quarter field goal to make it 23-0 for the biggest margin of the game before the 'Noles finally got on the board.
Most of the day, the FSU offensive line could not protect quarterback Deondre Francois, who was sacked twice in the third quarter to shut down drives. Francois was sacked for losses four times during the game. FSU also allowed seven tackles for loss.
The Seminoles' offensive line has been an issue and it's starting to look like this could be a season-long problem, not just a matter of individual blown assignments as was suggested after the first two games of the season.
FSU managed just 131 yards in the first three quarters, while Syracuse rolled up 375 yards in dominating fashion. The Seminoles had no chance to mount a viable fourth-quarter rally.
The first half was difficult for FSU, with the exception of the final drive. In fact, the Seminoles' offense and defense seemed to wake up a bit toward the end of the second quarter.
Defensively, FSU stopped Syracuse on fourth-and-one at its own 25-yard line and then forced a field goal after stopping the Orange again during three consecutive plays at the goal line. Syracuse's final three drives of the half ended in a turnover on downs, a punt and the field goal.
Syracuse, however, managed to shut the Seminoles out at halftime and led 6-0.
FSU's offense came to life on the final series of the first half. Francis connected on four passes, one to Jacquez Patrick for 12 yards, two to Nyqwan Murray for 8 and 16 yards and one to Keith Gavin at the 11-yard line as time ticked off the clock. FSU, however, did not call a time out and the clock expired with first down at the 11.
FSU punted on six of eight series in the first half. Francois was intercepted to end a drive and time ran out on the final series.
Fortunately for FSU, punter Logan Tyler averaged 46.8 yards on those six kicks.
