Running back Dalvin Cook became the first Florida State player in 27 years to eclipse the 200-yard rushing mark and finished the day with three touchdowns as the 11th-ranked Seminoles pulled away from South Florida 34-14 at Doak Campbell Stadium on Saturday.
Cook notched a career-high 266 yards on the ground and scored on runs of 74, 24 and 37 yards. Cook’s electrifying 74-yard first quarter touchdown was the Seminoles’ only score of the first half as FSU went to the locker room even with the Bulls, 7-7.
South Florida evened the game on the first of two touchdown passes from Quinton Flowers to D’Ernest Johnson. The two hooked up on passes of 1 and 71 yards. Flowers finished the day 12-for-24 passing for 125 yards and an interception thrown to FSU junior cornerback Marquez White in the end zone. Johnson led all receivers with 89 yards.
The Seminoles (2-0) opened the second half by scoring 17 straight points. In his second FSU start, Golson shook off a 1-for-9 start to finish 14-for-26 passing for 163 yards and a 23-yard touchdown pass to Jesus Wilson. That score came late in the third quarter after Cook gave FSU the lead for good on the opening drive of the second half and Roberto Aguayo knocked through his first of two field goals.
The Bulls (1-1) showed signs of life as Flowers and Johnson hooked up on the first play of the final quarter to cut the lead to 24-14, but Cook’s third score of the day with under two minutes remaining served as the dagger as FSU improved to 2-0 for a fifth straight season.
Each team finished the day with three sacks including the first in the career of FSU freshman safety Derwin James. Sophomore linebacker Ro’Derrick Hoskins added a game-high two tackles for loss.
The Seminoles will have a short week and a long trip to face Boston College on Friday in their ACC opener. South Florida will remain on the road to take on Maryland on Saturday.
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