FSU scores on 8 straight drives to cruise past Chattanooga
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- After struggling for most of the season, Florida State's offense is hitting its stride.
The 16th-ranked Seminoles had their most efficient game of the season on Saturday, scoring on eight straight drives in a 52-13 win over Chattanooga in their home finale.
Dalvin Cook had his seventh 100-yard rushing game of the season with 106 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries. Sean Maguire was 12 of 17 for 152 yards and two touchdowns in a little over two quarters. He led Florida State to points on six of his seven drives.
"Efficient is the best way to describe our whole offensive performance today. The defense played great and we got a bunch of short fields, so we capitalized on that," Maguire said.
Florida State's average field position was its own 44, and half of the scoring drives lasted less than three minutes.
The Seminoles (9-2) earned their 21st straight win at Doak Campbell Stadium, and the seniors ran their home record to 27-1 during their four years. It also was the 48th victory for the seniors, tying them with last year's class for the most in school history.
"It's great to get recognized and stuff like that, but when it's time to go, it's time to go," said Lamarcus Brutus, who had an interception in the third quarter.
After going three-and-out on its opening possession, Florida State scored on its next eight drives. J.J. Cosentino and Everett Golson also led scoring drives.
Cook had a 13-yard touchdown run in the second quarter and a 2-yard TD in the third. He has 1,475 yards rushing in 10 games this season to go along with 16 rushing touchdowns, which is tied with Amp Lee for the second-most in school history.
"I feel like we're gelling more as the season goes," Cook said. "I feel like if we keep doing that, we'll be the team that we want to be at the end of the season."
Kermit Whitfield had five receptions for 91 yards and two touchdowns, and Jacques Patrick ran for 77 yards and two scores.
Over the past two games, Maguire is 30 of 45 for 383 yards and four touchdowns with an interception. He has led the Seminoles to scores on 11 of 15 drives.
Florida State goes into next Saturday's matchup with No. 8 Florida with an outside chance of making a New Year's Six bowl game. The Seminoles are 14th in the latest College Football Playoff rankings.
"Oh yeah it's a big week. I think it's big that we already got that (hostile environment) experience, kind of what to expect of a loud environment out of the way," Maguire said.
Chattanooga (8-3), which has clinched a spot in the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs, took a 3-0 lead on Henrique Ribeiro's 29-yard field goal after the Mocs recovered a Whitfield fumble on the opening kickoff.
After the Mocs closed to 7-6 on another Ribeiro field goal, the Seminoles scored 38 straight points and outgained Chattanooga 332-29. The Mocs pulled most of their starters midway through the third quarter after a pair of turnovers. Coming into the game, Mocs coach Russ Huesman said that he wanted his team to compete but was going to be mindful of playing time since the postseason starts next week.
Jacob Huesman (115 all-purpose yards with a touchdown) and Derrick Craine (36 yards rushing) each went over the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the season.
"Any time you're playing a team with the tradition and how good Florida State is, I mean you almost have to be perfect and then you've got to hope they sleepwalk through a half and they make mistakes. And that didn't happen today," Huesman said.
