Tallahassee, FL (SportsNetwork.com) – Jameis Winston accounted for two
touchdowns and No. 2 Florida State extended its winning streak to 25 games
with a 34-20 victory over Virginia on Saturday.
Winston overcame two early interceptions and completed 22-of-35 passes for 261
yards and a touchdown, while also adding a score on the ground for the
Seminoles (9-0, 6-0 ACC), who have won 21 consecutive games against conference
foes.
Rashad Greene caught 13 passes for 136 yards and a score, and Karlos Williams
rushed for 70 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries.
Greyson Lambert threw for 220 yards and three touchdowns with an interception
on 20-of-35 efficiency, while Canaan Severin, Darius Jennings and Andre
Levrone each hauled in a TD pass for the Cavaliers (4-6, 2-4), who lost their
fourth straight game.
Florida State pulled away with 21 straight points in the second quarter.
Lambert’s pass to the left sideline was intercepted by Terrance Smith, who
took the ball to the Cavaliers’ 3. Williams extended the ball into the end
zone for a 14-7 lead less than a minute into the second quarter.
After Lambert turned the ball over, Florida State needed just one play to find
the end zone again as Winston stood tall in the pocket a delivered a 22-strike
to Greene for a 21-13 lead just 12 seconds later.
The Seminoles chewed up 6:48 with a 15-play, 84-yard trek that was capped when
Winston jumped to fake a pass before diving into the end zone for a 4-yard
score 4:43 before halftime.
Dalvin Cook fumbled the ball and Virginia took over at Florida State’s 22.
On the very next play, Lambert lofted a pass to Severin for a 22-yard score to
get to make it a 28-20 game seven minutes into the third.
Roberto Aguayo capped a 9-play, 60-yard Florida State drive by splitting the
uprights from 43 yards out for a 31-20 lead.
Winston completed a 21-yard pass to Williams to move the Seminoles into
Virginia territory, but the drive stalled at the 23-yard line and Aguayo
kicked a 40-yard field goal with 16 seconds left in the third.
On 4th-and-1 at Florida State’s 32, Kevin Parks ran four yards for a Virginia
first down. After Lambert was sacked for a 9-yard loss, he completed a 26-yard
pass to Zachary Swanson two plays later to the Seminoles’ 15. The Cavaliers
turned the ball over on downs after Jennings hauled in a pass for a 2-yard
loss to seal the outcome with 5:47 to play.
After Florida State punted on its initial drive, David Marrs fumbled the ball
on Virginia’s first play and Mario Edwards Jr. recovered it at the Cavaliers’
26. Winston ran 20 yards and Williams plunged in from two yards out for a 7-0
lead.
Maurice Candy picked off Winston’s pass over the middle to give the Cavaliers
the ball at their 47-yard line. Virginia moved to Florida State’s 18 after a
defensive pass interference penalty and Lambert connected with Levrone for a
16-yard score two plays later for a tie game with 4:20 left in the first.
Winston threw his second interception of the first quarter after his pass was
tipped up into the air and Eli Harold caught at Florida State’s 45. Lambert
completed a 13-yard pass to Doni Dowling, Khalek Shepherd ran 15 yards for a
first down and hit a diving Jennings in the end zone for a 15-yard touchdown.
Ian Frye, however, missed the extra point.
Game Notes
Florida State became the 25th team in college football history to win 25
straight games … The Seminoles’ last conference loss came against Virginia
on Nov. 19, 2011 in a 14-13 decision … Cook left the game with a leg injury
… Virginia has lost nine straight games on the road since winning at North
Carolina State on Nov. 3, 2012 … The Seminoles hold a 15-3 advantage in the
all-time series and are 9-1 in Tallahassee.
