Game recap: Florida State football finishes ACC play with convincing win over Syracuse

Carter Karels, Tallahassee Democrat
·7 min read

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – ACC play is coming to a close for the Florida State football team.

The No. 23 Seminoles (6-3, 4-3 ACC) will end their eight-game conference slate with a road matchup against Syracuse (6-3, 3-2) in the JMA Wireless Dome at 8 p.m. Saturday (TV: ACC Network).

With a win, FSU will finish above .500 in conference play for the first time since going 5-3 in 2016. Per Bet Online, the Seminoles entered the weekend as a seven-point favorite over the banged-up Orange.

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It's unclear whether Garrett Shrader, Syracuse's starting quarterback, will be available in this game. The Mississippi State transfer has yet to play in a game since suffering an apparent lower-body injury against Notre Dame on Oct. 29.

Without Shrader, the Orange would likely turn to backup quarterback Carlos Del Rio-Wilson.

11:05 p.m. | Florida State Seminoles defeat Syracuse Orange in convincing fashion

With its latest victory over Syracuse, FSU has now won three straight games by at least 25 points.

The No. 23 Seminoles (7-3, 5-3) pummeled the Orange (6-4, 3-3), completing their ACC slate with a 38-3 win at JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse, N.Y. on Saturday.

FSU next hosts Louisiana at noon next Saturday.

10:28 p.m. | FSU in driver's seat vs. Syracuse, QB Jordan Travis out of game

Jordan Travis' night is done.

The FSU quarterback has his team up 38-3 entering the fourth quarter.

Travis finished with five total touchdowns, via three passing, one rushing and one receiving. He went 21 of 23 for 155 passing yards and tallied 21 rushing yards on five carries. Backup quarterback Tate Rodemaker replaced him.

The last touchdown Travis recorded came on a trick play pass from backup tight end Wyatt Rector. That play can be seen in the video below.

9:30 p.m. | FSU enters halftime with commanding lead over Syracuse

FSU dominated the first half in every single way.

The Seminoles entered halftime with a 24-3 advantage and outgained the Orange 236-61 in total yardage and 6.6-2.3 in yards per play.

Quarterback Jordan Travis has a chance to break FSU’s completion percentage record, which is 92.6% from Jameis Winston against Pittsburgh in 2013. Travis completed 17 of 18 (94.4%) passes for 127 yards and two touchdowns. He also turned five carries into 21 yards and a score.

Running back Trey Benson leads the Seminoles in rushing with 66 yards on eight carries. Wide receiver Malik McClain recorded a team-high 27 receiving yards on two receptions. He found the end zone on a 15-yard touchdown catch. Receiver Johnny Wilson scored on a 24-yard reception

Syracuse accumulated only three first downs and had four three-and-outs and two four-and-outs across its first seven possessions. Quarterback Garrett Shrader went 3 of 8 for 34 yards. Running back Sean Tucker turned 10 rushes into 29 yards.

8:40 p.m. | FSU heads into second quarter with double-digit lead

FSU could not have asked for a better first quarter.

The Seminoles dominated the Orange and now heads into the second quarter with a 14-0 lead.

Quarterback Jordan Travis completed 8 of 9 passes for 68 yards and a touchdown while adding a three-yard rushing score. Wide receiver Malik McClain caught Travis’ lone touchdown pass for 15 yards. FSU also has 61 rushing yards on eight carries.

Garrett Shrader started at quarterback for Syracuse but has not done much. He went 1 of 3 for 29 passing yards. The Seminole defense held the Orange to just 45 yards on 14 plays.

8:02 p.m. | Syracuse QB Garrett Shrader earns the start

Syracuse won the coin toss and elected to receive the opening kickoff.

Quarterback Garrett Shrader will earn the start for the Orange.

7:30 p.m. | Final availability update

All of FSU's starters are partaking pregame warmups.

Linebacker Brendan Gant, offensive tackle Julian Armella, wide receivers Winston Wright Jr. and Darion Williamson, and tight end Jackson West are among backups for the Seminoles who are not on the field for pregame warmups.

FSU running back Treshaun Ward, right tackle Jazston Turnetine and defensive back Sam McCall are participating in pregame warmups. So is Syracuse quarterback Garrett Shrader.

Darius Washington lined up as the Seminoles' starting right tackle. Ward also warmed up with the first-team offense.

7 p.m. | Syracuse QB Garrett Shrader, FSU RB Treshaun Ward warming up

Syracuse quarterback Garrett Shrader is on the field participating in pregame warmups.

It's worth noting that Shrader warmed up before the Orange's game against Pittsburgh last Saturday, but he still was not available.

FSU running back Treshaun Ward also is on the field participating in pregame warmups.

6:10 p.m. | Which NFL teams, bowl representatives are at the game?

Several players from both teams are on the field lightly warming up.

There are no significant personnel updates to report at this time.

Representatives from the Houston Texans, Minnesota Vikings and the CFL's Calgary Stampeders are at the game. Two Cheez-It Bowl representatives also are listed on the seating chart.

Check out our story from earlier today on FSU DE Jared Verse: Jared Verse's return to Syracuse a full-circle moment

6 p.m. | Pregame injury updates

Beyond Shrader, there are multiple FSU players who will be worth monitoring during pregame warmups.

Running back Treshaun Ward, who has missed the last three games with an apparent collarbone injury, is expected to return. How many reps Ward will receive, though, remains unknown publicly. He practiced this week.

It's also unclear who will be the starting right tackle for the Seminoles. Versatile offensive lineman Darius Washington replaced Jazston Turnetine as the starting right tackle last week. But Turnetine still received action later in the game.

Freshman defensive back Sam McCall announced Monday that he plans to enter the transfer portal, but he walked back that statement in a subsequent social media post. He did not play against Miami.

Reserve linebacker Brendan Gant indicated on social media Friday that he did not travel with the team to this game.

Tight end Jackson West continued to be listed on FSU’s two-deep depth chart Monday, but he has not played in a game this season.

Winston Wright Jr., the first-year transfer from West Virginia, is still working his way back from the leg injury he suffered in a car accident in March. He has not played in a game this season

Offensive linemen Bless Harris and Kayden Lyles, and linebacker Stephen Dix Jr. are out for the season with undisclosed injuries.

Reach Carter Karels at ckarels@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter @CarterKarels. You can also follow our coverage on Facebook (NoleSports) and Instagram (tlhnolesports).

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU Seminoles football live score vs. Syracuse Orange | Updates