Syracuse reeled off 39 more plays and outpaced Florida State in several offensive categories Saturday afternoon. The Seminoles did have one significant edge, however, and his name was Cam Akers.
Akers, the freshman running back who took over as FSU’s starter last week, delivered a dazzling performance in his first home start to lead the Seminoles past visiting Syracuse, 27-24. He broke off touchdown runs of 54 and 63 yards and finished with a career-high 199 yards on 22 carries.
“Akers ran the ball well. Finished big runs,” said FSU coach Jimbo Fisher, whose team improved to 3-5 on the season (3-4 in ACC play). “I’m going to tell you, we were one block away from about four more runs that gash.”
Although he only gained 40 rushing yards in the second half, Akers’ two first-half scores allowed the Seminoles to enjoy a 14-point lead for the first time all season.
Through eight games, he now has 695 rushing yards on the season, which already ranks as the third-best performance by a true freshman in school history. Dalvin Cook holds the all-time record with 1,008 yards, and Greg Allen ranks second with 888.
That mark could be in danger as FSU has at least three games remaining, against Clemson, Delaware State and Florida. If the Louisiana-Monroe game is rescheduled for Dec. 2 as expected, the Seminoles have the potential to play five more, including a bowl game.
“Cam ran the ball extremely well,” Fisher said. “Finished runs, hit the home run. Did the home run the right way, not craziness (excessive cutbacks), but with good, hard runs, then split it and ran. He had an outstanding day. Very proud of him.”
Akers, who played quarterback in high school but was considered by some to be the nation’s No. 1 tailback recruit, showed off all of his skills – vision, quickness, power and speed -- on his two long touchdown runs.
