Pre-Thanksgiving Feast: FSU devours Delaware State, 77-6
BOX SCORE: FSU 77, Delaware State 6
Ten games into the 2017 season, the Florida State football team finally got to enjoy a game against a cupcake opponent -- and the Seminoles feasted, blowing out visiting Delaware State, 77-6.
By dominating their over-matched FCS opponent on offense, defense and special teams, the Seminoles tied a school record Saturday with 56 points in the first half. The last time they scored that many by halftime was against Tulane in 1992.
With the win, FSU improves to 4-6 on the season and can become bowl eligible with wins in its final two games against Florida and Louisiana-Monroe.
Florida State got things going Saturday with a 14-yard touchdown run by junior Jacques Patrick on the opening drive, and the Seminoles pushed their lead to 14-0 on a blocked field goal return by junior Tarvarus McFadden. Defensive tackle Demarcus Christmas actually recorded the block, then McFadden scooped it up and ran 63 yards for the touchdown.
The onslaught was only beginning.
After Delaware State cut the lead to seven points, FSU's Derwin James pushed it back to 21-7 with a 41-yard interception return. It was the first of six consecutive Florida State touchdowns to finish the half.
Tailbacks Cam Akers and Patrick each rushed for touchdowns to make it 35-7, then freshman quarterback James Blackman threw three short touchdown passes to conclude the first half. One went to receiver Nyqwan Murray, one went to fullback Gabe Nabers and one went to receiver Auden Tate.
Blackman finished the half completing 11 of 15 passes for 179 yards before yielding to backup J.J. Cosentino.
FSU's defense got off to a slow start, allowing Delaware State to put together two impressive early drives -- one ended with a field goal attempt and the other with a touchdown -- but the Seminoles were stellar after that. They didn't allow one more first down the rest of the half.
FSU added second-half touchdowns on the ground by tailback Ryan Green (twice) and through the air by walk-on receiver Jason Motlow. The redshirt junior made a diving catch in the end zone to snare a pass from Cosentino.
The final outcome could have been worse. During the halftime intermission, FSU and Delaware State agreed to reduce the time of the third and fourth quarters from 15 to 10 minutes.
As it stands, the 71-point margin of victory was the second most in school history. The record came in 1949 when FSU beat Whiting Field (Naval Station) by 74 points.
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