TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida State scored 22 straight points in a dominant first quarter and repelled every Virginia Tech comeback with a long touchdown run the rest of the way, pulling away for a 39-17 win at Doak Campbell Stadium on Saturday.
The No. 5 Seminoles (5-0, 3-0 ACC) ran for 282 yards, getting 200 from tailback Trey Benson, who had touchdown runs of 62 and 85 yards.
The loss dropped the Hokies to 2-4 and 1-1 in the ACC at the midway point of the season. FSU outgained Virginia Tech 452-313.
The Seminoles shot out of the gates in the first quarter. Quarterback Jordan Travis twice connected with receiver Johnny Wilson for touchdown passes, with running back Lawrence Toafili adding a 28-yard touchdown run to make it 22-0 just 13 minutes in.
Tech flipped the script in the second quarter, getting on the board with a 29-yard John Love field goal after Kyron Drones ripped off a 40-yard run. A 16-play, 70-yard drive that included three fourth-down conversions right before halftime ended with a 5-yard Bhayshul Tuten touchdown run to get the Hokies within 22-10 at the break.
After Florida State outgained Virginia Tech 198-9 in the first quarter, the Hokies outgained the Seminoles 126-1 in the second.
Tuten took the opening kickoff of the second half back 99 yards to get the Hokies within 22-17. It was Tech’s first kick return for a touchdown since Demitri Knowles took one to the house against North Carolina in 2012.
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FSU responded quickly and decisively, getting a 62-yard touchdown run by Benson, who was barely touched as he darted through the Tech defense and up the sideline, making it 29-17.
After the Seminoles went up 32-17 on a field goal, the Hokies threatened to score early in the fourth but got backed up into a fourth-and-22 from the FSU 36. Drones escaped from pressure and made a Herculean effort to get to the sticks but was pushed out a yard short for a turnover on downs.
On the next play, Benson went up the right sideline untouched for an 85-yard touchdown that put the game away.
Drones finished with 104 yards passing and a team-high 80 rushing. Malachi Thomas ran for 58 yards. Jaylin Lane was Tech's leading receiver with six catches for 51 yards.
Up next for the Hokies is their homecoming game vs. Wake Forest on Saturday, Oct. 14 at 3:30 p.m. ET on the ACC Network.
Box Score: No. 5 Florida State 39, Virginia Tech 17
