FSU rolls Syracuse behind Akers
Win takes some pressure off head coach Willie Taggart
TALLAHASSEE — It was game Florida State had to win.
After a tumultuous week surrounding the status of head coach Willie Taggart, the Seminoles — facing a struggling Syracuse team — responded in a big way on Saturday during homecoming.
FSU (4-4, 3-3 ACC) rode a career-best game from running back Cam Akers, a change at quarterback, and a pass rush that finally got on track as the Seminoles defeated the Orange 35-17, easing the pressure off Taggart a for at least a week.
Taggart has faced social media criticism from the fan base, which has been reflected in attendance at home games this season. The announced attendance for Saturday’s contest was 50,517, the smallest homecoming crowd since a 1979 game against
South Carolina.
For at least one game, though, it didn’t seem to matter. The fans cheered each of Akers’ careerhigh four touchdowns — tying a school record — each completion by Wisconsin grad transfer
Alex Hornibrook, who started over James Blackman, and each defensive stop.
“[I’m] very proud of our football team,” Taggart said. “Very proud of their focus this week. I thought our guys had an unbelievable focus this week. A lot of distractions and they stayed locked in. … It was good to find a way to win and put a complete game together.”
Akers went off once again for the Seminoles, rushing for 144 yards, the fifth time this season he’s reached the century mark.
The junior running back scored four touchdowns in the first half on runs of 23, 3, 6 and 7 yards. He also converted on a two-point conversion out of the wildcat formation, faking a toss to Khalan Laborn before running untouched into the end zone, giving FSU a 21-3 lead in the first half.
Akers has rushed for 301 yards and five touchdowns the past two games.
“I’m always feeling it,” Akers said with a laugh, “just earlier in the week the way I worked. On practice on Sunday, I knew it was going to be a big week.”
The wildcat formation was a wrinkle installed by offensive coordinator Kendal Briles, and Briles took it one step further with Akers, using him as a makeshift quarterback.
Akers completed two passes for 26 yards and was involved in a triple-pass play on third-and-8 that went for a 54-yard completion. Hornibrook took the snap and threw it to Akers, who then threw back to Hornibrook under pressure before Hornibrook found receiver Tamorrion Terry for the catch-and-run. Akers capped the drive with his third touchdown.
“It wasn’t crazy; that was entertaining,” Taggart said when asked about the triple pass. “On that play, it worked how we wanted it to. It was pretty cool.”
Akers added that the coaching staff came up to him this week about the package. Akers played quarterback at Clinton High School in Clinton, Mississippi, and he had no problem when the plays were installed.
“He can throw it 60 or more yards,” Hornibrook said. “Sometimes when we’re doing warmups, he’ll come in with the quarterbacks and throw some. He looks better than a lot of people who play quarterback.”
Akers throwing the ball provided a spark on offense, which seemed to be in a little bit more sync with Hornibrook. Starting his second game for the Seminoles, Hornibrook led touchdown drives on FSU’s first two possessions of the game before the offense stalled a bit prior to finding its groove again. He underthrew a few passes, which would have resulted in big gains, but he was smart with the ball and didn’t try to force many of his attempts.
Taggart said he made the decision to start Hornibrook during the week and Blackman took the news like a veteran.
The Seminoles’ pass rush dominated Syracuse (3-5, 0-4).
FSU entered the game without recording a sack in its previous two games but finally got on track against the Orange. The defense recorded seven sacks as part of 12 tackles for loss and held the Orange to only 24 yards on 22 plays in the opening quarter.
Syracuse managed just 343 yards, with 208 coming in the final three drives when FSU was in control.
It’s a win Taggart can build on.
The Seminoles are likely to be favored next week when they host rival Miami. A win against the Hurricanes would put Taggart and FSU in position to finish the season strongly and earn a bowl berth after missing the postseason last year during Taggart’s first season.
“It was good for our guys to go out and perform like that and play with pride and find a way to win,” Taggart said. “It was a muchneeded win and we got to continue to play that way.”