Cook breaks record in Florida State’s 31-13 win over Gators
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) Dalvin Cook rushed for 153 yards and a touchdown as No. 15 Florida State defeated No. 13 Florida for the fourth straight year 31-13 on Saturday.
Cook’s 17-yard score in the first quarter was his 45th career rushing touchdown, which broke Greg Allen’s 32-year old mark. The junior is also the first FSU running back since Sammie Smith (1986-88) with three straight 100-yard games against Florida.
”You are blessed to coach certain guys in your career and he is one of them,” said Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher of Cook.
The Seminoles (9-3, 5-3 Atlantic Coast Conference, No. 14 CFP) rushed for 249 yards and averaged 6.2 yards per carry against the nation’s fifth-ranked run defense. Freddie Stevenson had a 27-yard touchdown on his lone carry during the fourth quarter to make it 24-6 and put the game out of reach.
”We made some big runs and were good on third down,” Fisher said. ”We were able to control the clock which allowed us to play solid.”
The victory ties the Seminoles’ longest winning streak in the Sunshine State Showdown series. They also won four straight from 1977-80 and 1987-90.
Deondre Francois was 15 of 26 for 138 yards, including a 46-yard touchdown to Travis Rudolph during the third quarter to give the Seminoles a 17-6 lead. Francois also had a 9-yard rushing touchdown late in the fourth quarter for the final score.
Florida (8-3, 6-2 Southeastern Conference, No. 15 CFP) took the opening kickoff and drove to the FSU 2, but on fourth-and-goal Austin Appleby…