No. 5 Florida St. runs roughshod over Va. Tech, 39-17

Field Level Media|published: Sat 7th October, 19:13 2023

Florida State Seminoles quarterback Jordan Travis (13) makes a dash towards the end zone. The Florida State Seminoles lead the Virginia Tech Hokies 22-10 at the half on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. credits: Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat / USA TODAY NETWORK

Trey Benson rushed for a career-high 200 yards and two touchdowns on just 11 carries as No. 5 Florida State beat visiting Virginia Tech 39-17 on Saturday in an Atlantic Coast Conference matchup in Tallahassee, Fla.

After totaling 189 yards on the ground through his first four games, Benson broke out against the Hokies (2-4, 1-1 ACC), scoring on runs of 85 and 62 yards.

Jordan Travis completed 18 of 24 passes for 170 yards, with a pair of touchdowns to Johnny Wilson, and threw an interception for the Seminoles (5-0, 3-0), who set the tone early with a 22-point first quarter.

Wilson finished with four catches for 54 yards. He exited the game in the third quarter with an apparent leg injury.

Bhayshul Tuten rushed for a touchdown and returned a kickoff 99 yards for another for Virginia Tech, which was outgained 452-313.

Hokies quarterback Kyron Drones threw for 104 yards on 14-for-27 passing. He also rushed for a team-high 80 yards on 14 touches.

Tuten silenced the home crowd when he took the opening kickoff of the second half to the end zone to pull the Hokies within 22-17.

But just two plays later, Benson gave momentum back to Florida State with his 62-yard score.

Ryan Fitzgerald made good on a 26-yard field goal with 6:23 left in the third quarter to give FSU some more breathing room, and Benson put the game away with his 85-yard scamper near the midway point of the fourth.

Travis capped a 13-play, 75-yard game-opening drive with a 7-yard touchdown pass to Wilson. Brian Courtney then rushed for a successful two-point conversion for an 8-0 Seminoles lead.

Lawrance Toafili rushed for a 23-yard score before Travis once again found Wilson in the end zone — this time from 18 yards out — to make it 22-0 with 1:34 left in the first quarter.

Virginia Tech finally broke through with 9:37 left in the second quarter, getting a 29-yard field goal from John Love.

After forcing Florida State to go three-and-out on the ensuring possession, the Hokies ran 16 plays to move 70 yards, with Tuten rushing for a 5-yard score that cut his team's deficit to 12 at 22-10 with 46 seconds left in the first half.

—Field Level Media

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