TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — It’s running backs built like Zaire Franklin that he’s noticed give Syracuse the most hassle. He’s a linebacker, standing a stout 6 feet and 230 pounds, but when the player running at the Orange’s defense is the same, SU’s tackling issues are magnified.

Florida State true freshman Jacques Patrick, a 6-foot-2, 235-pounder, bulldozed Syracuse for 162 yards and three touchdowns in No. 17 FSU’s (7-1, 5-1 Atlantic Coast) 45-21 win against the Orange (3-5, 1-3) on Saturday at Doak Campbell Stadium. Continuing the trend started by Louisiana State’s Leonard Fournette and Pittsburgh’s Qadree Ollison, SU’s defensive struggles against bulkier running backs with downhill speed stunted any comeback attempt in its fifth consecutive loss.

“After playing the guy, 37 from Pitt last week, it’s just when guys like that weigh so much, and Fournette too,” Franklin said, “when they lean it’s hard to stop their momentum to make them fall backward.”

Patrick was filling in for Heisman contender and FSU starter Dalvin Cook. Unlike the injury to starting quarterback Everett Golson, Cook’s absence was announced Thursday night in the Seminoles injury report, so Syracuse had more time to prepare for the backup running back than Sean Maguire, FSU’s backup signal-caller.

On Patrick’s first score — the first of his career — he was hit on the goal line but moved offensive lineman Wilson Bell in along with SU linebacker Ted Taylor before staying upright as SU safety Chauncey Scissum tried to wrap him up after he crossed the plane. Cook stood on the sideline, in his jersey and sweats, raising both hands up in the air to signal a touchdown.

Later in the game, Patrick ran up the right sideline before being met by Franklin. The SU sophomore initiated contact but both players stayed upright before Franklin carried Patrick, still standing, out of bounds.

“As the game went on, he just ran with more power, more confidence,” FSU head coach Jimbo Fisher said. “’These guys hitting me hard, but I’m still pretty big, too.’ You know what I mean?”

Fournette is 6 feet 1 inch and 230 pounds and he plastered 244 yards and two touchdowns on Syracuse. Ollison stands 6 feet 2 inches and 230, and he slapped 103 yards and two scores on SU.

Patrick, starting the first game of his career, ran the ball 24 times and only totaled 5 yards lost. He never had a run more than 30 yards, exploiting a crumbling Syracuse defense in chunks.

Early in the fourth quarter, with FSU up 35-14, Patrick took a handoff up the middle before making a cut to the right 3 yards past the line of scrimmage. Antwan Cordy and Donnie Simmons both got a piece, but ended up flat on the grass.

Scissum made a diving attempt at Patrick’s ankles, but he too ended up sprawled out. And as the freshman neared the end zone with Juwan Dowels trailing, the SU cornerback only put forth half a lunge.

By that point, it was too late.

“When a guy is so heavy and big and they lean,” Franklin said, “it’s hard to stand those guys up and get them going out of the way.”

Published on November 1, 2015 at 12:48 pm

Contact Matt: mcschnei@syr.edu | @matt_schneidman