SportsDirect Inc. staff
Jan 2, 2013
Florida State 31, Northern Illinois 10: Lonnie Pryor rushed for two touchdowns and 134 yards on five carries and the Seminoles dominated the fourth quarter to win the Discover Orange Bowl.
Northern Illinois (12-2) pulled within 17-10 on Jordan Lynch’s 11-yard touchdown pass to Martel Moore with 9:55 left in the third quarter, but Florida State (12-2) drew clear in the fourth with 14 unanswered points.
EJ Manuel, who threw for 291 yards and a touchdown while finishing his career 4-0 in bowl games, put the Seminoles up 24-10 on a 9-yard touchdown run four seconds into the fourth quarter. Northern Illinois drove to the Seminoles’ 38-yard-line on its next possession before Xavier Rhodes recovered DaRon Brown’s fumble with 11:15 to play.
Pryor converted the key turnover into six points with a 37-yard touchdown run to essentially end the Huskies’ upset bid. The Seminoles outgained the Huskies 534-259 in total yards and turned each of Northern Illinois' two second-half turnovers into touchdowns.
Northern Illinois, which entered the game ranked ninth in rushing offense, recorded 83 yards. The Huskies were 5-for-18 on third-down conversions, and Lynch was 15-of-41 passing for 176 yards.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Pryor's 60-yard touchdown run in the first quarter was the longest running play allowed by Northern Illinois this season. … Lynch, who led the nation in total yards, rushed for 44. … Florida State K Dustin Hopkins set the FBS record with his 88th career field goal when he converted a 25-yarder in the third quarter.