Defense, Greene lead Seminoles to ACC win over Virginia

TALLAHASSEE -- Florida State's win streak appears to be safe as long as points pile up faster than Jameis Winston's turnovers.
The second-ranked Seminoles relied on their defense to overcome another sloppy start by Winston at quarterback, and Rashad Greene hauled down a career-high 13 receptions in a 34-20 victory over Virginia in an Atlantic Coast Conference football game at Doak Campbell Stadium on Saturday.
The win was FSU's school-record 25th in a row. The undefeated Seminoles (9-0, 6-0 ACC) are zeroing in on another Atlantic Division title and appearance in the ACC Championship Game. Virginia (4-6, 2-4) absorbed its fourth consecutive loss.
FSU's defense, which had created 10 turnovers in its previous four games, forced three more against the visiting Cavaliers. The Seminoles needed each of them to overcome an early deficit created in part because of poor decisions with the football by Winston.
Defensive end Mario Edwards set up the Seminoles' first touchdown with a bone-crunching hit that forced a fumble, and teammate Derrick Mitchell pounced on the loose ball at the Virginia 23. After a 20-yard run by Winston, Williams found his path unimpeded to the end zone on a 2-yard touchdown run for a 7-0 lead less than three minutes into the contest.
That margin wouldn't last long, however, because of Winston's carelessness with the football. FSU's signal-caller threw two interceptions in the first quarter -- giving him five turnovers in a four-quarter span dating back to last week -- and Virginia turned both of Winston's mistakes into points on the other end of the field.
Virginia's Maurice Canady made an acrobatic interception of a Winston pass to turn back the Seminoles at midfield. The Cavaliers then marched 53 yards in nine plays, tying the game at 7-7 with receiver Andre Levrone's 16-yard touchdown reception over FSU cornerback P.J. Williams.
Winston was intercepted again in the first quarter when he tried to force a pass to tight end Nick O'Leary only to see the ball get popped into the air and Virginia's Eli Harold swoop in for the turnover. Darrius Jennings increased the Cavaliers' lead to 13-7 when he wiggled free of P.J. Williams' coverage in the end zone to haul in Greyson Lambert's 15-yard pass with 24 seconds left in the quarter.
Winston's two early interceptions followed a three-interception performance against Louisville. After throwing nine interceptions all of last year, Winston now has thrown 11 this season, including six in the three latest games. Eight of Winston's interceptions this year have come in the first halves of games.
A critical mistake by Lambert allowed the Seminoles to regain the lead early in the second quarter. Lambert tried to throw a pass to the sideline from inside his team's 10-yard line only to have FSU's Terrence Smith step in front of the throw for an interception. Karlos Williams' 3-yard touchdown run -- the 20th of his career -- on the next snap from scrimmage gave FSU a 14-13 edge.
On Virginia's subsequent possession, Lambert misfired on a backward pass that resulted in a fumble. Referees initially ruled the play incomplete -- spoiling Eddie Goldman's fumble return for a touchdown -- before reversing the call after a review. The Seminoles took over at Virginia's 22 and scored on the next play when Winston located a wide-open Greene for a touchdown pass and a 21-13 lead.
Winston finished the game 22-for-35 passing for 261 yards with a touchdown.
The Seminoles' first three scoring drives trimmed a total of 65 seconds off the clock before FSU pieced together its longest scoring drive of the season time-wise in the second quarter. Winston scrambled and scored on a 4-yard run to cap a 15-play, 80-yard drive that covered nearly seven minutes. Winston pump-faked to lure a defender off of his feet, allowing Winston to stretch the ball across the goal line for a 28-13 cushion with 4:43 left in the half.
The 28 points were the most scored in the first half by the Seminoles against a Football Bowl Subdivision opponent this season.
Virginia climbed back in contention after another Seminole turnover early in the third quarter. Cavalier linebacker Max Valles forced a fumble with a hit on FSU's Dalvin Cook, and defensive end Mike Moore recovered it. Lambert squeezed a 22-yard throw to Canaan Severin between two defenders on the next play to pull Virginia within 28-20.
FSU place-kicker Roberto Aguayo booted field goals of 43 and 40 yards later in the third quarter to extend the Seminoles' lead to 34-20. The latter of those two kicks ricocheted off the top of the left upright but cleared the crossbar.
Virginia turned the ball over on downs at FSU's 14-yard line with 5:47 left in the game, effectively squelching the Cavaliers' hopes for an upset.
Greene reeled in each of Winston's first six completions, and he set a career high with 13 receptions for 136 yards. Greene moved into third all-time in the ACC's record books for both career receptions (242) and career receiving yards (3,734).
Cook, who rushed for 36 yards on 11 carries, was injured in the third quarter and did not return. The Seminoles already were short-handed at running back. Mario Pender still has not returned from an ankle injury, and Ryan Green was not dressed for the game.