WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., Nov. 2 (UPI) -- Adrian McPherson, replacing Chris Rix at quarterback, sparked Florida State with a pair of touchdown passes in the second quarter Saturday as the 20th-ranked Seminoles rallied from an early 14-point deficit to down Wake Forest, 34-21.
The Seminoles (6-3, 5-0) rebounded from last week's 34-24 loss to Notre Dame and took advantage of North Carolina State's loss to Georgia Tech to move into sole possession of first place in the ACC.
Florida State, which snapped a two-game losing streak, is seeking its 10th ACC title in 11 years.
The Seminoles took the lead for good, 24-21, on Nick Maddox's three-yard run with 10:50 to go in the third period. Maddox clinched the win with a 34-yard run with 1:58 to play.
Early on, however, the decision to start McPherson appeared to backfire as Wake Forest (5-5, 3-4) opened a 14-0 lead on touchdown runs of three yards by Ovie Mughelli and 13 yards by Chris Barclay.
But Florida State settled down on defense after allowing 228 yards in the first quarter. The Deamon Deacons also hurt themselves on special teams with three missed field goals, including a 41-yard attempt by Matt Wisnosky that would have tied the game with less than nine minutes left.
Florida State came alive in the second quarter, closing to within 14-7 on McPherson's 18-yard pass to Talmam Gardner with 12:40 left in the half.
Wake Forest answered on James MacPherson's 12-yard strike to Jason Anderson with 5:50 remaining, but the Seminoles scored 10 points in the final 2 1/2 minutes of the half to pull within 24-21.
Xavier Beitia kicked a 31-yard field goal and Adrian McPherson tossed a nine-yard touchdown strike to Anquan Boldin to give the Seminoles momentum heading into the second half.
Things unraveled for Wake Forest in the fourth quarter as Fabian Davis fumbled a punt at midfield with 6:59 left, leading to Beitia's 28-yard field goal with 3:16 to go.
