1981 Football - Year In Review | |
| Coaching Staff Bobby Bowden, Head Coach John Eason, Receivers Jim Gladden, Defensive Ends Jake Gonos, Graduate Assistant Bob Harbison, Administrative Assistant George Henshaw, Offensive Coordinator Nick Kish, Running Backs Gene McDowell, Linebackers Barry Rice, Graduate Assistant Billy Sexton, Quarterbacks Bill Shaw, Defensive Line Jack Stanton, Defensive Coordinator, Defensive Backfield  Click here to see individual photos |
 Coach Bobby Bowden, Renegade and Chief Osceola |
Billy Allen, 6-0, 198, RB, Cleveland, Ohio - Was the surprise of spring practice...joined the Tribe as a walk-on but has scholarship now after working his way to a second team berth for fall practice...an Air Force veteran who played service ball in Europe who caught eye of Bobby Bowden when Seminole mentor was speaking at clinics there last summer...never recruited out of high school...if he can cure fumble problems in fall expect him to contribute.
Greg Allen, 5-10, 185, TB, Milton - Extremely strong and powerful runner for his size...excellent speed (4.5) and agility...AAA all-state and All-South selection...rushed for over 2,000 yards as a senior.
Tracy Ashley, 5-10, 185, DB, Eastman, Ga. - Versatile all-stater as a defensive back but also played quarterback...solid 4.6 speed and great range in the secondary...hard hitter.
Lenny Chavers, 5-11, 240, DL, DeLand - State heavy weight weight-lifting champion...has benched pressed over 400 pounds...4.8 speed and good quickness in close...second team AAAA all-state...high school wrestler as well.
J.D. Dowell, 6-3, 235, OL, Tampa - Great technique player from a solid high school program...very intelligent and works hard...played some as a linebacker...second team AAAA all-state...should play early at FSU.
John Feagin, 6-0, 160, DB, Tallahassee - Hometown product from a great program that has produced nothing but starters at FSU...solid two-way performer as defensive back and wide receiver...AAA all-stater.
Tim Flasher, 6-5, 200, OL, Hollywood - Good growth potential...strong blocker and hard worker...honorable mention all-state...FSU coaches say they will bring him along slowly.
Darryl Gray, 6-2, 215, DE, Lake Wales - Outstanding all-around athlete...AAA second team all-state...very active player with good range.
Jessie Hester, 6-0, 175, WR, Belle Glade - Superior athlete...all-state and All-South selection...outstanding speed (9.6) and moves...should play immediately...great kick returner...his signing gave FSU an outstanding recruiting year.
Mike Hutto, 6-2, 220, DL, Marianna - Solid and versatile performer...has played fullback, linebacker and defensive line during his high school career...AAA all-state as a defensive lineman.
Cedric Jones, 5-9, 185, RB, Valdosta, Ga. - Great potential...top back in the South last year...ran for 2,800 yards and 38 TDs for state AAAA champs...has run 9.4 in the 100...all-state, All-South and All-American selection.
Rocky Kinsey, 5-9, 165, DB, Madison - Two way performer as runningback and defensive back...injured most of 1980 but still made third team all-state...ran 4.5 in football camp...great competitor.
Tom McCormick, 6-2, 225, C, Panama City - Another walk-on story...he came to the Tribe without a scholarship in fall of '80 and his only duty was with scout and junior varsity teams...his scout team efforts drew the attention of the coaching staff and he was named defensive scout team MVP...this fall the coaching staff elected to try him at center and he worked his way into the backup role to Bob Merson...line coach George Henshaw says McCormick "has good quickness and is intelligent"...he made improvement each day in spring drills and impressed head coach Bobby Bowden enough that he will have a scholarship when fall practice begins...born August 26, 1962.
Brian McCrary, 5-11, 175, DB, Germantown, Tenn. - Two-way player...UPI all-state first team and AP honorable mention...rushed for almost 2,000 yards in 1980...also All-South...state Golden Gloves boxing champ in his weight class.
Scott Merson, 6-0, 195, LB, Seminole - Brother of FSU starting center Bob Merson...strong and physical player...has been clocked at 10.0 in the 100.
Orson Mobley, 6-6, 240, TE, Miami - Played only one year of high school football and played well...All-Dade county and second team AAAA all-state...versatile athlete with tremendous potential...all-county in baseball and basketball.
Ron Moore, 6-0, 185, LB, Tampa - Well-rounded athlete...has played both running-back and defensive back...intelligent...although not highly heralded, FSU coaches think he will develop.
Dan Morris, 6-3, 240, OL, Altamonte Springs - Good solid line prospect...all-county selection as well as all-state mention...smart, hardworking and dedicated athlete.
Steve Nicklaus, 6-2, 185, WR, North Palm Beach - Solid all-around athlete...son of pro golfer Jack Nicklaus...consistent receiver with excellent hands and ability to get open...all-state class A.
Pete Panton, 6-2, 220, LB, Laurel - Tough, determined and aggressive defender...played every minute of every game on a great team...AAA all-stater as a linebacker and played fullback also.
Steve Player, 6-2, 180, WR, Valdosta, Ga. - Great hands and moves...ability to get open and catch in a crowd...all-state and All-South...member of Georgia AAAA state championship team.
Quent Reed, 5-10, 175, RB, Panama City - Two-way standout on a fine team...rushed for over 1,500 yards...great quickness and agility...potential on both offense and defense.
Mike Rendina, 5-9, 165, KS, Pompano Beach - Premier kicking prospect in America...punted for a 43 yard average...has kicked a 54 yard FG and puts all kickoffs into the end zone...AAAA all-state, All-South...Parade Magazine All-American...first time a kicker has been chosen on the Parade team.
Dave Roberts, 6-2, 225, C, Plantation - Strong and fundamentally sound player at a position that needs help...second team AAAA all-state selection...intelligent and has good work habits.
Ken Roe, 6-1, 200, LB, Cropwell, Ala. - Called by position coach Gene McDowell "the most improved linebacker we had in spring practice"...will be a top candidate for starting assignment in season opener...made progress during the spring in areas of knowledge and poise...still needs to improve speed and leg strength to become a starter...more from McDowell: "Ken became a solid player during the spring...he executes the defense well, has total intensity, plays in high gear play after play, shows poise and leadership and loves to play football"...working his way to being close to a starting position hasn't been easy for Roe - he started the spring as the last linebacker on the depth chart ladder...born August 25, 1962.
Bruce Shoemaker, 6-0, 175, DB, Fort Lauderdale - Outstanding defender with a reputation for making big plays and big hits...runs a 4.6 in the 40 yard dash...AAAA all-state.
Tony Smith, 5-11, 175, RB, Miami - Dade County's all-time rushing leader...AAAA all-state, All-South and All-American selection...great quickness and "feel" for running the ball.
Henry Taylor, 5-11, 210, LB, Milledgeville, Ga. - Excellent two-way performer...strong runner and an even better hitter on the defensive side of the ball...runs 4.7 in the 40.
Eric Thomas, 6-0, 185, QB, Valdosta, Ga. - Great combination of thrower and runner...led team to state AAAA championship...all-state and All-South selection...attended spring practice at FSU...one of three players from Lowndes signed by the Seminoles.
Billy Turner, 6-1, 185, DB, Tampa - Came to Florida State to play football without a scholarship, but after a good spring practice he now has one...father Billy is the head football coach at Tampa Chamberlain High School and was line coach for University of Tampa when the school dropped its program...born September 23, 1962.
Mike Whigham, 5-11, 180, DB, Miramar - Very quick and tough competitor...played both defensive back and runningback...runs 4.6 in the 40...second team AAAA all-state.
Pat Woolfork, 6-2, 240, DL, Vero Beach - Strong and quick defender...coached by former FSU player...runs 4.8...a good weight man in the state track events...AAAA all-stater.
1981 Roster - By Name
From the 1981 FSU Football Media Guide, pade 33.
L
T PY
R No Name Pos Hgt Wgt Cl Ltr Hometown (Prior School)
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* 31 Billy Allen RB 6-0 198 Fr Cleveland, Ohio (Glenville)
* 26 Greg Allen TB 5-10 185 Fr Milton (Milton)
* 23 Tracy Ashley DB 5-10 185 Fr Eastman, Ga. (Dodge County)
* 88 Jeff Bowden WR 5-8 170 Jr-R Tallahassee (Lincoln)
* 75 Tom Brannon OT 6-3 250 Sr-R ** Albany, Ga. (Riverview Academy)
* 45 Roger Brownlee DE 6-3 215 So-R * Doctors Inlet (Orange Park)
* 20 Ken Burnett FB 5-11 200 Jr * Brandon (Brandon)
* 90 Allen Dale Campbell DE 6-4 235 So Perry (Taylor County)
39 Manny Carballo FB 5-11 197 Jr Hialeah (Hialeah)
* 76 Alphonso Carreker DT 6-6 235 So * Columbus, Ohio (Marion Franklin)
* 68 Lenny Chavers DL 5-11 240 Fr DeLand (Deland)
* 84 Sam Childers TE 6-2 195 Sr *** Tallahassee (Leon)
* 24 Harvey Clayton DB 5-10 170 Jr * Florida City (South Dade)
* 66 Redus Coggin OG 6-3 230 Jr-R * Chipley (Chipley)
* 56 Jerry Coleman C 6-3 235 Jr Savannah, Ga. (Savannah Country Day)
78 Mike Coleman OT 6-4 250 Sr-R Savannah, Ga. (Savannah Country Day)
74 Danny Collier OT 6-4 250 Jr-R * Eau Gallie (Eau Gallie)
* 64 Jarvis Coursey DE 6-4 210 Sr *** Gray, Ga. (Jonesco Academy)
10 Bob Davis QB 6-4 190 So Warner Robins, Ga. (Warner Robins)
* 32 Darish Davis FB 5-11 200 Jr Augusta, Ga. (Richmond Academy/Georgia Tech)
91 John Diamantas NG 6-3 230 Jr-R Merritt Island (Merritt Island)
50 J.D. Dowell OL 6-3 235 Fr Tampa (Plant)
37 John Feagin DB 6-0 160 Fr Tallahassee (Leon)
68 Jeff Field OG 6-1 225 Sr-R Albany, Ga. (Westover)
97 Tim Flasher OL 6-5 200 Fr Hollywood (South Broward)
98 Brad Fojtik DE 6-4 215 So-R Auburndale (Santa Fe Catholic)
* 79 Garry Futch DT 6-2 240 Sr ** Ocala (Forest)
* 51 James Gilbert NG 6-0 250 Sr *** Miami (Carol City)
65 Darryl Gray DE 6-2 215 Fr Lake Wales (Lake Wales)
* 9 Warren Hanna DB 5-11 171 Jr Hollywood (Nova)
97 Herbert Harp DT 6-3 270 So-R Winter Garden (West Orange)
* 33 James Harris DB 6-0 185 Sr ** Gainesville (Buchholz)
* 30 Larry Harris DB 6-1 200 So * Gainesville (Eastside)
40 Gary Henry DB 6-1 190 Sr *** Orlando (Oak Ridge)
* 4 Jessie Hester WR 6-0 175 Fr Belle Glade (Belle Glade Central)
* 83 Ron Hester LB 6-2 220 Sr-R * Umatilla (Umatilla)
36 Cliff Holiday WR 5-8 165 Jr Newnan, Ga. (Newnan)
55 John Houston LB 6-0 210 So Atlanta, Ga. (Columbia)
67 Mike Hutto DL 6-2 220 Fr Marianna (Marianna)
22 Hardis Johnson WR 6-0 170 Jr ** Tampa (Robinson)
* 82 Tony Johnson WR 6-2 175 So-R Dothan, Ala. (Wicksburg)
* 41 Cedric Jones RB 5-9 185 Fr Valdosta, Ga. (Lowndes County)
40 Wayne Jones DB 5-10 180 Jr-R Jacksonville (Jackson)
Darryl Kershaw DL 6-4 240 So Columbus, Ohio (Columbus)
28 Rocky Kinsey DB 5-9 165 Fr Madison (Madison County)
Jeff A. Ledbetter TE 6-4 200 So Clearwater (Clearwater)
Keith Lester DL 6-4 240 So Clearwater (Clearwater)
* 12 Kelly Lowrey QB 6-2 230 So-R Lake City (Columbia)
13 Kim Mack DB 6-0 185 So Port Orange (Spruce Creek)
48 Prince Matt LB 5-10 185 So Bradenton (Manatee)
* 69 Tom McCormick C 6-2 225 So Panama City (Bay)
43 Brian McCrary DB 5-11 175 Fr Germantown, Tenn. (Germantown)
* 6 Dennis McKinnon WR 6-1 175 Jr * Miami (South Miami)
* 86 John McLean DE 6-2 225 So * Clermont (Clermont)
* 60 Scott McLean DE 6-4 240 Sr ** Clermont (Clermont)
* 71 Bob Merson C 6-2 240 Jr-R * Seminole (Seminole)
59 Scott Merson LB 6-0 195 Fr Seminole (Seminole)
* 19 Pat Milligan DB 6-0 170 So Fort Lauderdale (Fort Lauderdale)
57 Tim Mitchell DL 6-3 225 So Miami (Norland)
80 Orson Mobley TE 6-6 240 Fr Miami (Palmetto)
99 Ron Moore LB 6-0 185 Fr Tampa (Jesuit)
61 Dan Morris OL 6-3 240 Fr Altamonte Springs (Lake Brantley)
* 81 Zeke Mowatt TE 6-4 235 Jr * Wauchula (Hardee)
2 Steve Nicklaus WR 6-2 185 Fr North Palm Beach (Benjamin)
77 Chris Nickrenz OL 6-6 250 So-R Buffalo, N.Y. (Saint Joseph)
15 Lee Paige DB 6-0 195 Jr Winter Haven (Winter Haven)
96 Pete Panton LB 6-2 220 Fr Laurel (Venice)
Steve Player WR 6-2 180 Fr Valdosta, Ga. (Lowndes County)
* 85 David Ponder DT 6-3 210 So * Cairo, Ga. (Cairo)
42 Quent Reed RB 5-10 175 Fr Panama City (Mosley)
* 63 Ricky Render OG 6-5 240 So-R Ozark, Ala. (Wicksburg)
* 7 Mike Rendina KS 5-9 165 Fr Pompano Beach (Pompano Beach)
* 52 Sam Restivo C 6-1 225 So Jamestown, N.Y. (Jamestown)
* 8 Eric Riley DB 6-0 170 So Fort Myers (Fort Myers)
53 Jerry Riopelle OG 6-3 245 So Wyandotte, Mich. (Rossevelt)
92 Dave Roberts C 6-2 225 Fr Plantation (Plantation)
46 Mark Rodrigue DE 6-2 205 Sr Tallahassee (Choctawhatchee)
* 38 Ken Roe LB 6-1 200 So Cropwell, Ala. (Pell City)
* 62 Eric Ryan OT 6-4 255 Jr-R * Sarasota (Sarasota)
17 Bruce Shoemaker DB 6-0 175 Fr Fort Lauderdale (Stranahan)
* 35 Ernie Sims LB 6-1 215 Sr *** Tampa (Jefferson)
94 Mark Sims DT 6-3 245 Jr-R Bonifay (Holmes County)
80 Ellis Singletary LB 5-11 200 So-R Jasper (Hamilton County)
49 Tony Smith RB 5-11 175 Fr Miami (Southridge)
* 3 Rohn Stark P 6-3 195 Sr *** Fifty Lakes, Minn. (Pine River)
* 11 Rick Stockstill QB 6-1 185 Sr-R ** Fernandina Beach (Fernandina Beach)
* 58 Henry Taylor LB 5-11 210 Fr Milledgeville, Ga. (Baldwin)
16 Rick Taylor QB 6-1 180 So Port Saint Joe (Port Saint Joe)
1 Eric Thomas QB 6-0 185 Fr Valdosta, Ga. (Lowndes County)
9 Greg Thompson DB 6-0 180 So-R Apopka (Apopka)
72 Jim Thompson OG 6-6 220 So Midlothian, Va. (Midlothian)
* 18 Weegie Thompson WR 6-6 205 So-R Midlothian, Va. (Midlothian)
Billy Turner DB 6-1 185 So Tampa (Chamberlain)
* 73 Barry Voltapetti OT 6-7 260 Sr-R * Miami (Chaminade)
89 Tom Wheeler TE 6-3 210 So-R Port Orange (Spruce Creek)
29 Mike Whigham DB 5-11 180 Fr Miramar (Miramar)
* 27 Michael Whiting FB 6-2 210 Sr *** Largo (Largo)
78 Terry Widner OT 6-4 250 So-R Donalsonville, Ga. (Seminole County)
* 14 Blair Williams QB 6-1 185 Jr Tallahassee (Leon)
47 Brian Williams LB 6-1 215 So * Winter Haven (Winter Haven)
* 87 Phil Williams WR 5-10 170 Sr-R *** Warner Robins, Ga. (Warner Robins)
* 44 Ricky Williams TB 5-10 170 Jr ** Griffin, Ga. (Griffin)
70 Pat Woolfork DL 6-2 240 Fr Vero Beach (Vero Beach)
* 54 Tommy Young LB 6-0 195 Jr-R Lake City (Columbia)
1981 Roster - By Number
From the 1981 FSU Football Media Guide, pade 33.
L
T PY
R No Name Pos Hgt Wgt Cl Ltr Hometown (Prior School)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Darryl Kershaw DL 6-4 240 So Columbus, Ohio (Columbus)
Jeff A. Ledbetter TE 6-4 200 So Clearwater (Clearwater)
Keith Lester DL 6-4 240 So Clearwater (Clearwater)
Steve Player WR 6-2 180 Fr Valdosta, Ga. (Lowndes County)
Billy Turner DB 6-1 185 So Tampa (Chamberlain)
1 Eric Thomas QB 6-0 185 Fr Valdosta, Ga. (Lowndes County)
2 Steve Nicklaus WR 6-2 185 Fr North Palm Beach (Benjamin)
* 3 Rohn Stark P 6-3 195 Sr *** Fifty Lakes, Minn. (Pine River)
* 4 Jessie Hester WR 6-0 175 Fr Belle Glade (Belle Glade Central)
* 6 Dennis McKinnon WR 6-1 175 Jr * Miami (South Miami)
* 7 Mike Rendina KS 5-9 165 Fr Pompano Beach (Pompano Beach)
* 8 Eric Riley DB 6-0 170 So Fort Myers (Fort Myers)
* 9 Warren Hanna DB 5-11 171 Jr Hollywood (Nova)
9 Greg Thompson DB 6-0 180 So-R Apopka (Apopka)
10 Bob Davis QB 6-4 190 So Warner Robins, Ga. (Warner Robins)
* 11 Rick Stockstill QB 6-1 185 Sr-R ** Fernandina Beach (Fernandina Beach)
* 12 Kelly Lowrey QB 6-2 230 So-R Lake City (Columbia)
13 Kim Mack DB 6-0 185 So Port Orange (Spruce Creek)
* 14 Blair Williams QB 6-1 185 Jr Tallahassee (Leon)
15 Lee Paige DB 6-0 195 Jr Winter Haven (Winter Haven)
16 Rick Taylor QB 6-1 180 So Port Saint Joe (Port Saint Joe)
17 Bruce Shoemaker DB 6-0 175 Fr Fort Lauderdale (Stranahan)
* 18 Weegie Thompson WR 6-6 205 So-R Midlothian, Va. (Midlothian)
* 19 Pat Milligan DB 6-0 170 So Fort Lauderdale (Fort Lauderdale)
* 20 Ken Burnett FB 5-11 200 Jr * Brandon (Brandon)
22 Hardis Johnson WR 6-0 170 Jr ** Tampa (Robinson)
* 23 Tracy Ashley DB 5-10 185 Fr Eastman, Ga. (Dodge County)
* 24 Harvey Clayton DB 5-10 170 Jr * Florida City (South Dade)
* 26 Greg Allen TB 5-10 185 Fr Milton (Milton)
* 27 Michael Whiting FB 6-2 210 Sr *** Largo (Largo)
28 Rocky Kinsey DB 5-9 165 Fr Madison (Madison County)
29 Mike Whigham DB 5-11 180 Fr Miramar (Miramar)
* 30 Larry Harris DB 6-1 200 So * Gainesville (Eastside)
* 31 Billy Allen RB 6-0 198 Fr Cleveland, Ohio (Glenville)
* 32 Darish Davis FB 5-11 200 Jr Augusta, Ga. (Richmond Academy/Georgia Tech)
* 33 James Harris DB 6-0 185 Sr ** Gainesville (Buchholz)
* 35 Ernie Sims LB 6-1 215 Sr *** Tampa (Jefferson)
36 Cliff Holiday WR 5-8 165 Jr Newnan, Ga. (Newnan)
37 John Feagin DB 6-0 160 Fr Tallahassee (Leon)
* 38 Ken Roe LB 6-1 200 So Cropwell, Ala. (Pell City)
39 Manny Carballo FB 5-11 197 Jr Hialeah (Hialeah)
40 Gary Henry DB 6-1 190 Sr *** Orlando (Oak Ridge)
40 Wayne Jones DB 5-10 180 Jr-R Jacksonville (Jackson)
* 41 Cedric Jones RB 5-9 185 Fr Valdosta, Ga. (Lowndes County)
42 Quent Reed RB 5-10 175 Fr Panama City (Mosley)
43 Brian McCrary DB 5-11 175 Fr Germantown, Tenn. (Germantown)
* 44 Ricky Williams TB 5-10 170 Jr ** Griffin, Ga. (Griffin)
* 45 Roger Brownlee DE 6-3 215 So-R * Doctors Inlet (Orange Park)
46 Mark Rodrigue DE 6-2 205 Sr Tallahassee (Choctawhatchee)
47 Brian Williams LB 6-1 215 So * Winter Haven (Winter Haven)
48 Prince Matt LB 5-10 185 So Bradenton (Manatee)
49 Tony Smith RB 5-11 175 Fr Miami (Southridge)
50 J.D. Dowell OL 6-3 235 Fr Tampa (Plant)
* 51 James Gilbert NG 6-0 250 Sr *** Miami (Carol City)
* 52 Sam Restivo C 6-1 225 So Jamestown, N.Y. (Jamestown)
53 Jerry Riopelle OG 6-3 245 So Wyandotte, Mich. (Rossevelt)
* 54 Tommy Young LB 6-0 195 Jr-R Lake City (Columbia)
55 John Houston LB 6-0 210 So Atlanta, Ga. (Columbia)
* 56 Jerry Coleman C 6-3 235 Jr Savannah, Ga. (Savannah Country Day)
57 Tim Mitchell DL 6-3 225 So Miami (Norland)
* 58 Henry Taylor LB 5-11 210 Fr Milledgeville, Ga. (Baldwin)
59 Scott Merson LB 6-0 195 Fr Seminole (Seminole)
* 60 Scott McLean DE 6-4 240 Sr ** Clermont (Clermont)
61 Dan Morris OL 6-3 240 Fr Altamonte Springs (Lake Brantley)
* 62 Eric Ryan OT 6-4 255 Jr-R * Sarasota (Sarasota)
* 63 Ricky Render OG 6-5 240 So-R Ozark, Ala. (Wicksburg)
* 64 Jarvis Coursey DE 6-4 210 Sr *** Gray, Ga. (Jonesco Academy)
65 Darryl Gray DE 6-2 215 Fr Lake Wales (Lake Wales)
* 66 Redus Coggin OG 6-3 230 Jr-R * Chipley (Chipley)
67 Mike Hutto DL 6-2 220 Fr Marianna (Marianna)
* 68 Lenny Chavers DL 5-11 240 Fr DeLand (Deland)
68 Jeff Field OG 6-1 225 Sr-R Albany, Ga. (Westover)
* 69 Tom McCormick C 6-2 225 So Panama City (Bay)
70 Pat Woolfork DL 6-2 240 Fr Vero Beach (Vero Beach)
* 71 Bob Merson C 6-2 240 Jr-R * Seminole (Seminole)
72 Jim Thompson OG 6-6 220 So Midlothian, Va. (Midlothian)
* 73 Barry Voltapetti OT 6-7 260 Sr-R * Miami (Chaminade)
74 Danny Collier OT 6-4 250 Jr-R * Eau Gallie (Eau Gallie)
* 75 Tom Brannon OT 6-3 250 Sr-R ** Albany, Ga. (Riverview Academy)
* 76 Alphonso Carreker DT 6-6 235 So * Columbus, Ohio (Marion Franklin)
77 Chris Nickrenz OL 6-6 250 So-R Buffalo, N.Y. (Saint Joseph)
78 Mike Coleman OT 6-4 250 Sr-R Savannah, Ga. (Savannah Country Day)
78 Terry Widner OT 6-4 250 So-R Donalsonville, Ga. (Seminole County)
* 79 Garry Futch DT 6-2 240 Sr ** Ocala (Forest)
80 Orson Mobley TE 6-6 240 Fr Miami (Palmetto)
80 Ellis Singletary LB 5-11 200 So-R Jasper (Hamilton County)
* 81 Zeke Mowatt TE 6-4 235 Jr * Wauchula (Hardee)
* 82 Tony Johnson WR 6-2 175 So-R Dothan, Ala. (Wicksburg)
* 83 Ron Hester LB 6-2 220 Sr-R * Umatilla (Umatilla)
* 84 Sam Childers TE 6-2 195 Sr *** Tallahassee (Leon)
* 85 David Ponder DT 6-3 210 So * Cairo, Ga. (Cairo)
* 86 John McLean DE 6-2 225 So * Clermont (Clermont)
* 87 Phil Williams WR 5-10 170 Sr-R *** Warner Robins, Ga. (Warner Robins)
* 88 Jeff Bowden WR 5-8 170 Jr-R Tallahassee (Lincoln)
89 Tom Wheeler TE 6-3 210 So-R Port Orange (Spruce Creek)
* 90 Allen Dale Campbell DE 6-4 235 So Perry (Taylor County)
91 John Diamantas NG 6-3 230 Jr-R Merritt Island (Merritt Island)
92 Dave Roberts C 6-2 225 Fr Plantation (Plantation)
94 Mark Sims DT 6-3 245 Jr-R Bonifay (Holmes County)
96 Pete Panton LB 6-2 220 Fr Laurel (Venice)
97 Tim Flasher OL 6-5 200 Fr Hollywood (South Broward)
97 Herbert Harp DT 6-3 270 So-R Winter Garden (West Orange)
98 Brad Fojtik DE 6-4 215 So-R Auburndale (Santa Fe Catholic)
99 Ron Moore LB 6-0 185 Fr Tampa (Jesuit)
Lettermen on page 10 of the 1982 FSU Media Guide.
1981 Conference Awards
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Greg Allen All-South Independent - 2nd Team
Sam Childers All-South Independent - 2nd Team
Jarvis Coursey All-South Independent - 1st Team
Garry Futch All-South Independent - 2nd Team
James Harris All-South Independent - 2nd Team
Tom McCormick All-South Independent - 1st Team
Rohn Stark All-South Independent - 1st Team
Barry Voltapetti All-South Independent - 1st Team
Michael Whiting All-South Independent - 2nd Team
All-Conference - 9
1981 All-Americans
Name Organization
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Greg Allen Football News - 1st Team Freshman
Associated Press - Honorable Mention
Garry Futch Associated Press - Honorable Mention
Tom McCormick Associated Press - Honorable Mention
Rohn Stark Hartford Insurance - 1st Team
Newspaper Enterprises Association - 1st Team
The Sporting News - 1st Team
United Press International - 1st Team
Barry Voltapetti Associated Press - Honorable Mention
All-Americans - 5
1981 Noles in the Pros
Name No Pos Team
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ed Beckman 85 TE Kansas City Chiefs
Leon Bright 45 RB-PR-KR New York Giants
Bobby Butler 23 CB Atlanta Falcons
Bill Capece 3 K Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Hector Gray 26 DB Detroit Lions
Bobby Jackson 40 CB New York Jets
Willie Jones 90 DE Oakland Raiders
Ken Lanier 76 OT Denver Broncos
Lee Nelson 38 CB St. Louis Cardinals
Mike Shumann 84 WR San Francisco 49ers
J.T. Thomas 24 DB Pittsburgh Steelers
Noles in the Pros - 11
1981 Schedule and Results
GAME |
SCORE |
|||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville | ||||||||||||
| Memphis State | ||||||||||||
| Nebraska | ||||||||||||
| Ohio State | ||||||||||||
| Notre Dame South Bend, Ind. |
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| Pittsburgh | ||||||||||||
| Louisiana State | ||||||||||||
| Western Carolina | ||||||||||||
| Miami | ||||||||||||
| Southern Mississippi | ||||||||||||
| Florida | ||||||||||||
EOY StatsRef Overall Home Away Neutral ------------------------------------------------ FSU record is 6- 5 3-2 3-3 0-0 Against Top 25 1- 4 0-2 1-2 0-0
1981 - 100 Yard Rushing Club
Name Date Opponent Att Yds Avg TDs ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Greg Allen 10/31/1981 Western Carolina 32 322 10.06 1 Greg Allen 10/24/1981 Louisiana State 31 202 6.52 1 Ricky Williams 10/10/1981 Notre Dame 15 135 9.00 0 Greg Allen 11/07/1981 Miami 23 109 4.74 1 Michael Whiting 10/31/1981 Western Carolina 16 106 6.63 21981 - 100 Yard Receiving Club
Name Date Opponent Rec Yds Avg TDs ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Dennis McKinnon 10/03/1981 Ohio State 5 107 21.40 01981 - 300 Yard Passing Club
Name Date Opponent Att Cmp Yds Int Avg TDs --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- None
1981 EOY Stats
Overall Team Statistics TEAM STATISTICS FSU OPP -------------------------------------------------------- SCORING....................... 240 286 Points Per Game............. 21.8 26.0 TOUCHDOWNS.................... 31 36 TDs Rushing................. 13 14 TDs Passing................. 15 17 TDs Fumble Return........... 0 1 TDs Punt Return............. 1 3 TDs Interception............ 0 1 TDs Kickoff Return.......... 2 0 TDs Lateral................. 0 0 TDs Free Kick............... 0 0 PAT-ATTEMPTS.................. 26-31 33-36 Kick........................ 25-28 31-33 Pass........................ 1- 3 1- 2 Run......................... 0- 0 1- 1 FIELD GOALS-ATTEMPTS.......... 9-15 11-18 SAFETY........................ 0 1 FIRST DOWNS................... 218 213 Rushing..................... 117 105 Passing..................... 89 99 Penalty..................... 12 9 RUSHING YARDAGE............... 1955 1836 Yards gained rushing........ 2396 2210 Yards lost rushing.......... 441 374 Rushing Attempts............ 492 481 Average Per Rush............ 4.0 3.8 Average Per Game............ 177.7 166.9 PASSING YARDAGE............... 1888 2367 Att-Comp-Int................ 309-157-18 312-169-11 Efficiency.................. 106.50 128.82 Average Per Pass............ 6.1 7.6 Average Per Catch........... 12.0 14.0 Average Per Game............ 171.6 215.2 TOTAL OFFENSE................. 3843 4203 Total Plays................. 801 793 Average Per Play............ 4.8 5.3 Average Per Game............ 349.4 382.1 KICK RETURNS: #-YARDS......... 35- 846 36- 712 Average Per Return.......... 24.2 19.8 PUNT RETURNS: #-YARDS......... 31-164 37-466 Average Per Return.......... 5.3 12.6 INT RETURNS: #-YARDS.......... 11-111 18-150 Average Per Return.......... 10.1 8.3 FUMBLES-LOST.................. 24-13 29-14 PENALTIES-YARDS............... 56- 526 52- 433 Average Per Game............ 47.8 39.4 PUNTS-YARDS................... 65-2941 60-2161 Average Per Punt............ 45.2 36.0 Net punt average............ 38.1 33.3 3RD DOWN CONVERSIONS-3RD DOWN. 69-175 79-178 3rd-Down Pct................ .394 .444 SACKS BY-YARDS................ 27-217 - ATTENDANCE.................... 259,414 413,887 Games-Avg Per Game.......... 5-51,883 6-68,981
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida State | |||||
| Opponents |
Overall Individual Statistics
RUSHING G Att Gain Loss Net Avg TD Long Avg/G
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Greg Allen 10 139 921 33 888 6.4 3 66 88.8
Michael Whiting 10 111 472 11 461 4.2 4 37 46.1
Ricky Williams 10 79 388 34 354 4.5 2 37 35.4
Billy Allen 10 43 240 18 222 5.2 1 50t 22.2
Ken Burnett 11 21 110 1 109 5.2 0 13 9.9
Cedric Jones 11 21 125 39 86 4.1 2 30t 7.8
Dennis McKinnon 11 2 24 0 24 12.0 0 15 2.2
Darish Davis 6 6 20 3 17 2.8 0 9 2.8
Rohn Stark 11 2 10 12 -2 -1.0 0 10 -0.2
Kelly Lowrey 11 2 5 11 -6 -3.0 1 5t -0.5
Team 0 1 0 6 -6 -6.0 0 -6
Blair Williams 6 12 6 75 -69 -5.8 0 4 -11.5
Rick Stockstill 11 53 75 198 -123 -2.3 0 14 -11.2
Total......... 11 492 2396 441 1955 4.0 13 66 177.7
Opponents..... 11 481 2210 374 1836 3.8 14 166.9
PASSING G Effic Att-Cmp-Int Pct Yds TD Long Avg/G
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Rick Stockstill 11 102.61 238-122-14 .513 1356 11 41 123.3
Blair Williams 6 123.79 61- 31- 4 .508 468 4 50t 78.0
Cedric Jones 11 127.36 5- 2- 0 .400 52 0 38 4.7
Kelly Lowrey 11 75.20 4- 2- 0 .500 12 0 8 1.1
Greg Allen 10 0.00 1- 0- 0 .000 0 0 0 0.0
Total......... 11 106.50 309-157-18 .508 1888 15 50t 171.6
Opponents..... 11 128.82 312-169-11 .542 2367 17 215.2
RECEIVING G No Yds Avg TD Long Avg/G
------------------------------------------------------
Phil Williams 11 22 413 18.8 1 38 37.5
Dennis McKinnon 11 28 377 13.5 4 50t 34.3
Michael Whiting 10 29 211 7.3 2 17t 21.1
Tony Johnson 9 13 207 15.9 3 38 23.0
Sam Childers 11 18 163 9.1 3 22 14.8
Jessie Hester 4 9 151 16.8 1 26 37.8
Zeke Mowatt 11 13 123 9.5 0 19 11.2
Weegie Thompson 7 2 73 36.5 0 45 10.4
Ricky Williams 10 7 41 5.9 0 9 4.1
Greg Allen 10 5 35 7.0 0 12 3.5
Billy Allen 10 5 34 6.8 0 9 3.4
Tom Wheeler 5 2 16 8.0 1 10 3.2
Cedric Jones 11 1 16 16.0 0 16 1.5
Rick Stockstill 11 1 14 14.0 0 14 1.3
Steve Nicklaus 1 11 11 1.0 0 11 11.0
Ken Burnett 11 1 3 3.0 0 3 0.3
Total......... 11 157 1888 12.0 15 50t 171.6
Opponents..... 11 169 2367 14.0 17 215.2
PUNT RETURNS No Yds Avg TD Long
------------------------------------------
Cedric Jones 22 89 4.0 0
Ron Hester 1 35 35.0 1 35t
Warren Hanna 1 35 35.0 0
Dennis McKinnon 7 5 0.7 0
Total......... 31 164 5.3 1 35t
Opponent...... 37 466 12.6 3
INTERCEPTIONS No Yds Avg TD Long
------------------------------------------
Harvey Clayton 5 91 18.2 0
Larry Harris 3 9 3.0 0
James Harris 1 6 6.0 0 6
Alphonso Carreker 1 5 5.0 0 5
John McLean 1 0 0.0 0 0
Total......... 11 111 10.1 0
Opponent...... 18 150 8.3 1
KICK RETURNS No Yds Avg TD Long
------------------------------------------
Greg Allen 14 336 24.0 1 95t
Billy Allen 7 184 26.3 1 97t
Cedric Jones 9 146 16.2 0
Ricky Williams 3 46 15.3 0
Michael Whiting 2 34 17.0 0
Total......... 35 846 24.2 2 97t
Opponent...... 36 712 19.8 0
Fum
FUMBLE RETURNS No Yds Avg TD Long For
-----------------------------------------------
Harvey Clayton 2 0 0.0 0 . 0
James Harris 2 0 0.0 0 . 0
John McLean 2 0 0.0 0 . 0
Alphonso Carreker 1 0 0.0 0 . 0
Jarvis Coursey 1 0 0.0 0 . 0
James Gilbert 1 0 0.0 0 . 0
Larry Harris 1 0 0.0 0 . 0
Pat Milligan 1 0 0.0 0 . 0
David Ponder 1 0 0.0 0 . 0
Eric Riley 1 0 0.0 0 . 0
Ken Roe 1 0 0.0 0 . 0
Ernie Sims 1 0 0.0 0 . 0
Tommy Young 0 0 . 0 . 2
Total......... 14 0.0 0 2
Opponent...... 13 0.0 1
|-------- PATs --------|
Name TD FGs Kick Rush Rcv Pass DXP Saf Points
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Mike Rendina 0 9-15 25-28 0-0 0 0-0 0 0 52
Michael Whiting 6 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 0 0 36
Greg Allen 4 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 0 0 24
Dennis McKinnon 4 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 0 0 24
Sam Childers 3 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 0 0 18
Tony Johnson 3 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 0 0 18
Billy Allen 2 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 0 0 12
Cedric Jones 2 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 0 0 12
Ricky Williams 2 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 0 0 12
Phil Williams 1 0-0 0-0 0-0 1 0-0 0 0 8
Jessie Hester 1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 0 0 6
Ron Hester 1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 0 0 6
Kelly Lowrey 1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 0 0 6
Tom Wheeler 1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 0 0 6
Rick Stockstill 0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 1-3 0 0 0
====================================================================
FSU 31 9-15 25-28 0-0 1 1-3 0 0 240
Opponent 36 11-17 31-33 1-1 1 1-2 0 1 286
| Touchdowns | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Whiting | |||||||||
| Greg Allen | |||||||||
| Dennis McKinnon | |||||||||
| Sam Childers | |||||||||
| Tony Johnson | |||||||||
| Billy Allen | |||||||||
| Cedric Jones | |||||||||
| Ricky Williams | |||||||||
| Phil Williams | |||||||||
| Jessie Hester | |||||||||
| Ron Hester | |||||||||
| Kelly Lowrey | |||||||||
| Tom Wheeler | |||||||||
| Rick Stockstill | |||||||||
| Blair Williams | |||||||||
| Total | |||||||||
| Opponents |
R = Rushing C = Catch P = Pass I = Interception FR = Fumble Recovery/Return PR = Punt Return/Blocked Punt KR = Kickoff Return L = Lateral FK = Free Kick Return TOTAL OFFENSE G Plays Rush Pass Total Avg/G -------------------------------------------------- Rick Stockstill 11 291 -123 1356 1233 112.1 Greg Allen 10 140 888 0 888 88.8 Michael Whiting 10 111 461 0 461 46.1 Blair Williams 6 73 -69 468 399 66.5 Ricky Williams 10 79 354 0 354 35.4 Billy Allen 10 43 222 0 222 22.2 Cedric Jones 11 26 86 52 138 12.5 Ken Burnett 11 21 109 0 109 9.9 Dennis McKinnon 11 2 24 0 24 2.2 Darish Davis 6 6 17 0 17 2.8 Kelly Lowrey 11 6 -6 12 6 0.5 Rohn Stark 11 2 -2 0 -2 -0.2 Team 0 1 -6 0 -6 Total......... 11 801 1955 1888 3843 349.4 Opponent...... 11 793 1836 2367 4203 382.1 FIELD GOALS FGM-FGA Pct 01-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-99 Lg ----------------------------------------------------------------- Mike Rendina 9-15 .600 0- 0 7- 8 0- 1 1- 3 1- 3 52
| FG SEQUENCE | Mike Rendina |
|---|---|
| Louisville | |
| Memphis State | |
| Nebraska | |
| Ohio State | |
| Notre Dame | |
| Pittsburgh | |
| Louisiana State | |
| Western Carolina | |
| Miami | |
| Southern Mississippi | |
| Florida |
() For made field goals
PUNTING No Yds Avg Long TB FC I20 Blkd
-------------------------------------------------------
Rohn Stark 64 2941 46.0 64
Team 1 0 0.0 1
Total......... 65 2941 45.2 64 1
Opponent...... 60 2161 36.0 2
ALL PURPOSE G Rush Rec PR KR IR FR Tot Avg/G
----------------------------------------------------------------
Greg Allen 10 888 35 0 336 0 0 1259 125.9
Michael Whiting 10 461 211 0 34 0 0 706 70.6
Ricky Williams 10 354 41 0 46 0 0 441 44.1
Billy Allen 10 222 34 0 184 0 0 440 44.0
Phil Williams 11 0 413 0 0 0 0 413 37.5
Dennis McKinnon 11 24 377 5 0 0 0 406 36.9
Cedric Jones 11 86 16 89 146 0 0 337 30.6
Tony Johnson 9 0 207 0 0 0 0 207 23.0
Sam Childers 11 0 163 0 0 0 0 163 14.8
Jessie Hester 4 0 151 0 0 0 0 151 37.8
Zeke Mowatt 11 0 123 0 0 0 0 123 11.2
Ken Burnett 11 109 3 0 0 0 0 112 10.2
Harvey Clayton 11 0 0 0 0 91 0 91 8.3
Weegie Thompson 7 0 73 0 0 0 0 73 10.4
Ron Hester 11 0 0 35 0 0 0 35 3.2
Warren Hanna 10 0 0 35 0 0 0 35 3.5
Darish Davis 6 17 0 0 0 0 0 17 2.8
Tom Wheeler 5 0 16 0 0 0 0 16 3.2
Steve Nicklaus 1 0 11 0 0 0 0 11 11.0
Larry Harris 11 0 0 0 0 9 0 9 0.8
James Harris 11 0 0 0 0 6 0 6 0.5
Alphonso Carreker 11 0 0 0 0 5 0 5 0.5
Rohn Stark 11 -2 0 0 0 0 0 -2 -0.2
Kelly Lowrey 11 -6 0 0 0 0 0 -6 -0.5
Team 0 -6 0 0 0 0 0 -6
Blair Williams 6 -69 0 0 0 0 0 -69 -11.5
Rick Stockstill 11 -123 14 0 0 0 0 -109 -9.9
Total......... 11 1955 1888 164 846 111 0 4964 451.3
Opponent...... 11 1836 2367 466 712 150 0 5531 502.8
|---------Tackles---------| |---Sacks---| |---Pass Def---| |-Fumbles-| Blkd
DEFENSIVE LEADERS GP UT AT Total ForLoss No - Yards Int-Yds BrUp QBH Rcv-Yds FF Kick Saf
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ron Hester 11 75 57 132 4.0- 2.0- 14.0 . 3 . . . 1 .
Jarvis Coursey 11 41 58 99 2.0- 1.0- 8.0 . 1 . 1- 0 . . .
Tommy Young 11 38 59 97 2.0- 1.0- 8.0 . 1 . . 2 . .
Ken Roe 11 43 45 88 2.0- 3.0- 13.0 . 2 . 1- 0 . . .
Larry Harris 11 57 26 83 1.0- . 3- 9 2 . 1- 0 . . .
James Gilbert 11 43 17 60 5.0- 2.0- 18.0 . 2 . 1- 0 . . .
James Harris 11 40 19 59 2.0- 3.0- 28.0 1- 6 6 . 2- 0 . . .
Scott McLean 11 29 29 58 2.0- 1.0- 8.0 . 2 . . . . .
Garry Futch 11 32 22 54 8.0- 5.0- 39.0 . . . . . . .
Alphonso Carreker 11 30 22 52 2.0- 4.0- 18.0 1- 5 . . 1- 0 . . .
Harvey Clayton 11 39 11 50 1.0- . 5- 91 10 . 2- 0 . . .
Allen Dale Campbell 10 26 17 43 1.0- 1.0- 10.0 . 1 . . . . .
Henry Taylor 5 17 15 32 . . . 1 . . . . .
Eric Riley 11 19 10 29 . . . 4 . 1- 0 . . .
Tracy Ashley 10 18 11 29 . . . 2 . . . . .
John McLean 10 12 10 22 . 2.0- 35.0 1- 0 . . 2- 0 . . .
Pat Milligan 10 12 7 19 . . . 4 . 1- 0 . . .
Lenny Chavers 9 13 4 17 . . . . . . . . .
David Ponder 10 13 3 16 . 2.0- 18.0 . . . 1- 0 . . .
Warren Hanna 10 9 6 15 1.0- . . 2 . . . 1 .
Mark Rodrigue 7 5 4 9 . . . . . . . . .
Brian McCrary 4 6 3 9 . . . . . . . . .
Ernie Sims 9 1 6 7 . . . . . 1- 0 . . .
Kim Mack 9 4 . 4 . . . . . . . . .
Brad Fojtik 6 1 1 2 . . . . . . . . .
Quent Reed 3 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . .
Brian Williams 2 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . .
Orson Mobley 2 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . .
Tom Brannon 11 . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ken Burnett 11 . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sam Childers 11 . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cedric Jones 11 . . . . . . . . . . . .
Kelly Lowrey 11 . . . . . . . . . . . .
Zeke Mowatt 11 . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tom McCormick 11 . . . . . . . . . . . .
Dennis McKinnon 11 . . . . . . . . . . . .
Mike Rendina 11 . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sam Restivo 11 . . . . . . . . . . . .
Eric Ryan 11 . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rohn Stark 11 . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rick Stockstill 11 . . . . . . . . . . . .
Barry Voltapetti 11 . . . . . . . . . . . .
Phil Williams 11 . . . . . . . . . . . .
Billy Allen 10 . . . . . . . . . . . .
Greg Allen 10 . . . . . . . . . . . .
Michael Whiting 10 . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ricky Williams 10 . . . . . . . . . . . .
Bob Merson 9 . . . . . . . . . . . .
Terry Widner 9 . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tony Johnson 9 . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ricky Render 9 . . . . . . . . . . . .
Redus Coggin 7 . . . . . . . . . . . .
Weegie Thompson 7 . . . . . . . . . . . .
Blair Williams 6 . . . . . . . . . . . .
Darish Davis 6 . . . . . . . . . . . .
Dan Morris 5 . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chris Nickrenz 5 . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tom Wheeler 5 . . . . . . . . . . . .
Jerry Coleman 5 . . . . . . . . . . . .
Jessie Hester 4 . . . . . . . . . . . .
Pete Panton 3 . . . . . . . . . . . .
Danny Collier 2 . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cliff Holiday 2 . . . . . . . . . . . .
Manny Carballo 1 . . . . . . . . . . . .
Roger Brownlee 1 . . . . . . . . . . . .
Hardis Johnson 1 . . . . . . . . . . . .
Steve Nicklaus 1 . . . . . . . . . . . .
John Houston 1 . . . . . . . . . . . .
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals 626 462 1088 33.0- 0.0 27.0-217.0 11-111 43 . 15- 0 2 2 .
Game Participation
## Player GP-GS UL Mem UN OhSt ND Pitt LSU WCU UM USM UF
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
31 Billy Allen 10- 1 xx O-TB xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx
26 Greg Allen 10- 5 xx xx xx xx xx O-RB O-TB O-TB O-TB O-TB
23 Tracy Ashley 10- 4 xx xx xx xx xx xx D-SS D-SS D-SS D-SS
88 Jeff Bowden 0- 0
75 Tom Brannon 11- 7 O-OG O-OG O-OG O-OG O-RG O-OG O-LG xx xx xx xx
45 Roger Brownlee 1- 0 xx
20 Ken Burnett 11- 3 O-FB O-FB xx xx xx xx O-FB xx xx xx xx
90 Allen Dale Campbell 10- 1 xx xx xx D-DE xx xx xx xx xx xx
39 Manny Carballo 1- 0 xx
76 Alphonso Carreker 11-11 D-LT D-LT D-LT D-LT D-LT D-LT D-LT D-LT D-LT D-LT D-LT
68 Lenny Chavers 9- 0 xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx
84 Sam Childers 11- 0 xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx
24 Harvey Clayton 11-11 D-CB D-CB D-CB D-CB D-CB D-CB D-CB D-CB D-CB D-CB D-CB
66 Redus Coggin 7- 2 O-OG xx O-OG xx xx xx xx
56 Jerry Coleman 5- 0 xx xx xx xx xx
78 Mike Coleman 0- 0
74 Danny Collier 2- 1 xx O-OG
64 Jarvis Coursey 11-11 D-DE D-DE D-DE D-DE D-DE D-DE D-RE D-DE D-DE D-DE D-DE
10 Bob Davis 0- 0
32 Darish Davis 6- 0 xx xx xx xx xx xx
91 John Diamantas 0- 0
50 J.D. Dowell 0- 0
37 John Feagin 0- 0
68 Jeff Field 0- 0
97 Tim Flasher 0- 0
98 Brad Fojtik 6- 0 xx xx xx xx xx xx
79 Garry Futch 11-11 D-RT D-RT D-RT D-RT D-RT D-RT D-RT D-RT D-RT D-RT D-RT
51 James Gilbert 11-11 D-NG D-NG D-NG D-NG D-NG D-NG D-NG D-NG D-NG D-NG D-NG
65 Darryl Gray 0- 0
9 Warren Hanna 10- 0 xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx
97 Herbert Harp 0- 0
33 James Harris 11-11 D-CB D-CB D-CB D-CB D-CB D-CB D-CB D-CB D-CB D-CB D-CB
30 Larry Harris 11- 9 D-SS D-SS D-SS D-SS xx D-SS xx D-WS D-WS D-WS D-WS
40 Gary Henry 0- 0
4 Jessie Hester 4- 0 xx xx xx xx
83 Ron Hester 11- 7 D-LB D-LB D-LB xx xx xx xx D-LB D-LB D-LB D-LB
36 Cliff Holiday 2- 0 xx xx
55 John Houston 1- 0 xx
67 Mike Hutto 0- 0
22 Hardis Johnson 1- 0 xx
82 Tony Johnson 9- 4 xx xx xx xx xx O-WR O-WR O-WR O-WR
41 Cedric Jones 11- 0 xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx
40 Wayne Jones 0- 0
Darryl Kershaw 0- 0
28 Rocky Kinsey 0- 0
Jeff A. Ledbetter 0- 0
Keith Lester 0- 0
12 Kelly Lowrey 11- 0 xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx
13 Kim Mack 9- 0 xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx
48 Prince Matt 0- 0
69 Tom McCormick 11-11 O-C O-C O-C O-C O-C O-C O-C O-C O-C O-C O-C
43 Brian McCrary 4- 0 xx xx xx xx
6 Dennis McKinnon 11- 7 O-WR O-WR O-WR O-WR O-WR O-WR O-WR xx xx xx xx
86 John McLean 10- 1 xx xx D-DE xx xx xx xx xx xx xx
60 Scott McLean 11- 9 D-DE D-DE xx xx D-DE D-DE D-LE D-DE D-DE D-DE D-DE
71 Bob Merson 9- 4 xx xx xx xx xx O-OG O-OG O-OG O-OG
59 Scott Merson 0- 0
19 Pat Milligan 10- 2 xx xx xx D-SS xx D-SS xx xx xx xx
57 Tim Mitchell 0- 0
80 Orson Mobley 2- 0 xx xx
99 Ron Moore 0- 0
61 Dan Morris 5- 0 xx xx xx xx xx
81 Zeke Mowatt 11-11 O-TE O-TE O-TE O-TE O-TE O-TE O-TE O-TE O-TE O-TE O-TE
2 Steve Nicklaus 1- 0 xx
77 Chris Nickrenz 5- 0 xx xx xx xx xx
15 Lee Paige 0- 0
96 Pete Panton 3- 0 xx xx xx
Steve Player 0- 0
85 David Ponder 10- 0 xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx
42 Quent Reed 3- 0 xx xx xx
63 Ricky Render 9- 8 xx O-OG O-LG O-OG O-RG O-OG O-OG O-OG O-OG
7 Mike Rendina 11- 0 xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx
52 Sam Restivo 11- 0 xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx
8 Eric Riley 11- 7 D-WS D-WS D-WS D-CB D-WS D-WS D-WS xx xx xx xx
53 Jerry Riopelle 0- 0
92 Dave Roberts 0- 0
46 Mark Rodrigue 7- 0 xx xx xx xx xx xx xx
38 Ken Roe 11- 9 D-LB D-LB D-LB D-LB D-LB D-OLB D-LB xx xx D-LB D-LB
62 Eric Ryan 11-11 O-OT O-OT O-OT O-OT O-LT O-OT O-RT O-OT O-OT O-OT O-OT
17 Bruce Shoemaker 0- 0
35 Ernie Sims 9- 0 xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx
94 Mark Sims 0- 0
80 Ellis Singletary 0- 0
49 Tony Smith 0- 0
3 Rohn Stark 11- 0 xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx
11 Rick Stockstill 11-11 O-QB O-QB O-QB O-QB O-QB O-QB O-QB O-QB O-QB O-QB O-QB
58 Henry Taylor 5- 0 xx xx xx xx xx
16 Rick Taylor 0- 0
1 Eric Thomas 0- 0
9 Greg Thompson 0- 0
72 Jim Thompson 0- 0
18 Weegie Thompson 7- 0 xx xx xx xx xx xx xx
Billy Turner 0- 0
73 Barry Voltapetti 11-11 O-OT O-OT O-OT O-OT O-RT O-OT O-LT O-OT O-OT O-OT O-OT
89 Tom Wheeler 5- 0 xx xx xx xx xx
29 Mike Whigham 0- 0
27 Michael Whiting 10- 8 xx xx O-FB O-FB O-FB O-FB O-FB O-FB O-FB O-FB
78 Terry Widner 9- 0 xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx
14 Blair Williams 6- 0 xx xx xx xx xx xx
47 Brian Williams 2- 0 xx xx
87 Phil Williams 11-11 O-WR O-WR O-WR O-WR O-WR O-WR O-WR O-WR O-WR O-WR O-WR
44 Ricky Williams 10- 5 O-TB xx O-RB O-TB O-TB O-TB xx xx xx xx
70 Pat Woolfork 0- 0
54 Tommy Young 11- 6 xx xx xx D-LB D-LB D-OLB D-LB D-LB D-LB xx xx
Seminoles stumble to 17-0 victory.
TALLAHASSEE, FL – With the equivalent of a rusty blade, Florida State hacked out a 17-0 football victory Saturday night in a most difficult opening game.
Frustrated throughout by a Louisville defense led by tackle Richard Tharpe, the Seminoles staggered and stumbled most of the way. Four times Tharpe got through and sacked quarterback Rick Stockstill.
It was 10-0 after the first quarter, as freshman Mike Rendina kicked a 24-yard field goal and Stockstill hit freshman Jessie Hester with an 11-yard scoring pass – but it was nothing like that easy.
Repeatedly, Louisville threatened, only to be denied.
With seven minutes left, another freshman – tailback Billy Allen – tore away with a pitchout on a 50-yard scoring run to ice it. Allen ran just eight times for 89 yards.
Louisville had first turn with the football on a relatively cool evening. Rain had fallen steadily for several hours, but a tarpaulin had protected the field, and it stopped coming down about kickoff time.
Following that kickoff, the Cardinals could not move from their 28, and Florida State got into position at its 42 following a punt.
On two Stockstill passes, to Dennis McKinnon and Ricky Williams, the Seminoles reached Louisville’s 48.
Soon Rohn Stark got off his first punt of the season and Mark Clayton could not handle it. Larry Harris covered the fumble for Florida State at the Louisville 14.
Williams got 6 on a run but another try failed. A pass missed. Rendina kicked a 24-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead.
Following a second Louisville punt, FSU began at its 35.
Passes to McKinnon and Zeke Mowatt quickly got FSU to the Cards’ 33. Then freshman Hester came in for his first varsity play and grabbed a Stockstill throw at the 11.
Two plays later, Hester caught an end zone pass on the other side for a touchdown that, with Rendina’s point, brought the score to 10-0.
Jeff Speedy’s 55-yard kickoff return placed Louisville at FSU’s 45. It was Rendina who finally stopped Speedy on his jaunt down the sideline.
Mixing short passes and runs, Pat Patterson quarterbacked the visitors to fourth down at the 15 as the quarter ended.
On a fake field-goal try, Patterson, down to hold, raised up with the ball, ran to his right and threw – incomplete. It looked as though he had running room.
On a run, Cedric Jones lost 7. Then a pass to Mike Whiting lost 6, back on the 1.
From the end zone, Stark boomed a 60-yard punt that pushed Louisville back to its 39.
Linebacker Ken Roe forced a fumble that Louisville recovered, then sacked Patterson for a loss of 9 to push the Cardinals back to their 36 after three downs.
Back at their 30, after a punt, the Seminoles found more trouble. Two plays in a row Stockstill was sacked by Tharpe, for 9 and 12 yards.
This time Stark punted 51 yards to the Cardinals 47.
Tackle Garry Futch sacked Patterson for a loss of 14, crimping that effort.
Backed to the 12 on a punt, Florida State soon replied with another Stark effort. It was a mere 38-yarder, but with a clip Louisville was knocked back to its 17.
Finally, the Seminoles got reasonable position at their 44 following a punt. Little came of it as Stockstill again was sacked. Stark punted 54 yards into the end zone with 2:49 left in the half.
Florida State got the ball back at its 31 with 27 seconds left – ran, fumbled, recovered it. The half ended.
From the 22, after the third-quarter kickoff, Stockstill came out with running passes, hitting Mowatt for 7, then McKinnon for 14. Billy Allen ran for another first down at Louisville’s 47.
But Stockstill’s throw over the middle was intercepted by Sebastian Curry at the 39. Alphonso Carreker caught Patterson for a loss of 5. Soon a punt was shanked and FSU had another shot, from its 43. Then Tharpe got through again for another sack of Stockstill.
Two plays later Mike Trainer intercepted Stockstill’s deflected pass, putting Louisville in business at the FSU 41.
Cedric Moss snared a pass at the 26. Soon Patterson, on a run, got 9 and a first down at the 13. Moss pounded to the 10.
Scott McLean tore in from end and sacked Patterson for minus-8. A pass missed. Then Tony Blair missed on a 35-yard try for a field goal.
Two Billy Allen runs gained the 36. Mowatt caught a pass at the 47.
Here came Tharpe again – sacking Stockstill again! It was the fifth time.
Stark punted to the Louisville 25.
Tailback Donald Craft burst for 22 to the 47. Then Patterson could not do it with passes. A punt backed FSU to its 12.
Stark replied with a punt of 40, and Louisville was at its 39.
Craft popped for 20 to FSU’s 36 as the quarter ended.
It came to fourth-and-1 at the 27. Louisville went for it, Craft hitting the middle. He met Carreker and Roe plus Ron Hester. No Gain. FSU took over.
Ken Burnett ran twice, to the 39. McKinnon pulled in a pass at Louisville’s 46. Two more runs were short, and a bomb failed. Stark punted into the end zone.
Dean May’s third-down pass to Keith Humphries gained a first down at the 32. They May found tackle David Ponder hanging on his neck, and he lost 9.
FSU got a punt at its 32 with 7:05 remaining.
Billy Allen soon ran for 8, then 6. Two plays later, he took a pitchout, cutback toward the middle and raced downfield for a touchdown on a 50-yard play. Rendina added a point for 17-0 as the clock showed 4:56.
With less than four minutes left, Blair Williams moved in at quarterback for FSU. On third down, he heaved a 45-yard bomb that Weegie Thompson tucked in at the 19. Two plays later Jessie Hester caught one at the 1.
Greg Allen lost 1 yard, then another – finding no running room at all. Then Frank Minnifield made a nifty interception of Williams’ pass in a corner of the end zone.
Two futile passes by Louisville, and it was over.< o
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville | |||||
| Florida State |
1st 3- 0 Mike Rendina, 24, field goal, 9:15
10- 0 Jessie Hester, 11, pass from Rick Stockstill (Mike Rendina, kick), 3:10
3rd 10- 0 Opp, 35, field goal failed, 6:43
4th 17- 0 Billy Allen, 50, run (Mike Rendina, kick), 4:56
TEAM STATISTICS
FSU OPP
First downs 16 7
Rushes-yards 48-95 29-65
Passing 188 68
Att-Comp-Int 27-16-3 30-11-0
Total Yards 75-283 59-133
Punt Returns 7-5 4--5
Kickoff Returns 1-14 2-70
Interception Ret. 0-0 3-13
Fumble Returns 1-0 0-0
Punts 8-42.9 10-37.7
Sacks By-Yds 6- 6-
Fumbles-Lost 1-0 2-1
Penalties-Yds 1-5 4-30
3rd Down Conversions 8-19 3-20
Time of Posession 34:30 25:30
Attendance 50,735
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing No Yds TD Lng
---------------------------------------------
Billy Allen 8 89 1 50t
Greg Allen 9 16 0 6
Ken Burnett 4 16 0 7
Michael Whiting 8 16 0 5
Ricky Williams 7 7 0 5
Cedric Jones 5 -2 0 7
Rick Stockstill 7 -47 0 1
---------------------------------------------
FSU 48 95 1 50t
Opp 29 65 0 22
Receiving No Yds TD Lng
---------------------------------------------
Dennis McKinnon 5 54 0 18
Jessie Hester 3 48 1 20
Weegie Thompson 1 45 0 45
Zeke Mowatt 3 25 0 10
Sam Childers 1 9 0 9
Ricky Williams 1 8 0 8
Billy Allen 1 4 0 4
Michael Whiting 1 -5 0 -5
---------------------------------------------
FSU 16 188 1 45
Opp 11 68 0 15
Passing C- A- I Yds TD Lng
-----------------------------------------------
Rick Stockstill 14 24 2 126 1 20
Blair Williams 2 3 1 62 0 45
-----------------------------------------------
FSU 16 27 3 188 1 45
Opp 11 30 0 68 0 15
Punt Return No Yds TD Lng
---------------------------------------------
Dennis McKinnon 7 5 0
---------------------------------------------
FSU 7 5 0
Opp 4 -5 0
Kickoff Return No Yds TD Lng
---------------------------------------------
Greg Allen 1 14 0 14
---------------------------------------------
FSU 1 14 0 14
Opp 2 70 0 55
Punting No Yds Lng
----------------------------------------
Rohn Stark 8 343 60
----------------------------------------
FSU 8 343 60
Opp 10 377 45
|---------Tackles---------| |---Sacks---| |---Pass Def---| |-Fumbles-| Blkd
DEFENSIVE STATISTICS UT AT Total ForLoss No - Yards Int-Yds BrUp QBH Rcv-Yds FF Kick Saf
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ron Hester 5 4 9 . . . . . . . . .
Ken Roe 4 4 8 2.0- 2.0- . 1 . . 1 . .
Harvey Clayton 3 3 6 . . . 4 . . . . .
James Gilbert 2 2 4 . . . . . . . . .
Scott McLean 2 2 4 1.0- 1.0- . . . . . . .
Alphonso Carreker 2 1 3 1.0- 1.0- . . . . . . .
Garry Futch 2 1 3 2.0- 1.0- . . . . . . .
Larry Harris . 3 3 . . . . . 1- 0 . . .
James Harris 2 . 2 . . . . . . . . .
Jarvis Coursey . 1 1 . . . 1 . . . . .
David Ponder 1 . 1 1.0- 1.0- . . . . . . .
Warren Hanna 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . .
Mike Rendina 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . .
Ken Burnett 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . .
Billy Allen 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . .
Brian Williams . 1 1 . . . . . . . . .
Kelly Lowrey . 1 1 . . . . . . . . .
Tommy Young . 1 1 . . . . . . . . .
Eric Riley . . . . . . 2 . . . . .
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FSU 27 24 51 7.0- 0.0 6.0- 0.0 . 8 . 1- 0 1 . .
Opp 34 49 83 9.0- 6.0- 3- 13 6 . . . . .
STARTERS
Pos ## OFFENSE ---------------------------------- WR 6 Dennis McKinnon QB 11 Rick Stockstill FB 20 Ken Burnett TB 44 Ricky Williams OT 62 Eric Ryan OG 66 Redus Coggin C 69 Tom McCormick OT 73 Barry Voltapetti OG 75 Tom Brannon TE 81 Zeke Mowatt WR 87 Phil Williams |
Pos ## DEFENSE ---------------------------------- WS 8 Eric Riley CB 24 Harvey Clayton SS 30 Larry Harris CB 33 James Harris LB 38 Ken Roe NG 51 James Gilbert DE 60 Scott McLean DE 64 Jarvis Coursey LT 76 Alphonso Carreker RT 79 Garry Futch LB 83 Ron Hester |
## NAME ----------------------------- 3 Rohn Stark 4 Jessie Hester 7 Mike Rendina 9 Warren Hanna 12 Kelly Lowrey 13 Kim Mack 14 Blair Williams 18 Weegie Thompson 19 Pat Milligan 23 Tracy Ashley 26 Greg Allen 27 Michael Whiting 31 Billy Allen 35 Ernie Sims 40 Manny Carballo 41 Cedric Jones |
## NAME ----------------------------- 46 Mark Rodrigue 47 Brian Williams 52 Sam Restivo 54 Tommy Young 61 Dan Morris 68 Lenny Chavers 71 Bob Merson 74 Danny Collier 77 Chris Nickrenz 78 Terry Widner 80 Orson Mobley 84 Sam Childers 85 David Ponder 86 John McLean 90 Allen Dale Campbell |
Seminoles sweat one out 10-5.
TALLAHASSEE, FL – Few had left this one early.
Falling all over itself, Florida State’s offense managed to get a touchdown and a field goal on the board. It was barely enough as an aroused, aggressive Memphis State football team stayed in it all the way before falling 10-5 before 51,454 sweating fans here Saturday.
Late in the opening quarter the Seminoles moved on a 77-yard drive to the lonesome touchdown that came on Mike Whiting’s 3-yard plunge in the first moments of the second quarter. That erased a 2-0 deficit, which came when Rick Stockstill was trapped in the end zone by Cedric Wright on FSU’s second series of the evening.
Early in the last quarter Mike Rendina kicked a 46 yard field goal to make it 10-2. A few minutes later Gregg Hauss put through a 27-yarder for 3 points and the final score.
But not until Larry Harris intercepted a pass with 4 seconds remaining did the Seminoles have this one won.
Florida State came out running in the third quarter.
From the 33, after the kickoff, Billy Allen knocked off 7. Mike Whiting struck for 15. Then Allen for 14 more, to the 31.
It came to fourth down at the 24, and Rendina missed an attempt at a 41-yard field goal.
Williams spun for 13, and Knowlton tucked in a pass for 11, at the 48.
On third down up stepped cornerback Harvey Clayton to pick off a Sanders pass, scooting 48 yards down the sideline to the 10.
Whiting slashed to the 2, then to within a foot of the goal. On the third down he got not an inch. Stockstill’s fourth down pass, intended for Sam Childers, was futile.
Memphis worked the ball up to its 8, punted to its 43.
Two penalties in a row frustrated the Seminoles. Then Robert Levingston compounded it with an interception of a Stockstill pass at the Memphis 29. Nothing came of it, except a punt to FSU’s 24.
Williams, replacing Stockstill, hit Hester with a pass at the 39. Soon Williams was sacked for a loss of 11. Stark punted to the 23.
Three downs, and FSU had it back on a punt at its 33.
On the last play of the quarter McKinnon caught a Williams pass for 15 at the Memphis 49.
Billy Allen got 9, but a busted play lost 2. Ken Burnett rammed for 11 to the 29. Two runs and a pass got nothing. But Rendina was good on a 46-yard field goal that made it 10-2.
Darryl Hunter’s falling catch of a 41-yard pass from Darrell Martin quickly move Memphis to FSU’s 39.
A chopping running game, led by Williams, cut out a first down at the 14 after five plays. Two more runs got only 4, and a pass failed. With a bit over eight minutes left Gregg Hauss kicked a 27-yard field goal that cut it to 10-5.
The Seminoles seemed stalled at their 32 when, on third down, Stockstill found Hester with a pass at the 50. Allen soon lost 8 to a blitzing linebacker. Whiting, on a screen pass, scrambled to the Memphis 42.
Fourth down, and Stark punted – with John McLean downing the ball at the 2.
Third down at the 4, and Martin passed to Bowers for 21 at the 25 with 2:45 to go. Another completion, near mid-field, was rubbed out by a motion penalty. Two more passes missed. Weaver punted 52 yards to FSU’s 27 as the clock showed 1:38.
Three runs into the line netted 7 yards and killed all except 49 seconds.
Stark punted to the 21. Thirty-seven seconds now. Martin passed to Bowers at the 37. Then four straight throws – the last one intercepted by Larry Harris at the FSU 30 with 4 seconds to play.
At the start, from its 20, Memphis State ran three times, coming up short of a first down at the 29, then punting to FSU’s 32.
Rick Stockstill missed on a pair of passes and Rohn Stark’s 54-yard punt dropped Memphis back to its 9.
Twice in three plays FSU nose guard James Gilbert jumped offside. That, coupled with the running of Richard Williams, quickly got the Tigers to midfield.
Soon Stan Weaver’s 38 yard punt backed the Seminoles to their two.
A pair of runs got only 4 yards. When Stockstill retreated into the end zone to pass, Cedric Wright tossed him to the ground for a safety and a 2-0 Memphis lead. A free-kick punt handed Memphis the ball at the 39. FSU held, got the ball back on a punt at its 23.
Two third-down Stockstill passes to Dennis McKinnon for 15 and Billy Allen for 7, gained the Tiger 44. Then Phil Williams pulled in a Stockstill pass at the 16.
Allen pounded to the 9, then Mike Whiting to the 7 as the quarter ended.
Whiting carried three more times, slamming into the end zone from the 3. Mike Rendina’s point made it 7-2.
Twice Rendina’s following kickoff was out of bounds. Then he got off a reasonable one and Memphis began at its 29.
A Sanders pass to John Bowers got 15 to the 44. The defense tightened and Weaver’s punt was a poor one, 18 yards to the FSU 30.
On three runs, Billy Allen got 22, but Michael Cannon intercepted Stockstill’s pass at the Memphis 43.
Frank Smith caught a Sanders pass at the FSU 36. On fourth and 2 at the 29, Memphis gambled with a run by Williams. He got it with a half-yard to spare. Still, three more runs got only 3 yards. Weaver’s try for a 39-yard field goal missed badly.
Allen scampered for 10. Soon Tony Johnson caught a 15-yard throw at the Memphis 47. After a loss on a busted play, McKinnon grabbed a 14-yard pass at the 36. Then McKinnon pulled one in at the 27, and Allen made it a first down at the 21. But with 1:22 left in the half, Allen fumbled and Mike Kiliemeyer recovered for Memphis at the eight.
With 28 seconds remaining, Florida State got the ball at the Memphis 43 after a punt. On second down Stockstill was sacked for -11 at his 46. In came Blair Williams at quarterback, but Jessie Hester was well covered as he threw long and the pass was broken up. Greg Allen got 10 on a fourth-down run as the half ended.
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis State | |||||
| Florida State |
1st 0- 2 Opp, safety, 6:37
Note: Stockstill is tackled in the end zone.
2nd 7- 2 Michael Whiting, 1, run (Mike Rendina, kick), 14:05
7- 2 Opp, 37, field goal failed, 5:08
3rd 7- 2 Mike Rendina, 41, field goal failed, 12:48
4th 10- 2 Mike Rendina, 46, field goal, 12:33
10- 5 Opp, 27, field goal, 8:09
TEAM STATISTICS
FSU OPP
First downs 17 13
Rushes-yards 56-185 45-135
Passing 163 131
Att-Comp-Int 22-11-2 19-8-2
Total Yards 78-348 64-266
Punt Returns 4-7 3-12
Kickoff Returns 2-39 3-55
Interception Ret. 2-48 2-6
Fumble Returns 0-0 1-0
Punts 4-47.3 9-35.3
Sacks By-Yds 0-0 2-
Fumbles-Lost 2-1 3-0
Penalties-Yds 12-65 2-10
3rd Down Conversions 9-19 4-18
Time of Posession 31:00 31:00
Attendance 51,454
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing No Yds TD Lng
---------------------------------------------
Billy Allen 22 91 0 15
Michael Whiting 18 55 1 15
Ken Burnett 4 30 0 11
Greg Allen 5 29 0 12
Blair Williams 3 -8 0 4
Rick Stockstill 4 -12 0 7
---------------------------------------------
FSU 56 185 1 15
Opp 45 135 0 13
Receiving No Yds TD Lng
---------------------------------------------
Dennis McKinnon 4 53 0 15
Jessie Hester 3 46 0 20
Phil Williams 1 28 0 28
Tony Johnson 1 16 0 16
Michael Whiting 1 13 0 13
Billy Allen 1 7 0 7
---------------------------------------------
FSU 11 163 0 28
Opp 8 131 0 41
Passing C- A- I Yds TD Lng
-----------------------------------------------
Rick Stockstill 9 16 2 128 0 28
Blair Williams 2 6 0 35 0 20
-----------------------------------------------
FSU 11 22 2 163 0 28
Opp 8 19 2 131 0 41
Punt Return No Yds TD Lng
---------------------------------------------
Cedric Jones 4 7 0
---------------------------------------------
FSU 4 7 0
Opp 3 12 0
Kickoff Return No Yds TD Lng
---------------------------------------------
Cedric Jones 1 24 0 24
Greg Allen 1 15 0 15
---------------------------------------------
FSU 2 39 0 24
Opp 3 55 0
Punting No Yds Lng
----------------------------------------
Rohn Stark 4 189 54
----------------------------------------
FSU 4 189 54
Opp 9 318 51
|---------Tackles---------| |---Sacks---| |---Pass Def---| |-Fumbles-| Blkd
DEFENSIVE STATISTICS UT AT Total ForLoss No - Yards Int-Yds BrUp QBH Rcv-Yds FF Kick Saf
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ron Hester 4 13 17 . . . . . . . . .
Ken Roe 1 9 10 . . . . . . . . .
James Gilbert 1 8 9 . . . . . . . . .
Alphonso Carreker 4 4 8 1.0- . . . . . . . .
Garry Futch . 6 6 . . . . . . . . .
Larry Harris 3 2 5 . . 1- 0 1 . . . . .
James Harris 2 3 5 . . . . . . . . .
Scott McLean 1 2 3 . . . 2 . . . . .
Jarvis Coursey 1 2 3 . . . . . . . . .
Allen Dale Campbell 2 . 2 . . . 1 . . . . .
Lenny Chavers 2 . 2 . . . . . . . . .
Harvey Clayton 1 . 1 . . 1- 48 1 . . . . .
Eric Riley 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . .
Mark Rodrigue 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . .
Billy Allen 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . .
Ernie Sims . 1 1 . . . . . . . . .
Tommy Young 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . .
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FSU 26 50 76 1.0- 0.0 . 2- 48 5 . . . . .
Opp 34 40 74 5.0- 2.0- 2- 6 5 . 1- 0 . . 1
STARTERS
Pos ## OFFENSE ---------------------------------- WR 6 Dennis McKinnon QB 11 Rick Stockstill FB 20 Ken Burnett TB 31 Billy Allen OT 62 Eric Ryan C 69 Tom McCormick OT 73 Barry Voltapetti OG 74 Danny Collier OG 75 Tom Brannon TE 81 Zeke Mowatt WR 87 Phil Williams |
Pos ## DEFENSE ---------------------------------- WS 8 Eric Riley CB 24 Harvey Clayton SS 30 Larry Harris CB 33 James Harris LB 38 Ken Roe NG 51 James Gilbert DE 60 Scott McLean DE 64 Jarvis Coursey LT 76 Alphonso Carreker RT 79 Garry Futch LB 83 Ron Hester |
## NAME ----------------------------- 3 Rohn Stark 4 Jessie Hester 7 Mike Rendina 9 Warren Hanna 12 Kelly Lowrey 13 Kim Mack 14 Blair Williams 18 Weegie Thompson 19 Pat Milligan 23 Tracy Ashley 26 Greg Allen 27 Michael Whiting 35 Ernie Sims 41 Cedric Jones 44 Ricky Williams |
## NAME ----------------------------- 46 Mark Rodrigue 52 Sam Restivo 54 Tommy Young 61 Dan Morris 66 Redus Coggin 68 Lenny Chavers 71 Bob Merson 77 Chris Nickrenz 78 Terry Widner 80 Orson Mobley 82 Tony Johnson 84 Sam Childers 85 David Ponder 86 John McLean 90 Allen Dale Campbell |
Nebraska trounces FSU 34-14.
LINCOLN, NE - The Big Red went, like so much crimson lightning.
Stung by an opening upset at the hands of Iowa, galled by the memory of last year's loss to Florida State, Nebraska's football team responded with sudden touchdowns and an emphatic 34-14 putdown of the Seminoles Saturday afternoon.
For a short while, a 113th-consecutive sellout crowd (76,289) in Memorial Stadium sat quietly, their cries of "Go Big Red" stilled as Florida State, down 10-0 early, fought back to within 10-7.
Then, in a third-quarter span of six playing seconds, the Cornhuskers put 14 points on the board - and without their offense touching the ball.
First, Irving Fryar gathered in Rohn Stark's 63-yard punt, broke tackles and sped 82 yards on a runback for six points.
"We must have missed three or four tackles," said FSU coach Bobby Bowden. "It was a great run on that young man's part."
All afternoon long, Nebraska ball-carriers were breaking tackles for big yardage.
On the Nebraska kickoff following Fryar's touchdown, freshman Greg Allen fumbled on the runback. Tony Felici grabbed the ball for the Huskers at the 13 and whipped into the end zone for another easy one.
"I thought we might win at halftime," said Bowden. "I thought we might have a repeat of last year.
"Nebraska looked like Nebraska is supposed to look. That's what I was afraid of. Last week they were catching people, today they were attacking.
"They whipped us up front. We're not as physical as we have to get against the running game.
"We told them (FSU players) before the game not to be surprised if Nebraska would run up and down the field. We figured they would run out of gas, and we'll come back and win it.
"They took our kicking game and scored 14 points with it. We're just not the team we were a year ago. These young kids will learn."
An oddity of this game was though Nebraska got 464 of its 496 yards by running, it seemed to require sudden and unusual happenings to win.
In the fourth quarter, just after the Seminoles pulled within 27-14, Roger Craig tore through the line, found immediate daylight up the middle, and streaked 94 yards for the final touchdown.
Craig ran just 20 times in accumulating 234 yards.
On this warm sunny afternoon, Nebraska had it looking like a runaway from the start.
First time the Huskers got the ball, they moved 87 yards to a touchdown on 10 plays - all runs. A biggie was Craig's 37-yard burst to the FSU 8. Quarterback Nate Mason scored from there on a keeper.
Next time Nebraska got the ball, at midfield following a punt and a good return, it settled for a 24-yard field goal from Kevin Seibel. Again Craig's running keyed the charge.
Florida State appeared to make some defensive adjustments, and for the remainder of the half Nebraska was not much offensively.
Not long before intermission, cornerback James Harris recovered his second Nebraska fumble, as quarterback Turner Gill lost the ball at his 23.
A pass-interference call on Jeff Krejci, trying to cover Jessie Hester in the end zone, gave FSU the ball at the 1. Ricky Williams popped off the right side untouched for the touchdown that narrowed it to 10-7 with 2:58 to go in the half.
On the final play of the half, Allen Dale Campbell bated Mason's arm as he passed, and big tackle Alphonso Carreker intercepted but was unable to get anywhere as the clock ran out.
At the start of the last half, Nebraska drove to the FSU 10, where Seibel missed a field goal from 27 yards out.
Following FSU's next series, that lightning struck as Stark punted when the Seminoles could not move from their 20. Fryar simply broke through early would-be tacklers and found himself pretty much in the clear.
In the first moments of the last quarter Nebraska pushed from its 20 to a 21-yard field goal by Eddie Neil, stretching things to 27-7.
Then, on a 16-play drive from their own 20, the Seminoles got a touchdown, Rick Stockstill on fourth down passing 3 yards to Dennis McKinnon. It had been Stockstill's passing that sparked the drive.
Whereupon, Craig popped through the line on his home-run jaunt. Later FSU drove just inside Nebraska territory before an interception - the lone one off Stockstill - ended it. Stockstill finished with 16 completions of 25 throws for 173, and tight end Sam Childers, playing despite a swollen ankle, caught five of them.
Florida State could not run on the Huskers, managing just 54 yards.
Stark punted eight times for a whopping average of 51.1 yards. The irony was that two breakdowns in the kicking game - the return, then the fumble by FSU on the following kickoff - put the Seminoles out of it.
"The defense did a good job," said Nebraska coach Tom Osborne, "but each team gave up a cheap TD. We're a running team, and in order to be successful we have to be able to run.
"We seemed to bog down inside their 20."
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida State | |||||
| Nebraska |
1st 0- 7 Opp, 8, run (kick), 8:23
0-10 Opp, 24, field goal, 3:27
2nd 7-10 Ricky Williams, 1, run (Mike Rendina, kick), 2:58
3rd 7-10 Opp, 27, field goal failed, 10:45
7-17 Opp, 82, punt return/blocked punt (kick), 8:31
7-24 Opp, 13, fumble recovery/return (kick), 8:25
Note: Greg Allen fumbles kickoff return which is returned
for a touchdown.
4th 7-27 Opp, 21, field goal, 13:47
14-27 Dennis McKinnon, 3, pass from Rick Stockstill (Mike Rendina, kick), 8:22
14-34 Opp, 94, run (kick), 8:08
TEAM STATISTICS
FSU OPP
First downs 15 22
Rushes-yards 41-54 63-464
Passing 173 32
Att-Comp-Int 26-16-1 8-3-1
Total Yards 67-227 71-496
Punt Returns 1--4 3-123
Kickoff Returns 2-36 1-17
Interception Ret. 1-5 1-28
Fumble Returns 4-0 2-13
Punts 8-51.1 2-33.5
Sacks By-Yds 2-17 7-41
Fumbles-Lost 3-2 4-4
Penalties-Yds 3-43 9-71
3rd Down Conversions 0-13 7-14
Time of Posession 30:25 29:35
Attendance 76,289
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing No Yds TD Lng
---------------------------------------------
Ricky Williams 13 29 1 9
Billy Allen 5 15 0 11
Michael Whiting 8 14 0 4
Dennis McKinnon 1 9 0 9
Ken Burnett 2 8 0 6
Greg Allen 1 3 0 3
Rick Stockstill 11 -24 0 6
---------------------------------------------
FSU 41 54 1 11
Opp 63 464 2 94t
Receiving No Yds TD Lng
---------------------------------------------
Phil Williams 4 86 0 26
Sam Childers 5 47 0 12
Dennis McKinnon 3 24 1 11
Zeke Mowatt 1 10 0 10
Billy Allen 1 8 0 8
Ken Burnett 1 3 0 3
Michael Whiting 1 -5 0 -5
---------------------------------------------
FSU 16 173 1 26
Opp 3 32 0 16
Passing C- A- I Yds TD Lng
-----------------------------------------------
Rick Stockstill 16 25 1 173 1 26
Cedric Jones 0 1 0 0 0
-----------------------------------------------
FSU 16 26 1 173 1 26
Opp 3 8 1 32 0 16
Punt Return No Yds TD Lng
---------------------------------------------
Cedric Jones 1 -4 0 -4
---------------------------------------------
FSU 1 -4 0
Opp 3 123 1 82t
Kickoff Return No Yds TD Lng
---------------------------------------------
Michael Whiting 1 24 0 24
Cedric Jones 1 12 0 12
---------------------------------------------
FSU 2 36 0 24
Opp 1 17 0 17
Punting No Yds Lng
----------------------------------------
Rohn Stark 8 409 63
----------------------------------------
FSU 8 409 63
Opp 2 67 36
|---------Tackles---------| |---Sacks---| |---Pass Def---| |-Fumbles-| Blkd
DEFENSIVE STATISTICS UT AT Total ForLoss No - Yards Int-Yds BrUp QBH Rcv-Yds FF Kick Saf
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ken Roe 12 4 16 . 1.0- 1.0 . . . . . . .
Ron Hester 7 5 12 . . . . . . . . .
James Harris 8 2 10 . 1.0- 16.0 . . . 1- 0 . . .
Allen Dale Campbell 6 3 9 . . . . . 1- 0 . . .
Larry Harris 7 2 9 . . . . . . . . .
Garry Futch 3 3 6 . . . . . . . . .
Eric Riley 3 3 6 . . . . . 1- 0 . . .
Jarvis Coursey 2 2 4 . . . . . . . . .
James Gilbert 3 1 4 . . . . . . . . .
David Ponder 1 2 3 . . . . . 1- 0 . . .
Lenny Chavers 2 1 3 . . . . . . . . .
Harvey Clayton 2 1 3 . . . . . . . . .
Scott McLean 1 1 2 . . . . . . . . .
Terry Widner . 2 2 . . . . . . . . .
Alphonso Carreker 1 . 1 . . 1- 5 . . . . . .
Brad Fojtik 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . .
Tommy Young 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . .
Brian McCrary . 1 1 . . . . . . . . .
Tracy Ashley 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . .
Warren Hanna 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . .
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FSU 62 33 95 . 2.0- 17.0 1- 5 . . 4- 0 . . .
Opp 55 29 84 . 7.0- 41.0 1- 28 4 . 2- 13 . . .
STARTERS
Pos ## OFFENSE ---------------------------------- WR 6 Dennis McKinnon QB 11 Rick Stockstill FB 27 Michael Whiting RB 44 Ricky Williams OT 62 Eric Ryan OG 66 Redus Coggin C 69 Tom McCormick OT 73 Barry Voltapetti OG 75 Tom Brannon TE 81 Zeke Mowatt WR 87 Phil Williams |
Pos ## DEFENSE ---------------------------------- WS 8 Eric Riley CB 24 Harvey Clayton SS 30 Larry Harris CB 33 James Harris LB 38 Ken Roe NG 51 James Gilbert DE 64 Jarvis Coursey LT 76 Alphonso Carreker RT 79 Garry Futch LB 83 Ron Hester DE 86 John McLean |
## NAME ----------------------------- 3 Rohn Stark 4 Jessie Hester 7 Mike Rendina 9 Warren Hanna 12 Kelly Lowrey 20 Ken Burnett 23 Tracy Ashley 26 Greg Allen 31 Billy Allen 32 Darish Davis 35 Ernie Sims 41 Cedric Jones 42 Quent Reed 43 Brian McCrary 45 Roger Brownlee |
## NAME ----------------------------- 46 Mark Rodrigue 52 Sam Restivo 54 Tommy Young 60 Scott McLean 63 Ricky Render 68 Lenny Chavers 71 Bob Merson 77 Chris Nickrenz 78 Terry Widner 82 Tony Johnson 84 Sam Childers 85 David Ponder 89 Tom Wheeler 90 Allen Dale Campbell 98 Brad Fojtik |
FSU busts a Buckeye 36-27.
COLUMBUS, OH - Near the sweet end, Florida State showed 'em just a little of the old "3 yards and a cloud of dust."
But it was a mere hint of the stodgy attack that helped make Ohio State famous, and the rest of it on this sunny, straight-from-heaven Saturday afternoon was just plain unbelievable.
Tossing all caution aside, lashing out in all directions, the stunning Seminoles knocked No. 7 Ohio State from its unbeaten perch 36-27.
There was not the slightest taint of fluke, and 87,158 fans - the biggest crowd ever to see FSU in action anywhere - forever will bear witness.
With 2:19 left to play, the die well cast, they helped Florida State nose guard James Gilbert off the field.
"He ain't hurt," yelled an Ohio State fellow. "He's just damned tired after spending all day in our backfield."
But you'll need a calculator to total all Seminole heroes.
"We had to go for broke," said coach Bobby Bowden. "I told our players before the game we could win - but I honestly wasn't sure."
No hero was bigger than Rick Stockstill, the senior quarterback of uncommon savvy and poise. Among other things, he completed 25 of 41 passes for 299 yards and a couple of touchdowns.
Bigger, he directed two third-quarter drives to touchdowns that were the difference - the first covered 88 yards in 11 plays, the second 99 in nine.
Funny thing, Stockstill was born in Ohio. His coaching father used to bring him to Ohio State games when he was a tot, and tell him that one day he would be playing for the Buckeyes.
Bowden's let-it-all-hang-out strategy in this one saw the Seminoles throwing the first six times they had chances.
"Florida State did a great job against the Buckeyes," said Earle Bruce, the losing coach. "I think you saw it. They moved the ball at will.
"They controlled the line both offensively and defensively, and I think that ultimately won the football game. Florida State has a momentum group, and they just wanted this one."
At halftime the Seminoles were up 23-21, but it was Ohio State that jumped out front early.
The Buckeyes ate up Rohn Stark's first punt, a line drive that was run back to FSU's 45, with a personal foul helping the home team to the Seminole 29. Three plays, and Tim Spencer bounced 9 yards up the middle for the TD.
Stockstill directed a steady movement to the Ohio State 35, where freshman Mike Rendina whomped a 52-yard field goal that hit the crossbar and bounced through. It was the second longest in FSU history, topped only by a 53-yarder Grant Guthrie booted against Miami way back yonder.
Moments later, lightning struck in the form of linebacker Ron Hester, who tore through to block a punt. He picked up the rolling ball at the Ohio State 5 and had himself an easy touchdown, and Florida State took its first lead 10-7.
Art Schlichter, as gifted a college passer as you'll see, pushed the Buckeyes 80 yards to a touchdown in the first moments of the second quarter, with Jim Gayle scoring from the 7. The extra point try went awry, and it was 13-10.
In three previous games Schlichter had thrown 75 times, but on this day he never stopped firing. He hit on 31 of 52 passes for 458 yards. Each team finished with a net of 496 yards, Florida State getting 197 of its total running. Ohio State could not run a lick, managing a net of 38.
"I can't remember an Ohio State team that rushed 31 times for 38 yards and an Ohio State team that passed 52 times for 31 completions," said Bruce, shaking his head.
Immediately after Ohio State regained the lead, FSU came back and went on top 17-13 in that second quarter, driving 80 yards. On a fake field goal, the ball at the 9, holder Kelly Lowrey jumped up with the ball and ran wide, barely making it into the end zone. It was a busted pass play, with Lowrey improvising.
Lowrey also busted his shoulder a bit on the play, may be out a couple of weeks.
In three plays, Ohio State jumped back up 21-17. Schlichter found Gary Williams with a 52-yard payoff pass. Williams broke two tackles at about the FSU 25 and cruised on in. Then Schlichter passed to Spencer for two points.
For the fifth time in as many series, the lead changed as Florida State knocked off 74 yards in six plays. Dennis McKinnon pulled in a 39-yard pass at the Ohio State 14. Then Stockstill hit Tony Johnson over the middle for the touchdown. Rendina hooked left with his extra-point try, but Florida State was ahead to stay 23-21.
Quickly it moved to 30-21 as the Seminoles whipped 88 yards from the third-quarter kickoff. On a scrambling fourth-down play, Stockstill threw just before he went out of bounds - into the hands of Sam Childers at the goal line.
Then came what may have been the turning point, if there was one.
Ohio State's Cedric Anderson pulled in a 60-yard pass at the 2, James Harris finally stopped him with a tackle that proved more vital than it then seemed. Three runs into the line left the Buckeyes a foot short. On fourth down, Schlichter tried a surprise pass, to a wide-open Brad Dwelle - who must have been surprised, too. He dropped the easy touchdown pass.
Following that goal-line stand, the Seminoles took over, driving 99 yards to a 36-21 lead. McKinnon caught an early pass at the 28 to get FSU out of the hole - and what a big one that was! Ricky Williams got away on a 37-yard run. Three plays later, Williams scored from the 3. A try for two points - a pass - was futile.
Ohio State scored a last touchdown early in the final quarter, marching 88 yards, Schlichter pitching 18 yards to Anderson for the score.
That was it. Ohio State never again seriously threatened. Each team moved a little, punted. Florida State was now trying a little of that 3 yards and a cloud of dust - loving it, as the clock ticked away.
The two linebackers, Ken Roe and Tommy Young, along with defensive backs Larry Harris and James Harris, seemed most active. Alphonso Carreker, David Ponder and Gilbert each had a sack of Schlichter.
Fullback Mike Whiting was terribly busy, catching nine passes for 74 yards, running 15 times for 90. Williams also ran 15 times, for 91 yards.
Ohio State's superb receiver Gary Williams set a school record with 13 receptions, for 220 yards.
Incredibly, 94 passes were thrown in this game - and not one intercepted! Neither team had a turnover, unless you count the blocked punt.
Next week: Notre Dame there.
"Now, that's the big one in the world," said Bowden. "But, I dunno, Ohio State might be pretty close."
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida State | |||||
| Ohio State |
1st 0- 7 Opp, 9, run (kick), 10:46
3- 7 Mike Rendina, 52, field goal, 6:59
10- 7 Ron Hester, 35, punt return/blocked punt (Mike Rendina, kick), 4:56
Note: Hester blocked the punt, picked it up and took it in
for the touchdown.
2nd 10-13 Opp, 7, run (kick failed), 14:20
17-13 Kelly Lowrey, 5, run (Mike Rendina, kick), 12:10
17-21 Opp, 52, pass (pass), 10:56
23-21 Tony Johnson, 13, pass from Rick Stockstill (Mike Rendina, kick failed), 8:25
3rd 30-21 Sam Childers, 7, pass from Rick Stockstill (Mike Rendina, kick), 10:05
36-21 Ricky Williams, 3, run (Rick Stockstill, pass failed), 0:32
4th 36-27 Opp, 18, pass (pass failed), 12:45
TEAM STATISTICS
FSU OPP
First downs 25 26
Rushes-yards 40-197 31-38
Passing 299 458
Att-Comp-Int 42-25-0 52-31-0
Total Yards 82-496 83-496
Punt Returns 2-36 6-53
Kickoff Returns 4-75 5-95
Interception Ret. 0-0 0-0
Fumble Returns 0-0 0-0
Punts 8-39.3 7-31.1
Sacks By-Yds 3-23 1-8
Fumbles-Lost 0-0 2-0
Penalties-Yds 8-83 3-26
3rd Down Conversions 8-19 7-16
4th Down Conversions 1-1 0-3
Time of Posession 32:48 27:12
Attendance 87,158
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing No Yds TD Lng
---------------------------------------------
Michael Whiting 15 90 0 37
Ricky Williams 15 81 1 37
Dennis McKinnon 1 15 0 15
Billy Allen 3 6 0 3
Kelly Lowrey 1 5 1 5t
Rick Stockstill 5 0 0 4
---------------------------------------------
FSU 40 197 2 37
Opp 31 38 2 14
Receiving No Yds TD Lng
---------------------------------------------
Dennis McKinnon 5 107 0 41
Michael Whiting 9 74 0 17
Sam Childers 5 53 1 22
Phil Williams 2 32 0 21
Tony Johnson 1 13 1 13t
Ricky Williams 2 11 0 9
Billy Allen 1 9 0 9
---------------------------------------------
FSU 25 299 2 41
Opp 31 458 2 60
Passing C- A- I Yds TD Lng
-----------------------------------------------
Rick Stockstill 25 41 0 299 2 41
Cedric Jones 0 1 0 0 0
-----------------------------------------------
FSU 25 42 0 299 2 41
Opp 31 52 0 458 2 60
Punt Return No Yds TD Lng
---------------------------------------------
Ron Hester 1 35 1 35t
Cedric Jones 1 1 0 1
---------------------------------------------
FSU 2 36 1 35t
Opp 6 53 0 23
Kickoff Return No Yds TD Lng
---------------------------------------------
Cedric Jones 4 75 0 26
---------------------------------------------
FSU 4 75 0 26
Opp 5 95 0 27
Punting No Yds Lng
----------------------------------------
Rohn Stark 8 314 52
----------------------------------------
FSU 8 314 52
Opp 7 218 45
|---------Tackles---------| |---Sacks---| |---Pass Def---| |-Fumbles-| Blkd
DEFENSIVE STATISTICS UT AT Total ForLoss No - Yards Int-Yds BrUp QBH Rcv-Yds FF Kick Saf
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tommy Young 4 12 16 . . . 1 . . . . .
Larry Harris 7 7 14 1.0- 1.0 . . . . . . . .
Ken Roe 6 6 12 . . . 1 . . . . .
James Harris 6 4 10 . . . 1 . . . . .
Harvey Clayton 3 5 8 . . . . . . . . .
Eric Riley 1 6 7 . . . 1 . . . . .
James Gilbert 2 4 6 1.0- 13.0 1.0- 13.0 . 1 . . . . .
Allen Dale Campbell 1 5 6 . . . . . . . . .
Jarvis Coursey 1 4 5 . . . . . . . . .
David Ponder 1 2 3 1.0- 10.0 1.0- 10.0 . . . . . . .
Scott McLean 2 1 3 . . . . . . . . .
Pat Milligan 2 . 2 . . . 1 . . . . .
Sam Restivo 1 1 2 . . . . . . . . .
Alphonso Carreker 1 . 1 1.0- 0.0 1.0- 0.0 . . . . . . .
Garry Futch . 1 1 . . . . . . . . .
Warren Hanna . 1 1 . . . . . . . . .
Kelly Lowrey 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . .
Henry Taylor . 1 1 . . . . . . . . .
Ernie Sims 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . .
Redus Coggin . 1 1 . . . . . . . . .
Cliff Holiday . 1 1 . . . . . . . . .
Ron Hester . . . . . . . . . . 1 .
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FSU 40 62 102 4.0- 24.0 3.0- 23.0 . 6 . . . 1 .
Opp 36 79 115 4.0- 14.0 1.0- 8.0 . 8 . . . . .
STARTERS
Pos ## OFFENSE ---------------------------------- WR 6 Dennis McKinnon QB 11 Rick Stockstill FB 27 Michael Whiting TB 44 Ricky Williams OT 62 Eric Ryan OG 63 Ricky Render C 69 Tom McCormick OT 73 Barry Voltapetti OG 75 Tom Brannon TE 81 Zeke Mowatt WR 87 Phil Williams |
Pos ## DEFENSE ---------------------------------- CB 8 Eric Riley CB 24 Harvey Clayton SS 30 Larry Harris CB 33 James Harris LB 38 Ken Roe NG 51 James Gilbert LB 54 Tommy Young DE 64 Jarvis Coursey LT 76 Alphonso Carreker RT 79 Garry Futch DE 90 Allen Dale Campbell |
## NAME ----------------------------- 3 Rohn Stark 7 Mike Rendina 9 Warren Hanna 12 Kelly Lowrey 18 Weegie Thompson 19 Pat Milligan 20 Ken Burnett 31 Billy Allen 32 Darish Davis 35 Ernie Sims 36 Cliff Holiday 41 Cedric Jones 42 Quent Reed 43 Brian McCrary |
## NAME ----------------------------- 46 Mark Rodrigue 52 Sam Restivo 58 Henry Taylor 60 Scott McLean 66 Redus Coggin 68 Lenny Chavers 78 Terry Widner 82 Tony Johnson 83 Ron Hester 84 Sam Childers 85 David Ponder 86 John McLean 89 Tom Wheeler |
FSU snubs Irish tradition 19-13.
SOUTH BEND, IN - The stadium is the same circular, brick structure that was built in 1929, the year after Knute Rockne inspired his Notre Dame team past Army with "The Gipper Speech."
The place still oozes history from every crack in its mortar, and visiting team's knees have been known to buckle from a combination of the tradition, pageantry, noise and some might tough Irish teams.
But the Florida State Seminoles, in their first-ever visit, showed an upstart's disdain for history and Gerry Faust's 1981 Irish edition.
The Seminoles' 19-13 victory left FSU coach Bobby Bowden again revising his list of important victories, and should move the Seminoles up considerably in the polls that have them ranked No. 19 and 20.
"To me personally, it was the biggest win I'll ever have," said Bowden. "I have tremendous respect for Notre Dame. Having wanted to coach all my life, you can imagine what respect I have for a place that produced the likes of Knute Rockne."
The Seminoles were not at all awed by this tough road gig - they are veterans at it now. After disposing of Ohio State and Notre Dame on consecutive weeks, third-ranked Pitt will be viewed with less trepidation next week.
Florida State not only had to overcome the hostile environment, but also its own inability to put the game away in the third quarter when the opportunities presented themselves.
They also had to overcome a landslide of first-half misfortune.
"In the first half it looked like a day when we had a good game plan, and things were open, but we weren't really clicking," said Seminole offensive coordinator George Henshaw. "We'd fall down, or a pass would get tipped. It looked like it wasn't going to be our day."
It became the Seminoles' day due to many factors. One was the Seminole ground game led by Michael Whiting and Ricky Williams. Williams rushed for a career-high 135 yards. Whiting threw crushing blocks, ran for 72 yards and caught five passes for 44 yards and two touchdowns.
The running was needed because quarterback Rick Stockstill did not have one of his best days throwing. He completed 11 of 27 for 100 yards, and threw three interceptions.
Another crucial element was the play of the Seminole defense, which yielded much yardage between the 20s, but came up big on the biggest plays. Notre Dame converted once in 14 tries on third down.
From a Notre Dame point of view that is an abysmal offensive stat. From the Seminole point of view it signifies clutch defense.
Early in the game it appeared the Irish, 2-3 and in serious trouble with USC and Penn State looming ahead, would dominate at the line of scrimmage. It also appeared that whatever luck was available on this day was with the Irish.
The bad omens began piling up in the first half.
Omen I: Notre Dame kicker Harry Oliver hit a 43-yard field goal into a 10-mph wind that went off the top of the right upright and through for a 3-0 lead.
Omen II: Bruising tailback Greg Bell, the Irish's best offensive weapon all day with 121 yards rushing, fumbled into a crowd at his own 22 on the first play of the second quarter. The ball bounced back into his chest.
Omen III: Irish quarterback Tim Koegel, the starter, was pounded by flying linebacker Tommy Young and fumbled into a crowd at his own 13. Bell reached his big mitt into the crowd and came up with it.
Omen IV: Florida State looked ready to roll after Rohn Stark, whose titanic punts pinned up the Irish much of the game, ran from punt formation for the first time ever and picked up a first down at the Irish 35. On the next play, receiver Tony Johnson fell down on a corner route, and Stockstill's throw was intercepted at the 9 by Chris Brown.
To the Seminoles' credit, they put together their only score of this first half after all those mishaps. Mike Rendina hit a 26-yard field goal with 3:49 left in the half. The drive covered 57 yards on eight plays, and was important because it was the first time the Seminoles proved they could move the ball on the ground. Whiting had two key runs of 21 and 13 yards.
Despite the 3-3 halftime score, the struggle for the Seminoles seemed to be seriously uphill. It looked even more so when Stockstill, in the face of a heavy rush from tackle Tim Marshall, threw an interception to Mark Zavagnon, who ended a first-half drive with another interception. Zavagnon rolled down to the Seminole 6 before he was stopped.
Ah, ha. The turning point. Actually there were dozens of turning points, but this one is as good as any.
It was much like a week ago at Ohio State when the Seminoles rejected the Buckeyes 4th down from the 1, and then drove convincingly 99 yards for a touchdown.
This one was almost as dramatic.
Two Notre Dame rushes and a pass gained 1 yard. The Irish had to settle for a 23-yard field goal and a 6-3 lead. It was a basic moral victory.
Then came the convincer.
In a deep hole with a first and 22 from their own 8, Williams broke clean behind a strong Whiting block for 29 yards, and got 15 more on a face-mask call.
Then Williams broke a draw for 33 yards to the Irish 12. Three plays later, Stockstill hit Whiting on a delay over the middle, and the senior fullback barged into the end zone for a 10-6 lead.
Notre Dame was staggering, but the Seminoles couldn't put them away.
"We came out dry too many times on the goal line," said Bowden. "I felt like a baseball coach whose team left 15 runners on base."
"That's where we showed our inexperience," said defensive line coach Bill Shaw. "We had at least three chances to kill them there in the third quarter and left them off. Last year's group would have put them away."
Freshman Greg Allen's 30-yard burst put FSU in business at the Irish 24. Two plays later, Whiting took a screen pass and bulled into the end zone. It was called back, clipping, and set back at the 23.
A flea-flicker, with freshman Cedric Jones passing all the way across the field to Stockstill, got to the 5 for a first down. From the 1 on fourth down, the Seminoles were called for illegal procedure - what next they must have been asking themselves - and settled again for a 23-yard Rendina field goal and a 13-6 lead.
On Notre Dame's next play, fullback John Sweeney fumbled it away to Pat Milligan at the Irish 22. It should have been lights out for the staggering Irish, but Florida State went nowhere, and Rendina missed the insurance field goal.
Cornerback James Harris was called on a close interference call to set the Irish up at the Seminole 48. The Irish pounded it in finally on the fourth-and-1 attempt on the first play of the fourth quarter.
Harris soon made up for his earlier mistake. His interception of Blair Kiel's pass at the Notre Dame 30 set up the game-winner.
On the big drive, the Seminoles used their two best offensive weapons of the day, Whiting and Williams. Whiting, whose pass catching ability hurt Notre Dame all day, took a screen pass right and cut sharply in for the score. Williams' 15-yard burst set up the score.
Rendina missed the extra point to keep everything throbbing until the end, but FSU's defense, which made the big plays all day, made it all stand up.
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida State | |||||
| Notre Dame |
1st 0- 3 Opp, 43, field goal, 11:02
2nd 3- 3 Mike Rendina, 25, field goal, 3:16
3rd 3- 6 Opp, 23, field goal, 13:48
10- 6 Michael Whiting, 17, pass from Rick Stockstill (Mike Rendina, kick), 11:01
13- 6 Mike Rendina, 23, field goal, 5:23
13- 6 Mike Rendina, 34, field goal failed, 4:19
4th 13-13 Opp, 1, run (kick), 14:57
19-13 Michael Whiting, 5, pass from Rick Stockstill (Mike Rendina, kick failed), 7:41
TEAM STATISTICS
FSU OPP
First downs 19 15
Rushes-yards 43-250 51-218
Passing 114 38
Att-Comp-Int 28-12-3 19-6-2
Total Yards 71-364 70-256
Punt Returns 5-27 5-22
Kickoff Returns 3-49 5-106
Interception Ret. 2-6 3-27
Fumble Returns 1-0 0-0
Punts 6-48.8 8-42.9
Sacks By-Yds 0-0 1-10
Fumbles-Lost 2-0 4-1
Penalties-Yds 5-69 8-72
3rd Down Conversions 5-17 1-14
Time of Posession 28:00 32:00
Attendance 59,075
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing No Yds TD Lng
---------------------------------------------
Ricky Williams 15 135 0 33
Michael Whiting 15 71 0 21
Greg Allen 7 54 0 30
Rohn Stark 1 10 0 10
Rick Stockstill 5 -20 0 1
---------------------------------------------
FSU 43 250 0 33
Opp 51 218 1 23
Receiving No Yds TD Lng
---------------------------------------------
Michael Whiting 5 44 2 17t
Phil Williams 2 28 0 19
Rick Stockstill 1 14 0 14
Dennis McKinnon 2 11 0 6
Zeke Mowatt 1 9 0 9
Ricky Williams 1 8 0 8
---------------------------------------------
FSU 12 114 2 19
Opp 6 38 0 13
Passing C- A- I Yds TD Lng
-----------------------------------------------
Rick Stockstill 11 27 3 100 2 19
Cedric Jones 1 1 0 14 0 14
-----------------------------------------------
FSU 12 28 3 114 2 19
Opp 6 19 2 38 0 13
Punt Return No Yds TD Lng
---------------------------------------------
Cedric Jones 5 27 0
---------------------------------------------
FSU 5 27 0
Opp 5 22 0
Kickoff Return No Yds TD Lng
---------------------------------------------
Ricky Williams 2 29 0
Greg Allen 1 20 0
---------------------------------------------
FSU 3 49 0
Opp 5 106 0
Punting No Yds Lng
----------------------------------------
Rohn Stark 6 293 54
----------------------------------------
FSU 6 293 54
Opp 8 343 48
|---------Tackles---------| |---Sacks---| |---Pass Def---| |-Fumbles-| Blkd
DEFENSIVE STATISTICS UT AT Total ForLoss No - Yards Int-Yds BrUp QBH Rcv-Yds FF Kick Saf
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tommy Young 5 10 15 1.0- 8.0 . . . . . 1 . .
Jarvis Coursey 7 2 9 . . . . . . 1 . .
Ron Hester 2 7 9 . . . . . . . . .
Eric Riley 2 6 8 . . . . . . . . .
James Gilbert . 7 7 . . . . . . . . .
James Harris 2 4 6 . . 1- 6 1 . . . . .
Alphonso Carreker 4 2 6 2.0- 3.0 . . . . . . . .
Scott McLean 1 5 6 . . . . . . . . .
Pat Milligan 2 3 5 . . . . . 1- 0 . . .
Harvey Clayton 3 2 5 . . 1- 0 . . . . . .
Garry Futch 1 3 4 . . . . . . . . .
Ken Roe 1 3 4 . . . . . . . . .
Brian McCrary . 3 3 . . . . . . . . .
David Ponder . 2 2 . . . . . . . . .
Warren Hanna 2 . 2 . . . . . . . . .
Larry Harris 2 . 2 . . . . . . . . .
Mike Rendina . 1 1 . . . . . . . . .
John McLean . 1 1 . . . . . . . . .
Kim Mack 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . .
Henry Taylor . . . . . . . . . 1 . .
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FSU 35 61 96 3.0- 11.0 . 2- 6 1 . 1- 0 3 . .
Opp 37 50 87 5.0- 15.0 1.0- 10.0 3- 27 5 . . . . .
STARTERS
Pos ## OFFENSE ---------------------------------- WR 6 Dennis McKinnon QB 11 Rick Stockstill FB 27 Michael Whiting TB 44 Ricky Williams LT 62 Eric Ryan LG 63 Ricky Render C 69 Tom McCormick RT 73 Barry Voltapetti RG 75 Tom Brannon TE 81 Zeke Mowatt WR 87 Phil Williams |
Pos ## DEFENSE ---------------------------------- WS 8 Eric Riley SS 19 Pat Milligan CB 24 Harvey Clayton CB 33 James Harris LB 38 Ken Roe NG 51 James Gilbert LB 54 Tommy Young DE 60 Scott McLean DE 64 Jarvis Coursey LT 76 Alphonso Carreker RT 79 Garry Futch |
## NAME ----------------------------- 3 Rohn Stark 7 Mike Rendina 9 Warren Hanna 12 Kelly Lowrey 13 Kim Mack 20 Ken Burnett 23 Tracy Ashley 26 Greg Allen 30 Larry Harris 32 Darish Davis 35 Ernie Sims 36 Cliff Holiday |
## NAME ----------------------------- 41 Cedric Jones 43 Brian McCrary 46 Mark Rodrigue 52 Sam Restivo 58 Henry Taylor 82 Tony Johnson 83 Ron Hester 84 Sam Childers 85 David Ponder 86 John McLean 89 Tom Wheeler 90 Allen Dale Campbell |
Panther maul Florida State 42-14.
PITTSBURGH, PA - At the end, photographers circled the Florida State bench like so many vultures, seeking one graphic image that would capture the anguish of such a devastating loss.
The Seminoles' 34-14 loss at Nebraska one month ago was a date at the beach compared to this. The University of Pittsburgh, dominating every phase of the game and erasing all doubts that it is worthy of its No. 3 ranking, destroyed Florida State 42-14 before a crowd of 55,112 at Pitt Stadium.
"We won all three phases of the game - offensively, defensively and the kicking game as well," said Pitt coach Jackie Sherrill.
That's about all there is to football.
The Pitt crowd chanted "We're No. 1" off and on throughout the game. The Panthers may well be. With their next five games against such "powers" as Syracuse, Boston College, Rutgers, Army and Temple, and a 5-0 record in the bank, the Panthers may have clear sailing until their Nov. 28 matchup with arch-rival Penn State.
The Seminoles, 4-2, will have some serious regrouping to do before playing LSU in Baton Rouge next Saturday night.
Pitt not only had a sensational team performance, it also got great individual performances from quarterback Dan Marino, tailback Bryan Thomas and linebacker Sal Sunseri.
Marino, who threw for 215 yards and touchdowns of 22, 65, and 18 yards, broke assorted school records. He injured his throwing shoulder two weeks past, and it became a game trying to determine how healthy he was prior to the game. His health was aided by the fact that the only time the Florida State pass rush laid a glove on him was in pregame handshakes.
"The big difference in the game was that they were able to pressure our quarterback and we couldn't pressure theirs," said Florida State coach Bobby Bowden. "All of that pre-game talk about his injury really fooled me. I felt like he couldn't throw long. Boy, was I wrong about that. I don't know if Jackie (Sherrill) set us up (about the publicity regarding the quarterback's health)."
Thomas, an explosive junior, dashed the Seminole defense for 230 yards in 23 carries.
The Loss for Florida State was a team number. There was plenty of blame to go around. The defense never mounted a pass rush, which in turn, left the secondary open for Marino. The defense also missed a season's worth of tackles.
The offense never could mount a consistent attack with Pitt's defense constantly penetrating the backfield. The Seminoles gave away five turnovers.
Under an autumn sky so blue and brilliant that it made even the city of Pittsburgh sparkle, the game began promisingly enough for Florida State. Neither team mounted any offense early, but the Seminoles got the first big break of the game.
Florida State's offense failed to cash in on its most important opportunity to take charge of the game. Proving the great-athletes-make-great-plays theorem, punter Rohn Stark turned a chuck of coal into a diamond. He leaped high to save a bad snap, and while running away from pursuers, lined a 30-yard punt that bounced off the leg of Pitt's Wallace Thomas. Sophomore John McLean recovered at the Pitt 33.
It was the kind of break, that if seized, could set the tone of the game.
It could have.
Ricky Williams quickly broke for 11 yards, and Whiting followed with another 11-yard blast. Williams went for 5 more, and the Seminoles had the ball second and 5 from the Pitt 6. It was the first time in four possessions that the Seminole offense could dent Pitt's swarming defense.
Then linebacker Sunseri made the first of his critical plays. He stuffed Williams for a loss of 1. Rick Stockstill, who suffered through a rough day before being yanked in favor of junior Blair Williams, completed a pass to tight end Zeke Mowatt at the 1. It was just a half-yard short of a first down.
On fourth down, Whiting tried the middle, was hit behind the line, and only managed to struggle back to the line of scrimmage.
It was a big play. But then, Pitt did to the Seminoles what the Seminoles had done to Ohio State and Notre Dame the past two weeks. Pitt turned around and marched 99 yards on 11 plays to take charge of the game.
Florida State had the Panthers stopped at their own 9. Florida State took the kind of gamble that has been paying off in recent wins, and lost. While trying to block David Heppler's punt in the end zone, the Seminoles roughed the punter for a 15-yard penalty and a shift in momentum.
"The momentum changed when we roughed the punter," Bowden said. "I don't think it's a bad play. That's the first time that's happened to us this year. It's a chance you take."
Marino made sure that Pitt took advantage. He passed his team down the field. He hit his fullback Wayne DiBartola with a short pass at the 20. At least five Seminoles had the chance at the tackle, and none made it.
"The poorest thing we did was tackling," said Bowden.
That was only the first act of what turned into a Seminole horror show.
Immediately after the kickoff on a third-and-10 play from their 20, Stockstill threw poorly over the middle. Sunseri intercepted, and waltzed into the end zone for a 14-0 lead. The Seminoles were visibly stunned.
Six minutes later, a booming Stark punt was fielded by sophomore safety Tom Flynn at his 17 yard-line. He found a quick opening and was off to the races. Stark had a shot at him but badly missed the tackle.
It was 21-0 and counting, and the chants of "We're No. 1" began.
Soon after, Blair Williams came off the bench and looked like he may have a miracle or two with him. On his first play he found Tony Williams 38 yards downfield at the Pitt 12. Williams made a spectacular leaping catch. After a pass interference call - Pitt was far from perfect on the day with 124 yards in penalties and five turnovers - in the end zone, Whiting charged in for the touchdown.
It was 21-7 and all was not lost - yet.
Whatever was discussed in the Florida State dressing room at the half, it did not have a positive effect.
Marino came out doing his mad bomber impersonation. On the third play of the half, he found receiver Julius Dawkins behind the secondary. The throw floated perfectly for 50 yards before it found Dawkins' hands.
Comeback hopes dimmed.
Less than two minutes later, comeback hopes passes away. Blair Williams, hit on the blind side by a blitzing linebacker, fumbled at his own 22. Pitt recovered, and the lights then went out in Pittsburgh.
Marino hit his friend Dawkins at the 10 on third down, and the receiver ran away from two Seminole defenders for a touchdown and an insurmountable 35-7 lead. Insurmountable against this Pitt defense, anyway.
"It is vital for the secondary to have a pass rush," said senior cornerback James Harris. "We just didn't have one. If Marino can stand back there for four or five seconds, ha can pick you apart. He's got a great arm."
Why the lack of pass rush? Defensive tackle Gary Futch was asked.
"Their offensive line is the best we've seen," said Futch. "They protect the passer extremely well. I know coach Stanton knows what he's doing, but I would have liked to have seen us open up the defense a little more. If you don't get a pass rush it'll kill you."
Harris said it most succinctly: "We just got our buns whipped."
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida State | |||||
| Pittsburgh |
1st 0- 7 Opp, 22, pass (kick), 0:27
2nd 0-14 Opp, 22, interception return (kick), 14:46
0-21 Opp, 83, punt return/blocked punt (kick), 8:40
7-21 Michael Whiting, 1, run (Mike Rendina, kick), 3:47
7-21 Opp, 34, field goal failed, 0:12
3rd 7-28 Opp, 65, pass (kick), 14:11
7-35 Opp, 18, pass (kick), 12:33
14-35 Sam Childers, 5, pass from Blair Williams (Mike Rendina, kick), 5:41
4th 14-42 Opp, 6, run (kick), 2:14
TEAM STATISTICS
FSU OPP
First downs 19 22
Rushes-yards 40-76 39-252
Passing 235 251
Att-Comp-Int 31-17-3 27-15-2
Total Yards 71-311 66-503
Punt Returns 4-15 4-110
Kickoff Returns 5-91 3-51
Interception Ret. 2--3 3-37
Fumble Returns 3-0 2-0
Punts 8-47.3 4-42.5
Sacks By-Yds 0-0 5-49
Fumbles-Lost 2-2 4-3
Penalties-Yds 4-47 12-124
Time of Posession 33:44 26:16
Attendance 52,112
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing No Yds TD Lng
---------------------------------------------
Michael Whiting 11 39 1 15
Ricky Williams 16 36 0 13
Cedric Jones 2 11 0 6
Darish Davis 1 9 0 9
Billy Allen 1 8 0 8
Ken Burnett 1 5 0 5
Greg Allen 1 4 0 4
Rick Stockstill 2 3 0 6
Blair Williams 5 -39 0 -6
---------------------------------------------
FSU 40 76 1 15
Opp 39 252 1 64
Receiving No Yds TD Lng
---------------------------------------------
Phil Williams 4 92 0 38
Hardis Johnson 4 89 0 38
Sam Childers 2 22 1 17
Michael Whiting 3 14 0 6
Ricky Williams 2 7 0 6
Billy Allen 1 6 0 6
Zeke Mowatt 1 5 0 5
---------------------------------------------
FSU 17 235 1 38
Opp 15 251 3 65t
Passing C- A- I Yds TD Lng
-----------------------------------------------
Blair Williams 12 19 2 158 1 38
Rick Stockstill 4 11 1 39 0 22
Cedric Jones 1 1 0 38 0 38
-----------------------------------------------
FSU 17 31 3 235 1 38
Opp 15 27 2 251 3 65t
Punt Return No Yds TD Lng
---------------------------------------------
Cedric Jones 4 15 0
---------------------------------------------
FSU 4 15 0
Opp 4 110 1
Kickoff Return No Yds TD Lng
---------------------------------------------
Greg Allen 5 91 0
---------------------------------------------
FSU 5 91 0
Opp 3 51 0 21
Punting No Yds Lng
----------------------------------------
Rohn Stark 8 378 61
----------------------------------------
FSU 8 378 61
Opp 4 170 50
|---------Tackles---------| |---Sacks---| |---Pass Def---| |-Fumbles-| Blkd
DEFENSIVE STATISTICS UT AT Total ForLoss No - Yards Int-Yds BrUp QBH Rcv-Yds FF Kick Saf
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ron Hester 6 6 12 . . . . . . . . .
Jarvis Coursey 4 3 7 1.0- 9.0 . . . . . . . .
James Gilbert 4 2 6 2.0- 9.0 . . . . . . . .
Alphonso Carreker 2 4 6 . . . . . 1- 0 . . .
Tommy Young 3 2 5 . . . . . . . . .
Garry Futch 1 4 5 . . . . . . . . .
Pat Milligan 2 3 5 . . . 1 . . . . .
John McLean 2 2 4 . . 1- 0 . . 1- 0 . . .
Scott McLean 2 2 4 . . . . . . . . .
Harvey Clayton 1 2 3 . . 1- -3 . . 1- 0 . . .
James Harris 2 1 3 . . . . . . . . .
Eric Riley 1 1 2 . . . . . . . . .
Ken Roe . 2 2 . . . . . . . . .
Mark Rodrigue 1 1 2 . . . . . . . . .
Kim Mack 1 1 2 . . . . . . . . .
Tracy Ashley 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . .
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FSU 33 36 69 3.0- 18.0 . 2- -3 1 . 3- 0 . . .
Opp 38 55 93 13.0- 66.0 5.0- 49.0 3- 37 3 . 2- 0 . . .
STARTERS
Pos ## OFFENSE ---------------------------------- WR 6 Dennis McKinnon QB 11 Rick Stockstill FB 27 Michael Whiting TB 44 Ricky Williams OT 62 Eric Ryan OG 63 Ricky Render C 69 Tom McCormick OT 73 Barry Voltapetti OG 75 Tom Brannon TE 81 Zeke Mowatt WR 87 Phil Williams |
Pos ## DEFENSE ---------------------------------- WS 8 Eric Riley CB 24 Harvey Clayton SS 30 Larry Harris CB 33 James Harris OLB 38 Ken Roe NG 51 James Gilbert OLB 54 Tommy Young DE 60 Scott McLean DE 64 Jarvis Coursey LT 76 Alphonso Carreker RT 79 Garry Futch |
## NAME ----------------------------- 3 Rohn Stark 7 Mike Rendina 12 Kelly Lowrey 13 Kim Mack 14 Blair Williams 19 Pat Milligan 20 Ken Burnett 22 Hardis Johnson 23 Tracy Ashley 26 Greg Allen 31 Billy Allen 32 Darish Davis |
## NAME ----------------------------- 35 Ernie Sims 41 Cedric Jones 46 Mark Rodrigue 47 Brian Williams 52 Sam Restivo 58 Henry Taylor 66 Redus Coggin 71 Bob Merson 83 Ron Hester 84 Sam Childers 86 John McLean 89 Tom Wheeler |
Seminoles storm past LSU 38-14.
Greg Allen rambles for record 202 yards.
BATON ROUGE, LA - Rebounding with a vengeance from a terrible beating a week ago in Pittsburgh, and ending their celebrated five-game road trip in the grandest of style, the Florida State Seminoles crushed Louisiana State 38-14 on a cool Saturday night.
"I was afraid we wouldn't have enough stuff left to beat LSU at Baton Rouge," said Florida State coach Bobby Bowden. "We played our best ballgame of the season tonight."
The Seminoles had stuff - all they needed - and much, much more.
Now 5-2 and in a good position to improve its No. 20 ranking and position on bowl selectors' lists, Florida State used a grand assortment of big-play defense, and big-play special teams to cast a heavy funk over LSU's homecoming. The disappointed Tigers sunk to 3-5.
Freshman tailback Greg Allen, in his first FSU start, broke the school record by flashing for 202 yards on 31 carries. Sam Platt set the previous mark last year with 188 yards against Memphis State.
Allen, an unusual combination of strength and power, followed his blockers and used openings like an old pro.
But he was not the only hero.
Quarterback Rick Stockstill, who was banished to the bench last week in the second quarter, never was better. He completed seven in 13 attempts for 103 yards and two touchdowns. It was the cool manner in which he directed the offense that was the most impressive.
The Seminole offense, operating without injured starting backs Mike Whiting and Ricky Williams, was never better either. Ken Burnett, taking Whiting's fullback slot, threw big blocks that consistently allowed Allen to turn the corner.
The defense, using an aggressive, attacking style quite in contrast with a week ago, sacked and beat up LSU quarterback Alan Risher all game. Senior defensive tackle Garry Futch was a man among boys, tossing around blockers. Risher, running backs - you name it. Futch hit it.
So did linebacker Ron Hester, who played by far his best game of the year.
Cornerback Harvey Clayton, one of FSU's best defenders all year, also made the big-play list with an interception and a 48-yard return that put LSU on ice in the third quarter.
"It was just my night," said Futch, who had nine tackles, six for 26 yards in losses. "It was a feeling on the defense that we should blitz more. If we played this good as a team, we could have beaten Nebraska and Pittsburgh."
There were times when it looked like the entire state of Florida was descending on Risher. Cornerback James Harris, a surprise blitzer much of the evening, recorded three sacks of his own.
Let us not forget the contributions of the kicking teams, which provided a critical blocked punt by Warren Hanna in the first quarter, and a stunning 97-yard kickoff return by freshman Billy Allen.
The Seminoles came out of the starting gate smoking, something that is recommended to visitors in noisy Tiger Stadium. Big plays early have a tendency to quiet the masses in Baton Rouge.
And that's what Greg Allen provided on the Seminoles' first play from scrimmage. He burst through a large hole off left tackle for 66 yards. He was finally dragged down at the LSU 9.
The Seminoles, though, had to settle for a 21-yard Mike Rendina field goal for a 3-0 lead.
Still, it was a good indicator.
On their next possession, the Seminoles once again ran right over the LSU defense on a 58-yard drive for a 10-0 lead. Allen's running and receiving set up things at the LSU 22. From there, Stockstill faked convincingly to the left, rolled right, and drilled receiver Dennis McKinnon on the numbers for a score.
It got worse for the Tigers.
Junior cornerback Hanna broke through to block a punt by James Wagner. By the time Ken Roe got through recovering the ball, it was at the LSU 15. One play later, Greg Allen hit the right corner, turned on his jets, and scored untouched for a 17-0 lead.
The Tigers were looking for a place to hide, but Florida State's defense made one of its few mistakes of the night to let the enemy off the hook.
Risher, with some rare time to throw, connected with world-class hurdler and receiver Orlando McDaniel on a 76-yard scoring shocker. James Harris and Larry Harris were badly burned on the play.
You could feel the momentum surge across the field to the LSU bench. The crowd was awakened.
But Stockstill made sure the Tigers would not get the wrong idea about the game. He led the Seminoles on an 89-yard drive and silenced the crowd.
The quarterback's throwing and Phil Williams catching were the keys to the critical drive. So was Bowden's gutsy decisions to twice go for it on the fourth-and-inches from the FSU 41 and the LSU 48. Stockstill completed the crushing drive with a 12-yard pass to Williams.
With 6:43 left in the third quarter, LSU was put out of its misery.
Cedric Jones, another of FSU's prize freshmen, scored behind a great Ricky Render block on a 30-yard end around to put it away 31-7.
Still LSU managed to fight right back with a score on a Risher sneak from the 1. Risher was LSU's lone bright spot. The tough junior completed 16 passes in 27 attempts for 287 yards.
Twelve seconds later, Billy Allen, yet another freshman, got great wedge blocking and went 97 yards on the ensuing kickoff.
It put the final touches on what turned into a successful road trip and a big night in Baton Rouge.
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida State | |||||
| Louisiana State |
1st 3- 0 Mike Rendina, 21, field goal, 13:18
10- 0 Dennis McKinnon, 22, pass from Rick Stockstill (Mike Rendina, kick), 5:58
17- 0 Greg Allen, 15, run (Mike Rendina, kick), 1:05
2nd 17- 7 Opp, 76, pass (kick), 7:59
24- 7 Phil Williams, 12, pass from Rick Stockstill (Mike Rendina, kick), 1:24
3rd 31- 7 Cedric Jones, 30, run (Mike Rendina, kick), 6:43
31-14 Opp, 1, run (kick), 4:31
38-14 Billy Allen, 97, kickoff return (Mike Rendina, kick), 4:19
TEAM STATISTICS
FSU OPP
First downs 21 21
Rushes-yards 52-267 47-26
Passing 103 312
Att-Comp-Int 13-7-0 29-18-1
Total Yards 65-370 76-338
Punt Returns 3-52 0-0
Kickoff Returns 3-122 6-103
Interception Ret. 1-48 0-0
Fumble Returns 1-0 3-0
Punts 3-37.0 6-31.5
Sacks By-Yds 8-60 1-17
Fumbles-Lost 5-3 3-1
Penalties-Yds 4-38 2-14
3rd Down Conversions 5-9 5-16
4th Down Conversions 2-2 0-3
Time of Posession 28:14 31:46
Attendance 74,816
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing No Yds TD Lng
---------------------------------------------
Greg Allen 31 202 1 66
Ken Burnett 7 38 0 13
Cedric Jones 2 30 1 30t
Billy Allen 4 12 0 10
Darish Davis 4 1 0 2
Rick Stockstill 4 -16 0 2
---------------------------------------------
FSU 52 267 2 66
Opp 47 26 1 14
Receiving No Yds TD Lng
---------------------------------------------
Phil Williams 4 65 1 21
Dennis McKinnon 1 22 1 22t
Greg Allen 2 16 0 10
---------------------------------------------
FSU 7 103 2 22t
Opp 18 312 1 76t
Passing C- A- I Yds TD Lng
-----------------------------------------------
Rick Stockstill 7 13 0 103 2 22t
-----------------------------------------------
FSU 7 13 0 103 2 22t
Opp 18 29 1 312 1 76t
Punt Return No Yds TD Lng
---------------------------------------------
Warren Hanna 1 35 0 35
Cedric Jones 2 17 0
---------------------------------------------
FSU 3 52 0 35
Kickoff Return No Yds TD Lng
---------------------------------------------
Billy Allen 2 108 1 97t
Greg Allen 1 14 0 14
---------------------------------------------
FSU 3 122 1 97t
Opp 6 103 0
Punting No Yds Lng
----------------------------------------
Rohn Stark 3 111 40
----------------------------------------
FSU 3 111 40
Opp 6 189 53
|---------Tackles---------| |---Sacks---| |---Pass Def---| |-Fumbles-| Blkd
DEFENSIVE STATISTICS UT AT Total ForLoss No - Yards Int-Yds BrUp QBH Rcv-Yds FF Kick Saf
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ron Hester 8 5 13 4.0- 19.0 2.0- 14.0 . . . . . . .
Tommy Young 6 3 9 1.0- 5.0 . . . . . . . .
Garry Futch 7 2 9 6.0- 26.0 3.0- 19.0 . . . . . . .
Larry Harris 6 1 7 . . . 1 . . . . .
James Gilbert 4 2 6 . . . . . . . . .
Jarvis Coursey 2 4 6 . . . . . . . . .
James Harris 6 . 6 3.0- 27.0 3.0- 27.0 . 1 . . . . .
Tracy Ashley 5 1 6 . . . . . . . . .
Harvey Clayton 5 . 5 . . 1- 48 . . . . . .
Alphonso Carreker 3 2 5 . . . . . . . . .
Ernie Sims . 4 4 . . . . . 1- 0 . . .
Pat Milligan 3 1 4 . . . . . . . . .
Warren Hanna 2 1 3 . . . 2 . . . 1 .
Scott McLean 2 1 3 . . . . . . . . .
Mark Rodrigue 2 . 2 . . . . . . . . .
Lenny Chavers 2 . 2 . . . . . . . . .
Ken Roe 1 1 2 . . . . . . . . .
Kim Mack . 2 2 . . . . . . . . .
Eric Riley 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . .
Brian McCrary 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . .
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FSU 66 30 96 14.0- 77.0 8.0- 60.0 1- 48 4 . 1- 0 . 1 .
Opp 58 33 91 3.0- 22.0 1.0- 17.0 . 2 . 3- 0 . . .
STARTERS
Pos ## OFFENSE ---------------------------------- WR 6 Dennis McKinnon QB 11 Rick Stockstill FB 20 Ken Burnett RB 26 Greg Allen RT 62 Eric Ryan RG 63 Ricky Render C 69 Tom McCormick LT 73 Barry Voltapetti LG 75 Tom Brannon TE 81 Zeke Mowatt WR 87 Phil Williams |
Pos ## DEFENSE ---------------------------------- WS 8 Eric Riley SS 19 Pat Milligan CB 24 Harvey Clayton CB 33 James Harris LB 38 Ken Roe NG 51 James Gilbert LB 54 Tommy Young LE 60 Scott McLean RE 64 Jarvis Coursey LT 76 Alphonso Carreker RT 79 Garry Futch |
## NAME ----------------------------- 3 Rohn Stark 7 Mike Rendina 9 Warren Hanna 12 Kelly Lowrey 13 Kim Mack 18 Weegie Thompson 23 Tracy Ashley 30 Larry Harris 31 Billy Allen 32 Darish Davis 35 Ernie Sims 41 Cedric Jones 42 Quent Reed 43 Brian McCrary |
## NAME ----------------------------- 46 Mark Rodrigue 52 Sam Restivo 56 Jerry Coleman 61 Dan Morris 66 Redus Coggin 68 Lenny Chavers 71 Bob Merson 78 Terry Widner 82 Tony Johnson 83 Ron Hester 84 Sam Childers 85 David Ponder 90 Allen Dale Campbell 98 Brad Fojtik |
Allen sparkles as FSU romps.
Freshman rambles for 322 yards.
TALLAHASSEE, FL – The reception line formed to the left as Florida State Seminoles stood and waited to congratulate sensational freshman Greg Allen. Barely in the shaving stage at 18, Allen shattered rushing records and the Western Carolina Catamounts Saturday night in perhaps the greatest individual performance in Florida State history.
Allen had the perfect theater for his performance, as 52,721 homecoming revelers watched the Seminoles romp 56-31, the third-largest crowd in the history of Doak Campbell Stadium.
The large crowd was treated to an orgy of offense, which featured 623 yards of total offense by the Seminoles and 437 yards by Western Carolina for an FSU record total of 1,160.
Allen had the press box scrambling for the record books. His incredible 322 yards of rushing on 32 carries was the single-game best in college football this season, and shattered his own FSU record of 202 yards that be set a week ago at LSU.
USC’s Heisman Trophy candidate, Marcus Allen, had the top individual performance of the season earlier in the day with 289 yards against Washington State. His record only stood for a few hours before another Allen took it away.
The most remarkable aspect of Allen’s record breaking is that it did not include his stunning 95-yard kickoff return in the first quarter. Allen also shattered the single-game NCAA rushing record for freshmen that was held by “Famous” Amos Lawrence of North Carolina, who gained 286 yards in 1977.
Only 34 yards short of the all-time single-game rushing record held by Eddie Lee Ivery with 356 set in 1978, coach Bobby Bowden decided to let Greg sit on the bench and receive the congratulations of his teammates.
Besides, the tailback is too valuable to risk.
Allen had 238 yards in the second half alone, leading the Seminoles to the rout. The contest was anything but a rout in the first half.
Western Carolina came into town with a 2-6 record, riding the faintest of hopes and the wildest of dreams. When their bus left for their eight and a half hour ride back to Cullowhee, N.C., the Catamounts had acquired a lot of respect for the way they battled powerful Florida State almost evenly for a half, and even during the second-half holocaust, continued to fight and scramble.
Florida State finally wore down the game Catamounts in the second half with an awesome running game that smashed the singl-game FSU record of 383 yards set in 1957.
Allen wasn’t the only one. Fullback Mike Whiting, after sitting out last week with an injury, came back to block well, as usual, and ran hard for 106 yards in 16 carries.
The Seminole defense, though, gave up big plays all night to the Catamounts.
Western Carolina shocked more than a few people by demonstrating its football uniforms were more than Halloween costumes in the first half.
At the outset, the large crowd was quiet and disbelieving, perhaps wondering if Western Carolina had gone out and hired themselves some crack mercenaries. There was nothing timid about the Catamounts.
On their first play from scrimmage, as if to demonstrate they were not going to spare anything in their playbook, the Catamounts ripped off a 16-yard end around with 153-pound freshman wingback Eric Rasheed doing the running.
To prove they were not one-play wonders, the Catamounts moved smartly to the Florida State 43 behind the passing of junior quarterback Ronnie Mixon and the running of sophomore tailback Melvin Dorsey.
Harvey Clayton ended that drive, though, by intercepting his fifth pass of the year.
It seemed to figure that the Seminoles would awaken after the Catamounts had pushed them around on their first drive. But no. The Western Carolina defense stopped Greg Allen for 1 yard, Michael whiting for 1 yard, and a screen from Rick Stockstill to Whiting was stuffed for 1 yard.
Hey, wait a minute. The Seminoles weren’t supposed to be the ones running three plays and punting.
There were more shocks in store. Western Carolina got the ball at its own 34 after Stark’s 39-yard punt. The Catamounts’ offensive line continued to more than hold its own, and when Florida State did put pressure on Mixon, he got his pass off quickly and with accuracy. He hit five of five passes on the drive for 56 yards to move his team to the Florida State 1. On fourth-and-goal from there, Dorsey dived over left guard for the score and a 7-0 lead with 3:39 left in the first quarter. The drive covered 66 yards in 14 plays.
The Seminoles came right back with a drive that covered 95 yards on one play – a lightning bolt kickoff return by Greg Allen, who cut left to his blocking wall at his own 20, turned it on down the sidelines, and cut back to elude his final pursuers at the Western Carolina 40.
With Mike Rendina’s conversion, the score was 7-7. Still, when the clock wound down to 56 seconds left in the quarter, the Seminoles had still had not managed a single first down, and had run only three offensive plays.
At that juncture, though, Florida State managed to start producing some offense. The main source was freshman wonder Greg Allen, who broke loose on a 35-yard run, and followed that with another of 12 yards to set things up at the Catamount 45.
Stockstill found tight end Zeke Mowatt for 19 yards for a first-and-10 from the 10. The Seminoles got to the 3, but settled for Rendina’s field goal of 20 yards.
Florida State managed one more time in the half to get in position for a touchdown, but the Catamount defense would not give in Rendina hit a 29-yard field goal with 4:28 left in the half for a 13-7 lead.
Rendina fell short on a 55-yard attempt as the first half ended.
From the Tallahassee Democrat, November 1, 1981, page 14, other editions, by George Maselli.
The second half was enough to send any defensive coordinator scrambling to the medicine chest for the valium. The Catamounts threw everything at Florida State – flea-flickers, reverses, bombs. Many of them worked.
The Seminoles, nursing a 13-6 lead, opened the second half by blowing down the field 80 yards on nine plays. Whiting, bowling defenders over along the way, scored from the 7 to make it 19-7.
But again Waters pulled out a gimmick play. Quarterback Ronnie Mixon, probably the second-best player on the field Saturday night, handed off to split end Dwayne Norman on an end-around. He pulled up and fired a pass to receiver Jeff Dean, who was 35 yards downfield, and 35 yards open. He scored easily for an 80-yard touchdown.
The score was 20-13, leaving most shaking their heads in admiration for the visitors, and others wondering what became of the blowout this game was supposed to be.
The Seminoles came right back to ram it down the Catamounts’ throats once again. And Allen had runs of 6, 25, 11 and 19. Whiting pounded it in from the 1 to make it 26-14. That drive took a lot out of Western Carolina.
Quarterback Rick Stockstill, who completed eight of 18 passes for 121 yards, hit Dennis McKinnon with an 18-yard touchdown pass to make it 34-14.
That should have really done in the Catamounts. But it didn’t.
Four plays later, Mixon (who completed 25 of 41 for 322 yards and two TDs) found speedy receiver Norman streaking through the FSU secondary. Just like that, a 76-yard touchdown to make it 35-21.
Allen finally put away Western Carolina with a 62-yard burst to the Carolina 21. Allen, fittingly, scored from the 5, his second touchdown of the night.
Phil Williams caught a TD toss from Blair Williams (four of five for 23 yards), and freshman Cedric Jones ran in from the 3 for the final Seminole touchdowns.
Mixon had one last score in his right arm. He burned the Seminole secondary with a 58-yard strike to Kiser.
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Carolina | |||||
| Florida State |
1st 0- 7 Opp, 1, run (kick), 3:53
7- 7 Greg Allen, 95, kickoff return (Mike Rendina, kick), 3:39
2nd 10- 7 Mike Rendina, 20, field goal, 12:52
13- 7 Mike Rendina, 29, field goal, 4:28
13- 7 Mike Rendina, 55, field goal failed, 0:21
3rd 20- 7 Michael Whiting, 7, run (Mike Rendina, kick), 11:32
20-14 Opp, 80, pass (kick), 11:18
28-14 Michael Whiting, 1, run (Phil Williams, pass from Rick Stockstill), 7:52
28-14 Mike Rendina, 50, field goal failed, 3:46
4th 35-14 Dennis McKinnon, 18, pass from Rick Stockstill (Mike Rendina, kick), 13:16
35-21 Opp, 76, pass (kick), 11:37
35-24 Opp, 24, field goal, 8:42
42-24 Greg Allen, 5, run (Mike Rendina, kick), 6:59
49-24 Tony Johnson, 5, pass from Blair Williams (Mike Rendina, kick), 2:15
56-24 Cedric Jones, 3, run (Mike Rendina, kick), 1:17
56-31 Opp, 58, pass (kick), 0:34
TEAM STATISTICS
FSU OPP
First downs 31 19
Rushes-yards 61-479 31-35
Passing 144 402
Att-Comp-Int 25-12-0 42-26-2
Total Yards 86-623 73-437
Punt Returns 1-2 2-8
Kickoff Returns 5-140 5-92
Interception Ret. 2--2 0-0
Fumble Returns 1-0 1-0
Punts 3-31.7 6-28.2
Sacks By-Yds 2- 2-
Fumbles-Lost 2-1 4-1
Penalties-Yds 4-49 6-34
3rd Down Conversions 7-13 6-14
Time of Posession 30:49 29:11
Attendance 52,721
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing No Yds TD Lng
---------------------------------------------
Greg Allen 32 322 1 62
Michael Whiting 16 106 2 18
Cedric Jones 7 59 1 19
Ken Burnett 2 13 0 10
Blair Williams 2 -3 0 2
Rick Stockstill 2 -18 0 1
---------------------------------------------
FSU 61 479 4 62
Opp 31 35 1 16
Receiving No Yds TD Lng
---------------------------------------------
Phil Williams 2 41 0 26
Tony Johnson 3 36 1 16
Zeke Mowatt 2 31 0 19
Dennis McKinnon 1 18 1 18t
Michael Whiting 3 15 0 14
Sam Childers 1 3 0 3
---------------------------------------------
FSU 12 144 2 26
Opp 26 402 3 80t
Passing C- A- I Yds TD Lng
-----------------------------------------------
Rick Stockstill 8 18 0 121 1 26
Blair Williams 4 5 0 23 1 15
Greg Allen 0 1 0 0 0
Cedric Jones 0 1 0 0 0
-----------------------------------------------
FSU 12 25 0 144 2 26
Opp 26 42 2 402 3 80t
Punt Return No Yds TD Lng
---------------------------------------------
Cedric Jones 1 2 0 2
---------------------------------------------
FSU 1 2 0 2
Opp 2 8 0
Kickoff Return No Yds TD Lng
---------------------------------------------
Greg Allen 1 95 1 95t
Cedric Jones 3 35 0
Michael Whiting 1 10 0 10
---------------------------------------------
FSU 5 140 1 95t
Opp 5 92 0
Punting No Yds Lng
----------------------------------------
Rohn Stark 3 95 45
----------------------------------------
FSU 3 95 45
Opp 6 169 40
|---------Tackles---------| |---Sacks---| |---Pass Def---| |-Fumbles-| Blkd
DEFENSIVE STATISTICS UT AT Total ForLoss No - Yards Int-Yds BrUp QBH Rcv-Yds FF Kick Saf
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ron Hester 1 6 7 . . . 1 . . . . .
James Gilbert . 6 6 1.0- 0.5- . . . 1- 0 . . .
James Harris 4 2 6 1.0- . . . . . . . .
Harvey Clayton 4 1 5 . . 1- -2 1 . . . . .
Larry Harris 3 2 5 . . 1- 0 . . . . . .
Tommy Young 1 4 5 2.0- . . . . . . . .
Warren Hanna 5 . 5 1.0- . . . . . . . .
Garry Futch 2 2 4 2.0- 1.0- . . . . . . .
Scott McLean 1 3 4 1.0- . . . . . . . .
Jarvis Coursey . 3 3 . . . . . . . . .
Ken Roe 3 . 3 . . . . . . . . .
Alphonso Carreker . 2 2 1.0- 0.5- . . . . . . .
Tracy Ashley 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . .
Allen Dale Campbell 1 . 1 1.0- . . . . . . . .
John McLean 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . .
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FSU 27 31 58 10.0- 0.0 2.0- 0.0 2- -2 2 . 1- 0 . . .
Opp 16 80 96 3.0- 2.0- . 2 . 1- 0 . . .
STARTERS
Pos ## OFFENSE ---------------------------------- QB 11 Rick Stockstill TB 26 Greg Allen FB 27 Michael Whiting OT 62 Eric Ryan OG 63 Ricky Render C 69 Tom McCormick OG 71 Bob Merson OT 73 Barry Voltapetti TE 81 Zeke Mowatt WR 82 Tony Johnson WR 87 Phil Williams |
Pos ## DEFENSE ---------------------------------- SS 23 Tracy Ashley CB 24 Harvey Clayton WS 30 Larry Harris CB 33 James Harris NG 51 James Gilbert LB 54 Tommy Young DE 60 Scott McLean DE 64 Jarvis Coursey LT 76 Alphonso Carreker RT 79 Garry Futch LB 83 Ron Hester |
## NAME ----------------------------- 3 Rohn Stark 6 Dennis McKinnon 7 Mike Rendina 8 Eric Riley 9 Warren Hanna 12 Kelly Lowrey 13 Kim Mack 14 Blair Williams 18 Weegie Thompson 19 Pat Milligan 20 Ken Burnett 31 Billy Allen 35 Ernie Sims 38 Ken Roe |
## NAME ----------------------------- 41 Cedric Jones 44 Ricky Williams 52 Sam Restivo 56 Jerry Coleman 66 Redus Coggin 68 Lenny Chavers 75 Tom Brannon 77 Chris Nickrenz 78 Terry Widner 84 Sam Childers 85 David Ponder 86 John McLean 90 Allen Dale Campbell 98 Brad Fojtik |
’Canes kick Seminoles 27-19.
TALLAHASSEE, FL – With the seconds slipping away, and with each tick making the end result more apparent, the Florida State cheerleaders tried to start the chant that rings through Doak Campbell Stadium and Tennessee Street in better times.
“FSU, FSU, FSU.”
Few in the stands cared to join in, because this Saturday belonged to the Miami Hurricanes, whose sound defense and opportunistic offense quieted the Florida State Seminoles and 52,685 fans with a 27-19 victory.
The game was played before a regional television audience on a perfect autumn afternoon, and the loss ended Florida State’s 19-game winning streak at Doak Campbell Stadium that stretched back to early in the 1978 season.
The Seminole kicking game was the most obvious failure of the game, having two field goal attempts and an extra point blocked. On the other side of the field, Miami’s Dan Miller stunned the Seminoles with a booming 57-yard field goal that tied the game in the third quarter and seemed to permanently shift the game’s momentum.
“When the kicking team missed that extra point and those field goals … it demoralized us hearing those thumps all the time,” said senior tackle Barry Voltapetti of the sound of blocked kicks.
“They won the kicking game by far, but it was a team loss,” said senior defensive tackle Garry Futch in the somber Seminole locker room. “You can’t point a finger at any one person or any unit or any one play.”
Florida State had more reasons to win this game. The Seminoles could have avenged a painful 10-9 loss last year in Miami, and could have furthered their chances for a major bowl game.
Instead, the Seminoles, who have been unable to win three games in a row all season, fell to 6-3 for the year and surely will drop in the polls and the bowls.
The Hurricanes, using an experienced defense and one of the finest quarterbacks in the country in Jim Kelly, moved to 6-2 and should roll their current No. 11 and 13 rankings into the Top10.
“In 23 years of coaching, I have never been prouder of a team,” said Miami coach Howard Schnellenberger, who left the Miami Dolphins coaching staff to take over at UM three years ago. “I don’t know if there’s another team in the country that could have gone through what this team’s been through, and then come up here, play one of the best teams in the country and come back to win.”
Anyone in attendance knows the Seminoles had their chances to win this game. It was tied at the end of three quarters 13-13.
Kelly, who completed 22-of-41 passes for 273 yards and made use of eight different receivers, used his brain as well as his arm to take command of the game in the fourth quarter.
With Florida State desperately trying to pressure him – they registered only one sack all game – Kelly caught the Seminoles in a maximum blitz. He held the ball just long enough while the rushers charged, and delivered the perfect counterstroke – a screen pass to fullback Speedy Neal. The 244-pound fullback pounded 33 yards to the FSU 24. Moments later, tailback Smokey Roan breezed in from the 6 for a 20-13 lead.
The Seminoles still had 10:47 left to come back, but two plays later Rick Stockstill’s slant pass was tipped and intercepted by Ronnie Tippett. The Miami cornerback returned it 16 yards to the FSU 24.
Kelly hit Neal with a quick out, and the fullback broke two tackles and many hearts enroute to the end zone for a 27-13 lead with 8:54 left.
Bowden decided to pull out all the stops and used a play he’d been saving for just such a desperate occasion. Miller kicked off to Cedric Jones at the FSU 9. He ran five yards upfield, pulled up and fired a 25-yard lateral to Greg Allen, who found a wall of blockers and nearly went the distance. He was hauled down at the Miami 36.
There was hope, still.
Using the running of freshman Greg Allen – he had 109 yards rushing, the only back all year to go over 100 against Miami – and a 20-yard deflected pass to tight end Zeke Mowatt, The Seminoles staggered to the Miami goalline.
On fourth-and-one from the seven, Stockstill faked the run and threw a touchdown to tight end Sam Childers, who made a clutch diving catch. Stockstill’s two-point conversion pass was broken up in the end zone to leave the score 27-19.
Then the Hurricanes moved successfully on the ground for the first time all day, and it could not have come at a worse time.
Former Godby star Chris Hobbs and Neal used up 4:20 on the clock before Miller missed on a 34-yard field goal.
With only 2:18 left, Florida State could not find enough dents in the Miami defense to punch in another score.
That was when Florida State fans began remembering missed scoring opportunities earlier in the game. In the second quarter, for example, the Seminoles failed to score after a driving Rohn Stark punt was fumbled at the Miami 10 and recovered by John McLean with the Hurricanes leading 10-6.
After two incomplete passes and a run, a bad snap forced a muffed field goal attempt.
Another 44-yard field goal attempt early in the fourth quarter was blocked with the game tied at 13.
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami | |||||
| Florida State |
1st 6- 0 Tony Johnson, 12, pass from Rick Stockstill (Mike Rendina, kick blocked), 10:38
6- 3 Opp, 32, field goal, 4:42
2nd 6-10 Opp, 1, run (kick), 12:46
6-10 Mike Rendina, 28, field goal blocked, 9:23
13-10 Greg Allen, 2, run (Mike Rendina, kick), 5:43
3rd 13-13 Opp, 57, field goal, 7:38
4th 13-13 Mike Rendina, 44, field goal blocked, 12:26
13-20 Opp, 6, run (kick), 10:47
13-27 Opp, 23, pass (kick), 8:54
19-27 Sam Childers, 7, pass from Rick Stockstill (Rick Stockstill, pass failed), 6:46
19-27 Opp, 36, field goal failed, 2:18
TEAM STATISTICS
FSU OPP
First downs 18 20
Rushes-yards 40-140 36-67
Passing 181 273
Att-Comp-Int 37-18-1 41-22-1
Total Yards 77-321 77-340
Punt Returns 3-24 2-7
Kickoff Returns 2-73 3-85
Interception Ret. 1-9 1-15
Fumble Returns 1-0 0-0
Punts 4-47.5 3-36.7
Sacks By-Yds 1- 1-
Fumbles-Lost 0-0 1-1
Penalties-Yds 2-10 0-0
3rd Down Conversions 12-18 13-19
Time of Posession 28:13 31:47
Attendance 52,685
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing No Yds TD Lng
---------------------------------------------
Greg Allen 23 109 1 19
Michael Whiting 8 27 0 11
Rick Stockstill 5 8 0 15
Cedric Jones 3 2 0 8
Team 1 -6 0 -6
---------------------------------------------
FSU 40 140 1 19
Opp 36 67 2 12
Receiving No Yds TD Lng
---------------------------------------------
Tony Johnson 4 53 1 18
Zeke Mowatt 3 33 0 20
Michael Whiting 2 24 0 19
Dennis McKinnon 3 22 0 11
Sam Childers 3 21 1 8
Phil Williams 2 21 0 15
Ricky Williams 1 7 0 7
---------------------------------------------
FSU 18 181 2 20
Opp 22 273 1 33
Passing C- A- I Yds TD Lng
-----------------------------------------------
Rick Stockstill 17 36 1 173 2 20
Kelly Lowrey 1 1 0 8 0 8
-----------------------------------------------
FSU 18 37 1 181 2 20
Opp 22 41 1 273 1 33
Punt Return No Yds TD Lng
---------------------------------------------
Cedric Jones 3 24 0
---------------------------------------------
FSU 3 24 0
Opp 2 7 0 5
Kickoff Return No Yds TD Lng
---------------------------------------------
Greg Allen 1 54 0 54
Billy Allen 1 19 0 19
---------------------------------------------
FSU 2 73 0 54
Opp 3 85 0 45
Punting No Yds Lng
----------------------------------------
Rohn Stark 4 190 55
----------------------------------------
FSU 4 190 55
Opp 3 110 42
|---------Tackles---------| |---Sacks---| |---Pass Def---| |-Fumbles-| Blkd
DEFENSIVE STATISTICS UT AT Total ForLoss No - Yards Int-Yds BrUp QBH Rcv-Yds FF Kick Saf
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ron Hester 4 14 18 1.0- . . . . . . . .
James Gilbert 2 9 11 . . . . . . . . .
Garry Futch . 9 9 . . . . . . . . .
Ken Roe 1 6 7 . . . . . . . . .
Harvey Clayton 4 2 6 . . . 1 . . . . .
Tommy Young 1 4 5 . . . . . . . . .
Scott McLean 2 3 5 . . . . . . . . .
Larry Harris . 4 4 . . 1- 9 1 . . . . .
Alphonso Carreker . 4 4 0.5- 0.5- . . . . . . .
Jarvis Coursey 3 1 4 . . . 1 . . . . .
James Harris 1 3 4 . . . 2 . . . . .
Tracy Ashley 1 3 4 . . . . . . . . .
Allen Dale Campbell . 1 1 0.5- 0.5- . . . . . . .
Mike Rendina 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . .
John McLean . . . . . . . . 1- 0 . . .
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FSU 20 63 83 2.0- 0.0 1.0- 0.0 1- 9 5 . 1- 0 . . .
Opp 16 43 59 4.0- 1.0- 1- 15 . . . . 3 .
STARTERS
Pos ## OFFENSE ---------------------------------- QB 11 Rick Stockstill TB 26 Greg Allen FB 27 Michael Whiting OT 62 Eric Ryan OG 63 Ricky Render C 69 Tom McCormick OG 71 Bob Merson OT 73 Barry Voltapetti TE 81 Zeke Mowatt WR 82 Tony Johnson WR 87 Phil Williams |
Pos ## DEFENSE ---------------------------------- SS 23 Tracy Ashley CB 24 Harvey Clayton WS 30 Larry Harris CB 33 James Harris NG 51 James Gilbert LB 54 Tommy Young DE 60 Scott McLean DE 64 Jarvis Coursey LT 76 Alphonso Carreker RT 79 Garry Futch LB 83 Ron Hester |
## NAME ----------------------------- 3 Rohn Stark 6 Dennis McKinnon 7 Mike Rendina 8 Eric Riley 9 Warren Hanna 12 Kelly Lowrey 13 Kim Mack 18 Weegie Thompson 19 Pat Milligan 20 Ken Burnett 31 Billy Allen 35 Ernie Sims 38 Ken Roe 41 Cedric Jones |
## NAME ----------------------------- 44 Ricky Williams 52 Sam Restivo 56 Jerry Coleman 68 Lenny Chavers 74 Pete Panton 75 Tom Brannon 77 Chris Nickrenz 78 Terry Widner 84 Sam Childers 85 David Ponder 86 John McLean 90 Allen Dale Campbell 98 Brad Fojtik |
Eagles pluck ragged ‘Noles.
TALLAHASSEE, FL – The Florida State Seminoles crashed and burned to the horror of most of the 51,819 spectators who paid to see them Saturday at Doak Campbell Stadium.
It may have been the cumulative effects of a grind of a schedule. It may have been a lack of respect for their opponent. But most likely it was too much Southern Mississippi and Reggie Collier.
The Southern Miss Golden Eagles did exactly as they pleased in a 58-14 carnage that may have landed them a decent bowl bid and the kind of respect a 9-0-1 team deserves.
Southern Miss is undefeated and ranked No. 10 and 14 in the polls, but they lack tradition and publicity.
“They tell us every week we have to prove something, and I think we did it again today,” said Southern Miss coach Bobby Collins. “This is by far the finest performance of any team since I’ve been coaching.”
Even worse for the Seminoles, now 6-4, was that their embarrassment was witnessed by a regional television audience. “It’s a shame this has to happen to Bobby (Bowden) on TV,” said one compassionate bowl scout. Representatives from six bowls were present, and they could have been impressed with only one team on the field.
From the opening drive of the game, it was apparent that the Seminoles were not going to stop the Golden Eagles and their spectacular quarterback Reggie Collier if they played all week. The Eagles moved up and down the field as if they were going against an intramural team, scoring on each of their seven possessions. That provided 44 points.
They may have scored 44 more if Collier didn’t go to the bench with 8:33 left in the third quarter. Running up and down the field can tire a fellow out. He ran for 150 yards, including a 69-yard touchdown sprint, and completed 7-of-8 passes for 76 yards and one score. His only incompletion was dropped.
“We thought we were up for the game, but I guess their quarterback changed our minds,” said Seminole nose guard James Gilbert. “I played against J.C. Watts (Oklahoma quarterback) in the Orange Bowl, and I thought he was quick. One time I was coming in and Collier backpedaled faster than I could get in there.”
“I have never seen a quarterback with speed like that. That brother’s got it,” said Seminole safety Larry Harris, who led the team with 17 tackles because on nearly every play a back broke into the secondary. “He looked like a sprinter to me. That’s one helluva team. They should be ranked higher.”
“They just out executed us,” said Florida State defensive coordinator Jack Stanton, who looked somewhat shell shocked. “They didn’t do anything we didn’t expect. They did exactly what we’ve been practicing all week. But they showed us the fast ball, and we’re not going to get that against the scout team.
“Their quarterback was fantastic. And when Rohn Stark drops two punt snaps … that’s the way the night went.”
Completely outmatched in the first half when they fell behind 30-0, the Seminoles felt there was hope to turn things around in the second half.
“Since I’ve been at FSU, we’ve been a second half team,” said senior tight end Sam Childers. “I figured for us to get back in it, we had to score on our first two possessions of the second half.”
Instead of scoring on their first try in the third quarter, Florida State gained no yards on three plays. Stark came in to punt. But for the second time in the game, he fumbled a perfect snap from center, and for the first time in his college career, had it blocked.
The Eagles recovered at the FSU 19. Five plays later, on 4th-and-goal from the 1, Collier fooled everyone by flipping a short pass to a lonely Raymond Powell for the touchdown and a 37-0 lead.
On their next possession, Collier bolted 69 yards on an option play for a 44-0 lead. He took his place on the bench, with absolutely nothing left to prove.
Minutes later, after a Greg Allen fumble, Collier’s replacement, Davey Sellers, hit a wide open Don Horn for a 50-yard TD pass and a 51-0 lead.
The fight should have been stopped there, if not before. Many headed for the exits.
It was the first time since they played Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl on New Year’s Day that Florida State had faced a triple-option team.
The Seminole defense showed no inclination to stop Collier and Co. to the delight of the 2,000 or so yellow-clad Eagle fans who thoroughly enjoyed the proceedings.
Those fans were gracious – or sarcastic enough – to loudly cheer FSU’s first touchdown of the game with 2:56 left in the third quarter. Backup quarterback Blair Williams hooked up on a 50-yard touchdown play with Dennis McKinnon to make the score 51-7.
Neither Williams nor starting quarterback Rick Stockstill had much time to throw as the nation’s leading defense against both the score and the pass kept them scrambling for their lives.
To cap off their mighty show if strength, Southern Mississippi’s Ricky Floyd took a 55-yard Stark punt and sped untouched for a 73-yard touchdown with 4:41 left in the game. Floyd had 61 yards rushing and 46 receiving.
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Mississippi | |||||
| Florida State |
1st 0- 7 Opp, 3, run (kick), 8:36
0-14 Opp, 12, run (kick), 6:40
2nd 0-21 Opp, 1, run (kick), 10:44
0-27 Opp, 31, pass (kick failed), 7:34
0-30 Opp, 41, field goal, 0:02
3rd 0-37 Opp, 1, pass (kick), 11:05
0-44 Opp, 69, run (kick), 8:26
0-51 Opp, 50, pass (kick), 6:34
7-51 Dennis McKinnon, 50, pass from Blair Williams (Mike Rendina, kick), 2:56
4th 7-58 Opp, 73, punt return/blocked punt (kick), 4:41
14-58 Tom Wheeler, 6, pass from Blair Williams (Mike Rendina, kick), 1:14
TEAM STATISTICS
FSU OPP
First downs 17 23
Rushes-yards 31-61 60-368
Passing 229 128
Att-Comp-Int 39-17-2 12-9-0
Total Yards 70-290 72-496
Punt Returns 1-0 6-105
Kickoff Returns 5-71 1-19
Interception Ret. 0-0 2-6
Fumble Returns 1-0 2-0
Punts 7-41.4 2-40.5
Fumbles-Lost 3-2 1-1
Penalties-Yds 5-35 2-10
3rd Down Conversions 6-15 11-15
Time of Posession 26:33 33:27
Attendance 51,819
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing No Yds TD Lng
---------------------------------------------
Greg Allen 17 88 0 13
Darish Davis 1 7 0 7
Ricky Williams 2 3 0 2
Cedric Jones 1 1 0 1
Rick Stockstill 3 0 0 14
Ken Burnett 1 -1 0 -1
Michael Whiting 3 -6 0 4
Rohn Stark 1 -12 0 -12
Blair Williams 2 -19 0
---------------------------------------------
FSU 31 61 0 14
Opp 60 368 4 69t
Receiving No Yds TD Lng
---------------------------------------------
Jessie Hester 3 57 0 26
Dennis McKinnon 2 54 1 50t
Weegie Thompson 1 28 0 28
Greg Allen 3 19 0 17
Tom Wheeler 2 16 1 10
Michael Whiting 2 16 0 10
Cedric Jones 1 16 0 16
Steve Nicklaus 1 11 0 11
Zeke Mowatt 1 7 0 7
Sam Childers 1 5 0 5
---------------------------------------------
FSU 17 229 2 50t
Opp 9 128 3 50t
Passing C- A- I Yds TD Lng
-----------------------------------------------
Blair Williams 11 28 1 190 2 50t
Rick Stockstill 6 11 1 39 0 16
-----------------------------------------------
FSU 17 39 2 229 2 50t
Opp 9 12 0 128 3 50t
Punt Return No Yds TD Lng
---------------------------------------------
Cedric Jones 1 0 0
---------------------------------------------
FSU 1 0 0
Opp 6 105 1 73t
Kickoff Return No Yds TD Lng
---------------------------------------------
Billy Allen 4 57 0
Greg Allen 1 14 0
---------------------------------------------
FSU 5 71 0
Opp 1 19 0 19
Punting No Yds Lng
----------------------------------------
Rohn Stark 6 290 55
Team 1 0
----------------------------------------
FSU 7 290 55
Opp 2 81 44
|---------Tackles---------| |---Sacks---| |---Pass Def---| |-Fumbles-| Blkd
DEFENSIVE STATISTICS UT AT Total ForLoss No - Yards Int-Yds BrUp QBH Rcv-Yds FF Kick Saf
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Larry Harris 4 13 17 . . . . . . . . .
Tommy Young . 11 11 . . . . . . . . .
Jarvis Coursey 2 8 10 1.0- . . . . . . . .
Tracy Ashley 3 7 10 . . . 1 . . . . .
Ron Hester 2 7 9 . . . . . . . . .
Alphonso Carreker 2 5 7 . . . . . . . . .
Harvey Clayton 1 5 6 . . . . . 1- 0 . . .
James Harris 3 3 6 . . . . . . . . .
Henry Taylor 1 5 6 . . . 1 . . . . .
Lenny Chavers . 6 6 . . . . . . . . .
John McLean . 4 4 . . . . . . . . .
Allen Dale Campbell . 3 3 . . . . . . . . .
Ken Roe . 2 2 . . . . . . . . .
James Gilbert 1 1 2 1.0- . . . . . . . .
Garry Futch 2 . 2 2.0- . . . . . . . .
Sam Restivo . 2 2 . . . . . . . . .
Warren Hanna . 2 2 . . . . . . . . .
Scott McLean . 1 1 . . . . . . . . .
Brad Fojtik . 1 1 . . . . . . . . .
David Ponder . 1 1 . . . . . . . . .
John Houston . 1 1 . . . . . . . . .
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FSU 21 88 109 4.0- 0.0 . . 2 . 1- 0 . . .
Opp 15 78 93 5.0- . 2- 6 8 . 2- 0 . 1 .
STARTERS
Pos ## OFFENSE ---------------------------------- QB 11 Rick Stockstill TB 26 Greg Allen FB 27 Michael Whiting OT 62 Eric Ryan OG 63 Ricky Render C 69 Tom McCormick OG 71 Bob Merson OT 73 Barry Voltapetti TE 81 Zeke Mowatt WR 82 Tony Johnson WR 87 Phil Williams |
Pos ## DEFENSE ---------------------------------- SS 23 Tracy Ashley CB 24 Harvey Clayton WS 30 Larry Harris CB 33 James Harris LB 38 Ken Roe NG 51 James Gilbert DE 60 Scott McLean DE 64 Jarvis Coursey LT 76 Alphonso Carreker RT 79 Garry Futch LB 83 Ron Hester |
## NAME ----------------------------- 2 Steve Nicklaus 3 Rohn Stark 4 Jessie Hester 6 Dennis McKinnon 7 Mike Rendina 8 Eric Riley 9 Warren Hanna 12 Kelly Lowrey 13 Kim Mack 14 Blair Williams 18 Weegie Thompson 19 Pat Milligan 20 Ken Burnett 31 Billy Allen 32 Darish Davis 41 Cedric Jones 44 Ricky Williams |
## NAME ----------------------------- 52 Sam Restivo 54 Tommy Young 55 John Houston 56 Jerry Coleman 58 Henry Taylor 61 Dan Morris 68 Lenny Chavers 74 Pete Panton 75 Tom Brannon 78 Terry Widner 84 Sam Childers 85 David Ponder 86 John McLean 89 Tom Wheeler 90 Allen Dale Campbell 98 Brad Fojtik |
Gators chomp on FSU.
GAINESVILLE, FL - It was a Gator kind of day.
For the Florida State Seminoles, a difficult season came to a difficult close here at Florida Field in a seas of orange, as Florida's Gators buried their upstate rivals 35-3.
The Seminoles can only be grateful for one thing: their season is over. In their last three games, all losses, they were outscores 120-36.
It will be the longest, coldest winter in Tallahassee since Bobby Bowden's first year in 1976 when his team finished 5-6.
"To lose your last three games is not encouraging," said Bowden. "I've got a lot of work to do. I don't think I'll be hitting a lot of golf balls this winter."
The Gators, now 7-4 and headed for the Peach Bowl, dominated this game from the opening drive to the final gun. It was easily the sweetest win of the season for Florida.
"I hate to be selfish, but this is the greatest win I've had in football," said Gator coach Charlie Pell. "I told Bobby (Bowden) that it's about time he let us win."
Florida now owns a 17-6-1 record in the 24-year annual war, but it was the first time it came out on top in the series since 1976. It was the biggest margin of victory for either team since a 49-0 Florida win in 1973.
As Bowden said afterwards, punting was the only area of the game that his team won. It's a commentary on the one-sided nature of this game.
Florida controlled both lines of scrimmage, tackled better, ran better, threw better and caught better.
The Gators' young offensive line gave sterling sophomore quarterback Wayne Peace all the time he needed to riddle Florida State's crumbling defense one more time this season. Peace completed 20-of-33 passes for 275 yards and four touchdowns.
All Peace and Co. needed was one touchdown to win this one. Partly due to its own ineptitude and partly due to an active and aggressive Gator defense, the Seminole offense did next to nothing.
In the week of practice prior to the game, Florida State offensive coordinator George Henshaw said: "If we don't throw, we're going to lose."
Henshaw was a prophet.
The Seminoles, with senior Rick Stockstill doing most of the throwing, completed a paltry 6-of-19 passes for 59 yards and three interceptions. The only thing the Seminoles did with any consistence was give the ball away. You can add two fumbles to those three interceptions.
Yet, the Gators needed no handouts.
Just as Southern Miss had done in its 58-14 massacre of the Seminoles, the Gators charged up and down the field.
Florida State managed to avoid falling behind in the opening minutes only because Peace and back Johnell Brown collided and fumbled. Jarvis Coursey recovered for FSU. It was one of the few mistakes Florida made all day.
On its next possession, Florida drove 63 yards for a 7-0 lead. Peace, as he did effectively all game, rolled out and waited for a receiver to break open. This time it was tight end Chris Faulkner, who took the 4-yard pass for a touchdown.
Florida State had chances to make it a game in the first half. Peace was stopped cold on fourth-and-inches at the FSU 36. It could have been a momentum-changer, but it wasn't. Florida State punted three downs later.
Florida came right back to drive into field goal range, but Brian Clark missed from 36 yards and FSU had another chance.
This time the Seminoles responded with their only points of the game. Mike Rendina hit a 27-yard field goal to make it 7-3. But even that was just a consolation prize. On third-and-4 from the Gator 5, Stockstill stumbled and went down at the 10.
"The nose guard got through and was hanging on my ankle," said Stockstill.
With 5:03 left in the half, Clark made up for his earlier miss by booming a 50-yard field goal into a swirling wind for a 10-3 lead. It gave Clark the Southeastern Conference record for the most field goals in a season with 17. He later added one more to that record.
Unfortunately for Florida State, Peace got another crack at them in the final two minutes of the half. He hit Dwayne Dixon twice and Spencer Jackson once in three throws for 51 yards. Clark boomed a 41-yard field goal for a 13-3 halftime lead.
The halftime score was the same as last year when the Seminoles won 17-13.
"We thought we had a chance with the score being the same as last year," said Bowden. "But we are just not a very good catchup team."
Last season, Stockstill threw two touchdown passes and the FSU defense shut down the Gators to win. History did not repeat.
Florida came out and did what it is supposed to be able to do: show the killer instinct. Peace, with blitzing linebacker Tommy Young in his face, burned the Seminole secondary on a 39-yard bomb to Jackson to move to the FSU 36. Four downs later it was fourth-and-1 from the FSU 27.
Peace faked to fullback James Jones, who carried it out perfectly by diving over the middle. Everyone on the defense bought the fake, as did most of the 64,437 in the stadium. Tight end Mike Mularkey floated out into the flat and was all alone. He took Peace's soft toss and rumbled in for the crushing score.
James Harris, the cornerback on that side, took the blame. "I was supposed to read the tight end on that play, but I thought Jones had it."
Trailing 21-3, the Seminoles began giving it away. Stockstill was intercepted, but the Gators failed to capitalize. Greg Allen fumbled on his own 36 on the next series, and that was that.
Peace, who used nine different receivers, hit Brown running deep in the FSU secondary. It was 28-3 and over, even with 6:57 left in the third quarter.
Peace added one more insult, another TD throw to Mularkey on another fourth-and-1 play from the FSU 8 for the final margin.
"Wayne Peace, well, he rises to the moment," said Pell. "Today he was brilliant."
Members of the Seminole offense took the blame for their mates on defense. "You can't keep the defense on the field all day. We didn't make any big plays on offense," said FSU receiver Dennis McKinnon.
"They had a good defense, but not as good as I anticipated," said FSU tight end Sam Childers. "We couldn't execute our offensive plays. We should have done better in the first half, and you can only keep your defense on the field so long."
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida State | |||||
| Florida |
1st 0- 7 Opp, 4, pass (kick), 5:04
2nd 0- 7 Opp, 36, field goal failed, 11:37
3- 7 Mike Rendina, 27, field goal, 7:45
3-10 Opp, 50, field goal, 2:22
3-13 Opp, 41, field goal, 0:13
3rd 3-21 Opp, 27, pass (run), 11:36
3-28 Opp, 34, pass (kick), 6:57
4th 3-35 Opp, 8, pass (kick), 5:14
TEAM STATISTICS
FSU OPP
First downs 11 25
Rushes-yards 40-151 49-162
Passing 59 275
Att-Comp-Int 19-6-3 33-20-0
Total Yards 59-210 82-437
Punt Returns 0-0 2-31
Kickoff Returns 3-26 1-19
Interception Ret. 0-0 3-13
Fumble Returns 1-0 2-0
Punts 6-54.8 3-39.7
Fumbles-Lost 4-2 2-1
Penalties-Yds 8-82 4-34
3rd Down Conversions 4-14 6-16
Time of Posession 26:34 33:26
Attendance 64,437
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing No Yds TD Lng
---------------------------------------------
Ricky Williams 11 63 0 13
Greg Allen 13 61 0 21
Michael Whiting 9 50 0 18
Rick Stockstill 5 3 0 3
Kelly Lowrey 1 -11 0 -11
Cedric Jones 1 -15 0 -15
---------------------------------------------
FSU 40 151 0 21
Opp 49 162 0 21
Receiving No Yds TD Lng
---------------------------------------------
Michael Whiting 2 21 0 17
Phil Williams 1 20 0 20
Dennis McKinnon 2 12 0 9
Zeke Mowatt 1 6 0 6
---------------------------------------------
FSU 6 59 0 20
Opp 20 275 4 39
Passing C- A- I Yds TD Lng
-----------------------------------------------
Rick Stockstill 5 15 3 55 0 20
Kelly Lowrey 1 3 0 4 0 4
Blair Williams 0 1 0 0 0
-----------------------------------------------
FSU 6 19 3 59 0 20
Opp 20 33 0 275 4 39
Punt Return No Yds TD Lng
---------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------
FSU 0 0 0
Opp 2 31 0
Kickoff Return No Yds TD Lng
---------------------------------------------
Greg Allen 2 19 0
Ricky Williams 1 7 0
---------------------------------------------
FSU 3 26 0
Opp 1 19 0 19
Punting No Yds Lng
----------------------------------------
Rohn Stark 6 329 64
----------------------------------------
FSU 6 329 64
Opp 3 119 51
|---------Tackles---------| |---Sacks---| |---Pass Def---| |-Fumbles-| Blkd
DEFENSIVE STATISTICS UT AT Total ForLoss No - Yards Int-Yds BrUp QBH Rcv-Yds FF Kick Saf
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
James Harris 8 . 8 1.0- 16.0 . . . . . . . .
Tracy Ashley 7 . 7 . . . . . . . . .
Jarvis Coursey 5 1 6 . . . . . 1- 0 . . .
Allen Dale Campbell 4 1 5 2.0- 11.0 . . . . . . . .
Garry Futch 5 . 5 1.0- 1.0 . . . . . . . .
Alphonso Carreker 5 . 5 1.0- 2.0 . . . . . . . .
Henry Taylor 3 2 5 . . . . . . . . .
Harvey Clayton 5 . 5 . . . . . . . . .
Larry Harris 3 2 5 . . . . . . . . .
John McLean 4 . 4 2.0- 35.0 . . . . . . . .
Scott McLean 2 1 3 . . . . . . . . .
David Ponder 3 . 3 . . . . . . . . .
James Gilbert 3 . 3 . . . . . . . . .
Tommy Young 2 1 3 . . . . . . . . .
Ron Hester 2 . 2 . . . . . . . . .
Ken Roe 2 . 2 . . . . . . . . .
Lenny Chavers 2 . 2 . . . . . . . . .
Eric Ryan 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . .
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FSU 66 8 74 7.0- 65.0 . . . . 1- 0 . . .
Opp 55 11 66 5.0- 45.0 . 3- 13 . . 2- 0 . . .
STARTERS
Pos ## OFFENSE ---------------------------------- QB 11 Rick Stockstill TB 26 Greg Allen FB 27 Michael Whiting OT 62 Eric Ryan OG 63 Ricky Render C 69 Tom McCormick OG 71 Bob Merson OT 73 Barry Voltapetti TE 81 Zeke Mowatt WR 82 Tony Johnson WR 87 Phil Williams |
Pos ## DEFENSE ---------------------------------- SS 23 Tracy Ashley CB 24 Harvey Clayton WS 30 Larry Harris CB 33 James Harris LB 38 Ken Roe NG 51 James Gilbert DE 60 Scott McLean DE 64 Jarvis Coursey LT 76 Alphonso Carreker RT 79 Garry Futch LB 83 Ron Hester |
## NAME ----------------------------- 3 Rohn Stark 6 Dennis McKinnon 7 Mike Rendina 8 Eric Riley 9 Warren Hanna 12 Kelly Lowrey 13 Kim Mack 14 Blair Williams 19 Pat Milligan 20 Ken Burnett 31 Billy Allen 41 Cedric Jones 44 Ricky Williams 52 Sam Restivo |
## NAME ----------------------------- 54 Tommy Young 56 Jerry Coleman 58 Henry Taylor 61 Dan Morris 68 Lenny Chavers 74 Pete Panton 75 Tom Brannon 78 Terry Widner 84 Sam Childers 85 David Ponder 86 John McLean 90 Allen Dale Campbell 98 Brad Fojtik |