College football

Quick gains

Land O'Lakes grad Drew Weatherford seems to be pulling ahead in FSU's quarterback duel.

By BRIAN LANDMAN and D.C. REEVES
Published August 24, 2005

	[AP photo]
	Drew Weatherford completed 21 of 34 passes for 401 yards in Florida State's scrimmage Tuesday, outshining fellow redshirt freshman Xavier Lee.

TALLAHASSEE - Drew Weatherford appears to be closing in on his dream: Starting at quarterback for Florida State.

Though locked in a duel with fellow redshirt freshman Xavier Lee, the former Land O'Lakes star had an impressive scrimmage Tuesday. He completed 21 of 34 passes for 401 yards and two interceptions. Lee played sparingly while nursing a sore throwing shoulder that might keep him sidelined for a couple of days.

"I am going to just keep saying they're both No. 1," coach Bobby Bowden said. "Y'all can see as good as I can what's happening."

He has said that in choosing who will start the opener against archrival Miami on Labor Day, "it will be performance not potential."

So far, that has to favor Weatherford, who was considered ahead of Lee last season and was elevated to backup when Chris Rix was out with an ankle injury.

In three scrimmages, Weatherford completed 37 of 60 passes for 509 yards; Lee was 5 of 28 for 30 yards and one touchdown. Both looked a bit wild at times. Lee showed perhaps a bit more big-play potential with his arm and his legs.

"I felt like I did all right," Weatherford said. "There's a couple passes that I wish I could have taken back, kind of got away from me. Other than that, I thought we did well as a team."

Safety Pat Watkins had both interceptions Tuesday, returning one 79 yards for a touchdown. It's the kind of mistake the Seminoles can't afford from either young quarterback, but Weatherford bounced back and moved the team well.

"He looks like he's been firing the ball pretty well lately," Bowden said.

"He played really well today," echoed receiver Chris Davis, the former St. Petersburg Catholic star who had three catches for 91 yards. "He felt comfortable back there in the pocket. He delivered the ball well and he spread it around today."

Bowden said he saw more big plays from his offense and was thrilled and amazed that Weatherford could do so much work in one day.

For his part, Weatherford said he's sure that Lee will be okay and that the team needs him. Still, the extra repetitions with the first and second teams (he and Lee have alternated each day) and the success were critical for him.

"I've been known to just take stuff underneath and move the ball like that, so I just wanted to give some of our athletes a chance to go downfield and make some plays," Weatherford said. "(Tuesday) definitely gives me a lot more confidence. I'm sure it does the same for our offensive line, receivers and backs just to know that we won't necessarily have to rely just on the run; we'll be able to throw the ball and make plays that way as well."

Lee had an MRI before Tuesday that showed no damage, Bowden said, and he probably could have played if it were a real game. Bowden expects him back in action soon.

"If he can do everything, we will work them both equally again and go from there," he said.

[Last modified August 24, 2005, 01:16:13]