Colleges

FSU junior lays groundwork for shaky offense

Antone Smith rushes for 90 yards, including one run of 49, and a TD.

By JAMEY GIVENS, Times Correspondent
Published September 4, 2007

TALLAHASSEE - Antone Smith's six first half carries totaled zero yards Monday night against Clemson, and Florida State mustered only one first down in the first 30 minutes.

In the second half Smith, a junior, came to life, and the Seminoles offense came alive with him.

The Pahokee native (whose first name is pronounced an-TAHN) finished with 90 yards on 14 carries, including a 49-yard run late in the third quarter that set up Florida State's first touchdown of the game - a 1-yard run by Smith.

He also set up Florida State's best chance to win with two catches on its second-to-last drive.

Of course, it wasn't enough.

"We waited too late to wake up," coach Bobby Bowden said. "Antone played better in the second half, but that was the most inept I can remember us in a long time."

Bowden was referring to a first half that saw more Graham Gano punts (eight) than Smith carries.

"It comes down to blocking," Bowden said. "When you don't block, nothing goes."

Even so, Florida State still had its chance.

Florida State drove down to the Clemson 31 with three minutes left in the game after quarterback Drew Weatherford found Smith in the flat twice for a combined 37 yards to set up a potential go-ahead touchdown.

But Weatherford, a Land O'Lakes High graduate, threw three straight incompletions - each time with a defender in his face - then was sacked on fourth down.

It was the fifth sack of the game for Clemson, and that does not even account for the numerous times Weatherford was pressured out of the pocket and forced to throw on the run.

Smith was smothered almost every time he touched the ball in the first half. He was met by two and three Clemson defenders instantly in the backfield.

"We were getting killed in the interior," Smith said. "We have to come out next week and do better things."

The second half was a different story for Smith. All 90 of his rushing yards and 54 of his 57 receiving yards came in the second half, breathing life into an offense that mustered only 62 yards in the first half.

"I think he started getting comfortable," said Shannon Boatman, who replaced true freshman Rodney Hudson at left guard after the second series. "He put some things on his shoulders for us."

[Last modified September 4, 2007, 01:44:00]