Colleges

A painful defeat enlightens Seminoles

FSU sustains some injuries but learns a little about its young quarterback.

By BRIAN LANDMAN, Times Staff Writer
Published November 11, 2007

Virginia Tech's Brandon Ore goes in for a touchdown during the second quarter on Saturday.
	[AP photo]

BLACKSBURG, Va. - Florida State quarterback Drew Weatherford expected a hard-hitting game Saturday against Virginia Tech, which hadn't beaten the Seminoles in a generation.

"We knew it was going to be a physical game," the redshirt junior from Land O'Lakes said. "Florida State and Virginia Tech have always been known to throw each other around, throw their bodies around. We knew what we were getting ourselves into."

But the Seminoles couldn't have anticipated just what a physical toll the 40-21 loss to the No. 11-ranked Hokies would exact on them: Tailback Antone Smith, cornerback Tony Carter, linebacker Toddrick Verdell and Weatherford himselfleft the game in the first half battered and unable to return.

Although redshirt freshman quarterback Christian Ponder, making hiscollegiate debut, helped give the Seminoles a lead, the Hokies parlayed Tyrod Taylor's imitation of Michael Vick and three fourth-quarter Ponder turnovers into a convincing win at Lane Stadium.

"They hit us good. They got after us good," said FSU coach Bobby Bowden, who had never lost to Virginia Tech in 15 previous meetings, including the 2000 Sugar Bowl for the national title and the inaugural ACC title game in 2005. "They made us pay the price."

What he can't predict is if his Seminoles 6-4, 3-4 will continue to pay.

Weatherford, who had re-energized the offense and his team's prospects after regaining the starting job three weeks ago with wins against Duke and at then-No. 2 Boston College, went out with what he said was the first concussion of his career following a jarring helmet-to-helmet hit. He insisted he would be fine for Saturday's home finale against Maryland.

Carter was briefly knocked out, too, making a tackle on a long pass. Smith, who injured his left shoulder (AC joint), is scheduled for an MRI exam Monday and didn't sound optimistic. Verdell left the field with his right foot in a walking boot.

"We'll have to go back and take roll and see who answers roll," Bowden said, adding that third-string tailback Russell Ball went out in the second half with a sprained right ankle.

But Bowden did learn something about his quarterback situation for the future. With redshirt junior Xavier Lee serving the second of his two-game suspension for missing too many classes, the Seminoles turned to Ponder.

"I was a little nervous at first," he said. "But after that first play, you lose that nervousness."

Down 20-6 at halftime, Ponder got the Seminoles going with a 28-yard screen pass to Ball that set up Gary Cismesia's third field goal, a 50-yarder that bounced off the right upright and through.

Linebacker Dekoda Watson then picked off Taylor and returned it 40 yards for a touchdown. And after a defensive stop, Ponder engineered his most impressive drive. He hit De'Cody Fagg for 28 yards on third and 5, ran 22 yards on third and 14 and hit Fagg for an 8-yard touchdown and 21-20 lead late in the third.

"I think he did a heck of a job," offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Jimbo Fisher said. "He played poised. He played relaxed. He got us back into the lead, and then when we got behind, he was still poised."

But two plays after the Hokies took a 28-21 lead, Ponder fumbled while scrambling. The Hokies (8-2, 5-1) picked it up and returned it 16 yards to the FSU 29.

"I should have just gotten down," said Ponder, who hadn't taken a hit since his final game in high school two years ago. "In high school, I could run the ball all over the place. It's different now."

Although the Hokies had to settle for a 22-yard field goal, they seemingly had rattled Ponder. Two plays later, he threw his first interception, which Chris Ellis returned 5 yards for a touchdown. On his next snap, Ponder was intercepted by Brandon Flowers. FSU held on fourth and goal from its 1, but redshirt freshman D'Vontrey Richardson came in for Ponder and was tackled for a safety.

All that was left was for some of the Hokie fans to rush the field.

"The way they were trouncing us in the second quarter, I didn't know if our kids had what it takes to come back or not, especially with your quarterback out," Bowden said. "(Ponder) played better than I thought he would, and I thought we still might win it. And then he began to make the mistakes that an inexperienced guy is going to make."

That's the hard-hitting truth.

Brian Landman can be reached at landman@sptimes.com or (813) 226-3347.

No. 11 Va. Tech 40

FSU 21

[Last modified November 11, 2007, 17:17:19]