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Youngsters provide highlights in FSU's 55-13 pounding of Duke.
By BRIAN LANDMAN
© St. Petersburg Times, published September 2, 2001
DURHAM, N.C. -- Florida State coach Bobby Bowden had nervously hoped some of his veterans would deliver a few big plays and relieve the pressure from neophyte quarterback Chris Rix.
Well, the No. 6-ranked Seminoles got plenty of big plays in their 55-13 season-opening win against overmatched Atlantic Coast Conference rival Duke Saturday night.
But the highlights didn't come from the handful of returning starters.
They came from freshmen.
Defensive back Jerome Carter blocked a punt for a game-turning touchdown, receiver P.K. Sam threw a key downfield block to spring tailback Nick Maddox on a long touchdown run, defensive back Kyler Hall blocked a punt for another score and freshman receiver Craphonso Thorpe got in on the act with a touchdown catch.
Rix, 20, the first redshirt freshman to start at quarterback in a season opener for Bowden in his 26 years at FSU, settled down nicely. He showed athletic ability -- hurdling a defender for a 14-yard scramble and, on the next play, shrugging off linebacker Nate Krill and flicking a 33-yard touchdown dart to Thorpe -- and promise.
He completed 9 of 18 passes for 135 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions in his three quarters, overcoming a sluggish start and a largely conservative game plan necessitated by his inexperience and dearth of experienced receivers. Senior Robert Morgan and junior Anquan Boldin sustained season-ending knee injuries a few weeks ago.
In contrast, the Blue Devils, who never have beaten FSU in 10 meetings, entered the game with a solid No. 1 quarterback, junior D.Bryant.
"From what I saw of their quarterback at the end of the year, especially the N.C. State game, I said, 'Boy. This kid really has some stuff,' " Bowden said before the game. "Now with a spring training under his belt, I think they're going to be a much better football team than a year ago."
Bryant proved Bowden prophetic.
He fooled backup linebacker Jerel Hudson on a deft play-action fake and tossed a perfect pass over the middle to sophomore tailback Chris Douglas, who outran the secondary for a stunning 78-yard touchdown with 4:46 left in the opening quarter to bring the Duke fans among the 23,312 at Wallace Wade Stadium to their feet.
But sophomore kicker Brent Garber missed the extra point, an omen for Duke's special teams.
It was devilishly bad.
After freshman kicker Xavier Beitia, the former Tampa Jesuit standout, hit a 40-yard field goal to cut the lead to 6-3 with 13:45 left in the half, the FSU defense forced the Blue Devils to punt from their 32. Freshman Trey McDonald, replacing one of the ACC's premier punters, Brian Morton, dropped the snap, and the Seminoles recovered at the 2.
Senior fullback William McCray scored on the next play for a 10-6 lead with 12:01 to go in the half. McDonald was back on the field to punt again less than 90 seconds later.
He held the ball just fine this time, but freshman defensive back Jerome Carter burst up the middle, blocked the kick with his right hand and picked the ball up and trotted in for a 12-yard touchdown and a 17-6 lead with 10:29 left. FSU had only one blocked punt last season.
Maddox extended the lead on a 51-yard touchdown run, taking advantage of stellar downfield blocking by Sam. Following a 15-yard punt, Rix, working from the shotgun for the first time in the game, hit two straight passes, including a strike to Maddox for a 26-yard touchdown and a 31-6 halftime lead. That sent many fans home.
Duke's first possession of the second half had a familiar end. This time, Hall came up the middle and blocked McDonald's punt in the end zone. Senior safety Gennarro Jackson recovered for a touchdown and a 38-6 lead.
Rix added his touchdown pass to Thorpe, and after Duke senior corner Ronnie Hamilton scored on a 68-yard punt return, FSU's bruising sophomore tailback Greg Jones had a 16-yard touchdown. Beitia hit a 31-yard field goal for the final points.