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Parker Steps In, Delivers In Win

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By SCOTT CARTER, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 18, 2007

Updated: 11/18/2007 01:11 am

TALLAHASSEE - Who knows where this senior class will end up for its final bowl game? Maybe Florida State will be back in San Francisco or off to Boise, or perhaps the Noles will play closer to home in Orlando, Charlotte or Nashville. Time will tell. But on Senior Day Saturday at Doak Campbell Stadium, a much-maligned senior class looked right at home in a 24-16 victory over Maryland.

Thanks mostly to a sophomore.

Receiver-turned-running back Preston Parker's 133 yards rushing quickly helped the announced crowd of 80,213 forget the fact that FSU, attempting to register its 31st consecutive winning season, had to do so without starting tailback Antone Smith and his two backups, Jamaal Edwards and Russell Ball. All three were injured in last week's loss at Virginia Tech, leaving Noles coach Bobby Bowden wishing he could call Warrick Dunn for help.

"I never went into a ballgame in my life without any running backs," Bowden said. "You've been playing three tailbacks, and they're all hurt."

But with Parker filling in more than capably, FSU's seniors walked off Bobby Bowden Field for the final time as winners. Senior defensive tackle Andre Fluellen capped the memorable day by presenting Bowden with a game ball after Bowden's 300th career win at FSU, making him only the second coach in NCAA history (Penn State's Joe Paterno is the other) to register that many wins at one school.

For a fifth-year senior like Fluellen, the victory meant that much more considering that FSU's current crop of seniors won less than about any class under Bowden. Since Fluellen walked onto campus in 2003 just hoping to play by his senior season, the Noles have lost 21 games, nearly twice as many games (13) as they lost total in the 1990s.

"It would have really hurt going out with a loss," Fluellen said. "I'm really glad we won, no matter how."

The victory could also help FSU in the eyes of bowl selection committees.

"San Francisco was a nice game and a nice trip," linebacker Geno Hayes said. "But that's not the type of bowl game we are used to playing at Florida State."

With Parker's unexpected performance leading the way and quarterback Drew Weatherford shaking off any cobwebs from last week's concussion at Virginia Tech, the Noles scored on their first three possessions to take a 21-3 lead early in the second quarter.

Weatherford's 1-yard run and Parker's 18-yard run in the first quarter provided FSU an early lead, and Weatherford's 10-yard touchdown pass to senior receiver De'Cody Fagg less than a minute into the second quarter had the Noles on their way to a rout.

"I felt very comfortable," Weatherford said.

But FSU's offense went into a funk for most of the second and third quarters, allowing the Terps to trim the lead to 21-13 on Chris Turner's 14-yard touchdown pass to Darrius Heyward-Bey with 5:55 remaining in the third.

FSU's offense woke up in time to generate a 30-yard field goal from Gary Cismesia in the fourth quarter, and the Noles defense - thanks to a reversed call from the officials - failed to give up the kind of big plays that has haunted it all season.

"To keep them from making those big long plays, it kept us from losing," Hayes said.

FSU improved to 7-4, ensuring Bowden's 31st consecutive winning season heading into Saturday's showdown at The Swamp against the Gators. Bowden downplayed winning his 300th game at FSU, but after it was over, he was stopped by cheerleaders, military personnel and others for photos as he walked toward the locker room.

"It don't mean nothing," Bowden said. "If somebody hadn't told me last week, I wouldn't have even known it. I sure can't work on 600. It's good for your seniors. There is nothing that seniors would like to happen more than winning their last game in Doak Campbell Stadium."

More importantly, Saturday's victory helps FSU focus on Florida this week rather than pondering a similar end to last season when the Noles lost their home finale to Florida to finish 6-6, then had to wait a month to see if they could defeat UCLA in the Emerald Bowl to keep their streak of consecutive winning seasons intact.

"It takes a lot of pressure off, the coaches and the players, just knowing that we're going to have a winning season and now we can just play loose and just play our game," Fluellen said. "We just need to play our game and play like we've been playing since we were little kids."

Reporter Scott Carter can be reached at (850) 294-3088

or scarter@tampatrib.com.

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