TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Lee Ignites Seminoles To Another Victory

ADVERTISEMENT

By CRISTINA LEDRA, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 7, 2007

Updated: 10/07/2007 01:22 am

TALLAHASSEE - If only North Carolina State had been there to hear Florida State receiver Greg Carr's pep talk to quarterback Xavier Lee during the week, the Wolfpack might have had an answer to what transpired between the two Saturday afternoon.

In Lee's second consecutive start at quarterback, he found Carr for 140 passing yards and a touchdown in the Seminoles' 27-10 win over N.C. State.

'I played against him in high school and I told him this week at practice just to relax,' Carr said. 'The only time you need to be nervous is if I'm on the opposing team.'

Lee finished 16-for-28 for 257 yards and no interceptions with the passing touchdown to Carr and one rushing touchdown aided by Carr's blocking.

'Xavier's best throw is a pickup,' FSU coach Bobby Bowden said. 'His best throw is deep so that fits Carr pretty good. That's what Carr likes and that's why I think they're so successful.'

But Carr is trying to dismiss the notion that he is just an alley-oop receiver and laid down a couple of big blocks on running plays.

'Word around town is that I'm soft,' said Carr, a slender 6-foot-6, 215-pounder. 'I just kept that in the back of my mind when I got out on the field that I wanted to take advantage and show Coach that I'm more than just a jump ball guy and that I can make plays and make big blocks for the quarterback.

'I may look small but I pack a lot of power.'

The pair took no time to make a big impact, hooking up for a 53-yard pass play on the first play from scrimmage.
Three plays later, Lee ran in for the 2-yard touchdown to give Florida State the early lead.

'We were trying to establish a statement and let everyone know we're not afraid to throw the ball downfield no matter what down it is,' Lee said. 'I think Greg made a good catch. We just started clicking and playing offense.'

On the Wolfpack's first possession, quarterback Daniel Evans, starting in place of injured starter Harrison Beck, led his team downfield with two passes of 11 and 14 yards to Andre Brown and running back Jamelle Eugene added a couple of long runs that set up Evans' 2-yard TD pass to John Dunlap to tie the game.

The Wolfpack worked downfield on their second possession and Steven Hauschka kicked a 23-yard field goal to take the three-point lead.

In the second quarter, Florida State had two chances to at least tie the game on field goals, but Gary Cismesia missed both attempts, of 26 and 51 yards.

On his third try of the quarter, Cismesia made a 39-yard field goal to tie the game at 10 with about three minutes left before the half.

After a flat start, the Seminole defense ended the half on a high note as Patrick Robinson intercepted Evans' pass at the Florida State 8-yard line and returned it 24 yards.

'I did not think our defense was very intense the first half,' Bowden said. 'They pushed us around pretty good. It seemed like they made all their first downs and they drove it down the field so I didn't feel like there was any intensity or urgency on the part of our defense until the second half ... after Mickey Andrews, defensive coordinator got through with them.'

On N.C. State's drive that started the third quarter, Michael Ray Garvin intercepted a pass that he ran back 43 yards for a touchdown to give Florida State the 17-10 lead after Cismesia's extra point.

With just over two minutes left in the third quarter, Dekoda Watson sacked Evans for a 7-yard loss at the Wolfpack 3-yard line.

A minute into the fourth quarter, Lee connected with Carr for a 40-yard score that Carr caught in front of the face mask of a falling defender.

The touchdown was Carr's 23rd of his career, moving him to fifth all-time at FSU, tying him with Ron Sellers. It was his second consecutive 100-yard receiving performance, though he says there hasn't been much of a difference catching passes from Lee than Drew Weatherford; rather he's been working hard to get better no matter who's at quarterback.

'I feel like I have to go out there and make plays and take advantage of my opportunities,' Carr said. 'It's just more that than anything else. You want to take advantage of your opportunities because the only way you get more is to take advantage of the first ones you're given.'

Reporter Cristina Ledra can be reached at (813) 948-4203 or cledra@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT