TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Interception Turns Tide For Noles

ADVERTISEMENT

By STEVE ELLIS Tribune correspondent

The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 9, 2008

TALLAHASSEE - Bobby Bowden called it a turning point in the game.

With Everette Brown crashing into him, Clemson QB Cullen Harper released a pass that Florida State DT Neefy Moffett plucked out of the air and returned 18 yards for a touchdown. Both were firsts for Moffett.

FSU was down 10-3 in the first quarter when Moffett made the play.

"I was at nose guard on the play," the senior said. "We had a little stunt where the end goes in and I go around. Everette Brown hit the quarterback and made him cause a bad throw. I just intercepted it and scored.

"Everette did all the work. I did the easy part."

Moffett also had a sack late in the game.

To A New Level

Any fan who doesn't have his binoculars trained on Jimbo Fisher is missing a good show. That was the case again late in the first half when, on a Clemson punt, FSU was called for an illegal block and Clemson was hit with an illegal formation.

Fisher, FSU's offensive coordinator, declined the Clemson penalty, believing the ball would be placed at midfield. Instead, FSU started its final drive before halftime on its 33-yard line.

That wasn't the deal Fisher thought had been struck, and he let the officials know.

"I was under the understanding that the ball was going to be on the 50," Fisher said. "Do you want it on the 50 or do you want to kick it again?

"Well, if I knew it was going to be out at the 35 I would have kicked it again. I guess I just had cotton in my ears. We just had a little misunderstanding."

Saw It In Practice

FSU fans know the speedy Louis Givens as a headhunter on special teams.

Only a year ago he was a wide receiver at Mars Hill College. Saturday he lined up at receiver, took a flip from fellow receiver Preston Parker and ran 27 yards on the end-around to set up Christian Ponder's 1-yard touchdown that gave FSU a 20-17 lead in the second quarter.

"He started doing some of that the last couple of weeks in practice," Fisher said. "One day Coach Bowden said: 'You know buddy, I wouldn't mind putting old 89 in there.'"

It was only the third time he touched the ball this season. Parker told him before the play that "all the jitter bugs should be out right now."

Givens went into the game with an inkling the play would be called.

"Coach said I was going to run it earlier in the week and all week he has been in my ear saying, 'You might get it. Be ready, be ready.'"

Prospecting

Four prospects taking official visits to FSU were in attendance. They included LB Jon Bostic of Palm Beach Central, TE Philip Lutzenkirchen of Marietta (Ga.) Lassiter and DE Olivier Vernon of Miami American.

Bostic is one of the nation's top linebackers.

Steve Ellis

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT