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Noles On The Rise

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By BRENT KALLESTAD The Associated Press

The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 27, 2008

Updated: 10/27/2008 12:22 am

TALLAHASSEE - After a second straight comeback victory and fourth win in a row, Florida State has grabbed control of its destiny and captured the attention of poll voters who moved the young Seminoles up eight notches Sunday to No. 16 in The Associated Press weekly poll.

Florida State spotted Virginia Tech 10 points Saturday, just like it had nine days earlier at North Carolina State, before finishing strong for a 30-20 win against the Hokies and a tie with Maryland for first place in the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference.

"You don't find out about a team until they get behind," Florida State coach Bobby Bowden said Sunday. "It tells you something."

Bowden thought Virginia Tech had its way with his young offensive line (three freshmen and two sophomores) while building a 10-0 lead Saturday, but the group calmed down after the halftime break and turned things around. Sophomore quarterback Christian Ponder hit eight of 12 passes for 144 yards in the second half - including a pair of bombs to Greg Carr that set up both third-quarter touchdowns.

Antone Smith's 39-yard touchdown run in the second quarter came on the play after another Carr reception, a 13-yard grab that started the senior on his way to an eighth career 100-yard receiving game.

"It made the difference," Bowden said about Carr's two third-quarter catches against a highly touted Hokies secondary. "His reputation going into the season probably has caused people to put a little more coverage on him and has allowed some of these other guys some freedom."

One is freshman Taiwan Easterling, who leads Florida State with 20 receptions, including a spectacular leaping grab of a close-range Ponder fastball as he was being tackled into the goal post.

"Some of 'em don't develop that quick," Bowden said about Easterling, who has made critical catches in nearly every game this season.

Florida State has defeated Colorado, Miami, North Carolina State and Virginia Tech since its lone loss, 12-3 to Wake Forest on Sept. 20, as it heads into the final month of the season.

A trip to Georgia Tech this weekend kicks off a rugged November schedule for the Seminoles, who follow with ACC opponents Clemson, Boston College and Maryland before the season finale against archrival Florida.

"I hate to catch people after a loss," Bowden said, noting Georgia Tech's home loss Saturday to surprising Virginia. "They're usually pretty ornery after that."

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