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Ponder: Noles Ready To Make Statement

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By STEVE ELLIS

The Tallahassee Democrat

Published: September 15, 2008

TALLAHASSEE - Florida State won't lack for confidence when it faces No. 18 Wake Forest in Saturday's game between two nationally ranked teams.

By outscoring their first two opponents 115-7 - even though both were Division I-AA - the Seminoles should be confident.

But QB Christian Ponder couched that a bit during his news conference Monday.

"I got to say we're not going to lose this game," he said. "It's going to be tough. I think everybody is going to be prepared and everyone is going to be excited so I think it's going to be tough for us to lose this game."

Ponder, who also heaped praise on Wake Forest, added: "I'm not guaranteeing anything but I think with how prepared we're going to be and how focused we're going to be, we're going to be fighting hard and I think it's going to be tough for us to lose.

"I think we're definitely going to make a statement."

STIFLE BIG PLAYS: Defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews said there are several areas where his group must improve this week. In Wake Forest's 24-21 victory a year ago, FSU gave up scores of 83 and 35 yards.

"We played very well with the exception of two plays," Andrews said.

Preventing big plays is just part of the challenge for FSU against a Wake Forest team that has the league's leading passer in Riley Skinner with 251.3 yards per game. D.J. Boldin is second in the ACC with 93 receiving yards per game.

FSU dropped three potential interceptions and gave up two plays of 30 or more yards against Chattanooga.

"The thing we've got to do is find a way to get more turnovers," Andrews said. "We have some areas of concern. No. 1 is reduction of missed assignments. We have to eliminate all long plays - run or pass. We have to do a better job of winning first down."

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