Defense Delivers Several Big Plays

TALLAHASSEE - The Florida State offense scored on its first possession. Unfortunately for the Seminoles, so did North Carolina State.

'We came out very slow, Coach defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews got on us about it,' said cornerback Patrick Robinson, who intercepted a pass in FSU's 27-10 victory Saturday. 'We were missing assignments, not doing what we were supposed to do.'

In the first quarter, N.C. State stumped the Seminoles defense. Using three- and four-wide receiver sets and a mix of short passes and draw plays, the Wolfpack racked up 134 total yards and led the Seminoles 10-7 entering the second quarter.

'They were only running screens and draws, we were an aggressive defense and going too fast in the beginning,' cornerback Tony Carter said.

Facing the potential of a shootout in Doak Campbell Stadium, the defense rallied as the game went on.

'Mickey got on our tails, said we weren't making plays and weren't making tackles,' linebacker Dekoda Watson said. 'We were playing Florida State defense after the slow start. I'm tired of people saying we are living off of old Florida State. We want to make our own legacy.'

After the first quarter, the pass rush improved considerably. While the Seminoles were able to contain the passing game, Wolfpack tailback Jamelle Eugene ran for 101 yards, averaging 7.2 yards per carry on the ground.

Offensive struggles, including two missed field goals by place-kicker Gary Cismesia, kept the score close midway through the third quarter. That's when the defense began to make big plays.

With the game tied at 10 in the third quarter, cornerback Michael Ray Garvin intercepted a pass and returned it 43 yards for a touchdown, giving the Seminoles the lead for good.

'That interception kind of took it out of North Carolina State,' FSU coach Bobby Bowden said. 'It put us in the driver's seat. We picked it up after that.'

A total of six sacks by five FSU players pressured Wolfpack quarterback Daniel Evans into numerous hurried passes, as the Seminoles intercepted three passes.

The sacks ended several N.C. State drives, highlighted by Watson's sack late in the third quarter. Facing a third-and-long, Watson blitzed from the quarterback's right side, blew past the offensive tackle and sacked Evans on the 3-yard line, forcing the Wolfpack to punt from inside their end zone.

With the Seminoles building a lead in the fourth quarter, the defense put the game away. An interception by cornerback J.R. Bryant stymied a drive by the Wolfpack with 6:46 to go, putting the game out of reach.

FSU linebackers coach and former N.C. State coach Chuck Amato had mixed feelings about beating his former team.

'It's bittersweet,' Amato said. 'But it's no different from any other win. It's yesterday's news, let's move on from it.'