Today's entry is Florida State. They entered the league as the gold standard of the ACC in 1992. In the 90s they were simply seen as unbeatable, and to be honest for a while they were. When I woke up in my college apartment on 9/12/1998, FSU was 47-1 all time in the ACC, and if you would have told me in the next 13 years we'll be Florida State even 2 or 3 times, I'd have probably called you crazy. But we've done it six times! And each of those six has been pretty special.
There was 1998 where Torry took over. He led the 25 point underdog Pack over the #2 Seminoles in a game the Charlotte Observer would call the next day "probably the most significant regular-season game in conference history."
Then there was 2001 . The first ever ACC team to win in Tallahassee in ten seasons. After the last play, we stormed the field, players laying on the field crying, Amato crying. The win over #10 FSU was a program maker and probably got the ball rolling for the 9-0 start in 2002.
The 2002 win over #14 FSU sent us to the Gator Bowl.
The 2005 win over #9 FSU was only the second ever ACC win in Tallahassee. In 14 years, we were the only ACC team to win at Florida State and we did it twice!
Plus in 2006 we had the Thursday night win led by Daniel Evans, with the winning touchdown in Dunlap's Corner to John Dunlap.
All of those were special, and an argument could be made for all of them. But for the most part, those games were surprises. Unexpected celebrations. The 2010 game was different in that there were serious title implications. The winner was in the driver seat, and the loser had to hope for help later in the season. The pre-game build up was incredible. A big game feel, "most significant game of the O'Brien era", "not just another game". Those were a few of the pre-game headlines.
So when the game kicked off off at 7:45 PM, there was quite a buzz in Carter-Finley. And the Pack came out on fire! The first drive was a 3 and out for FSU, with Nate Irving making a big stop on 3rd and 1. Then it was the offense's turn. Big passes to Quinton Payton, James Washington, and George Bryan led the Pack down to the 1. And after a couple of attempts, Russell Wilson snuck it over the goal line to put the Pack up 7-0.
After the initial excitement wore down, the teams traded punts for six straight possessions, with neither team advancing past midfield as the 1st quarter came to an end with the Pack still up 7.
But it was early in the 2nd when the tide started to turn towards the Noles. Starting on the 25, future first round draft pick Christian Ponder and Ty Jones alternated runs and passes all the way to the 3, and from there Ponder ran it in himself to tie it up.
With the momentum clearly on FSU's side, on the first play of the next drive, Dean Haynes fumbled and got a concussion that would knock him out of the game, giving the ball to the Noles on the 18. Five plays later, it was Ponder again with a keeper. This one from 2 yards out and it was 14-7. 4:54 to play, and NC State stopped the bleeding with a first down, but that was it. After a punt, FSU was off to the races again. This time a quick 72 yard drive capped off with a Ponder TD pass and this one was getting away. 21-7 FSU, with 47 seconds to play in the half. The Pack managed to advance to midfield, but got no further and both teams went to the locker room 21-7.
The crowd was uneasy through halftime, it certainly looked like the better team was pulling away, but as the 3rd quarter started, it began to turn. Mustafa Greene, the true freshman, decided it was his time. Runs of 8,6,3,6,2,2, and a 12 yard catch, sprinkled in with a couple of other Wilson passes got the Pack in the red zone.
Then on 3rd down, with the Seminoles rushing hard, Russell scoots right up the middle for 10 yards and a touchdown. The lead was cut to 21-14.
Now the crowd was back in it and on FSU's second play of the next drive, Natanu Mageo forced the fumble, recovered by JR Sweezy and the Pack was in business again.
Two plays later, it was 3rd down again, but Wilson was again up to the challenge. A 20 yard scramble up the middle, and Russell dives into the end zone for the tying score. 21 all!
Only halfway through the 3rd quarter and the Pack had already erased the deficit. On the next drive, FSU got to mid-field, but a Nate Irving/Earl Wolff sack ended the threat, and NC State had it back on the 22. The Moose got loose again, eating up yardage on a tired FSU defense. Then a Wilson sack escape led to a 28 yard pass to Asa Watson as the 3rd quarter came to a close. Then on 3rd and 22, Wilson found Jarvis Williams for 29 and the Pack was at the 11. With the crowd getting louder with each first down, the Noles changed the game in one play. Xavier Rhodes stepped in front of a slant at the goal line and returned it to the NCSU 28 to end the threat. The six minute drive yielded nothing and now the Noles had a bounce in their step. A big 30 yard pass to Reed, and a 26 yard run by Thompson put FSU with a 3rd and 3 on the 15. Ponder, on a designated run, appeared to be in a position to cut up field for a first down, but instead he went wide around CJ Wilson and Ponder paid the price. Wilson made the stop, and forced a 4th and 1. The Seminoles elected to kick and the score was 24-21 with 9:01 to play.
Then came the drive of the season for the Pack. Starting at the 30, Greene for 4 yards. Greene for 12 and a first down. Wilson to Greene for 3. Greene for 3 more. Now on 3rd and 4, Wilson with the pass to Steven Howard. We're down to the 42 now and the clock ticks under six minutes to play. Three plays later, it was 4th and 4, and NC State elected to go for it. Shotgun snap. Left tackle Rob Crisp with a great chop block on the blitzing end. Slant to Davis, he breaks a tackle, and he's racing the safety to the end zone. 20, 15, 10, 5......He dives, and is down at the 1. FIRST AND GOAL WOLFPACK!
4:40 to go. Russell with the sneak. No good. Another sneak. No good. tick tick tick.....Hand off to Washington..stopped at the one. Decision time......Timeout Wolfpack, 2:44 to go. We're going for it. 2 tight end set, Wilson, with the play action, he sees Bryan at the back of the end zone.....TOUCHDOWN! AND THE CROWD GOES WILD! NC STATE leads 28-24.
2:40 to go. Just one more stop needed. But it wasn't going to be easy. An 18 yard 2nd down pass to Willie Haulstead put FSU on their 47. An incompletion and 3 yard run later, it's 3rd and 7 at midfield. Ponder to Easterling on the slant. He breaks free. Earl Wolff grabs his jersey and pulls him down at the 21 saving the touchdown. Two plays later, Ponder with an 8 yard rush, it's first and goal for FSU on the 8. Clock still ticking and Wolfpack hearts sinking. Jones with a 4 yard run to the 4. Timeout NC State, 54 seconds to play.
On the snap, Ponder drops back, play action fake. HE FUMBLES AND IT'S LOOSE!....
NATE IRVING HAS IT! WOLFPACK BALL!
48.3 seconds to go! Three kneel downs later, it's ball game. NC STATE WINS 28-24!
Youtube #1 with ESPN highlights and commentary
Youtube #2 with ESPN highlights and NCSU radio audio
Today's honorable mention:
1998 NC State over #2 Florida State 24-7
2001 NC State over #10 Florida State 34-28
2002 NC State over #14 Florida State 17-7
2005 NC State over #9 Florida State 20-15
2006 NC State over #17 Florida State 24-20
Up next:
Tomorrow: IT'S GAME DAY!!!!!
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