Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, October 17, 1993 TAG: 9310180293
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: TALLAHASSEE, FLA. LENGTH: Long
Maybe Mike Frederick had the best idea when he vowed to sack Charlie Ward and hold on until both players had to be escorted from Doak Campbell Stadium.
That was the only way Virginia could have stayed with Florida State on Saturday.
The top-ranked Seminoles threatened to send No. 15 UVa into oblivion before the Cavaliers rallied slightly from a 30-point halftime deficit and lost 40-14.
Ward, the ACC's 1992 player of the year, passed for 322 yards and three touchdowns and had an 18-yard touchdown run for the Seminoles (7-0 overall, 5-0 ACC).
"It was vintage Charlie Ward," said UVa defensive tackle Ryan Kuehl. "He's not a Heisman Trophy candidate for nothing. He made us look stupid out there. At times it was like we were fourth-graders."
Nothing was more deflating for the Cavaliers than Frederick sacking Ward on the Seminoles' second series and then Ward coming back one play later to throw an 86-yard touchdown pass to Tamarick Vanover.
When Ward tossed a 4-yard touchdown pass to Sean Jackson on the next series, the Seminoles had more points with 4 minutes, 54 seconds left in the first quarter than they scored in a 13-3 victory over the Cavaliers last year in Charlottesville.
To make matters worse, Virginia's defense barely had time to rest because the offense was so inept. UVa (5-1, 3-1) had the ball for slightly more than 10 minutes in the first half, registering three of its six first downs in the last 48 seconds.
By that time Florida State led 30-0 and it looked like a repeat of the Seminoles' blowout victories over Clemson (57-0) and Georgia Tech (51-0).
"Coach [George] Welsh told us that teams had been in this position before against Florida State and nobody had really done anything about it," Frederick said. "We can build on the way we played in the second half. I know they took out some of their big guns, but we showed we could play with them there for a stretch."
Two second-half touchdown passes by sophomore quarterback Symmion Willis got the Cavaliers as close as 37-14, before Scott Bentley closed the scoring with a 33-yard field goal with 14:10 left.
Willis, who completed four of his first 15 passes, finished 14-of-29 for 185 yards. The Cavaliers had 357 yards total offense - more than any of Florida State's first six opponents - and became the first team this year to score two touchdowns against the Seminoles.
"They outscored us in the second half, and I'm really not happy about that," said Bobby Bowden, Florida State's coach. "I keep pulling for our defense. It seems like our offense has always gotten the notoriety."
Willis was ranked No. 1 in passing efficiency in NCAA Division I-A, but he clearly was flustered in the first half. He failed to connect with some open receivers and failed to see others.
"I just didn't give myself a chance in the first half," the sophomore said. "I was rushing throws. I was getting antsy in the pocket. It wasn't me. I didn't know why it was happening."
Willis, who had claimed that nobody could cover UVa's receivers one-on-one, did not complete a pass to a wide receiver until less than three minutes remained in the first half.
"He was a good quarterback, but to be the top-rated passer in the country - I don't know," said Florida State defensive back Corey Sawyer. "I'm a defensive back, but I could be a top-rated passer against the teams they've played."
Virginia's first five opponents - Maryland, Navy, Georgia Tech, Duke and Ohio University - had a total of four victories against Division I-A opposition before Saturday.
The Seminoles, meanwhile, had trounced their first six opponents by a combined score of 256-24, including a 28-10 victory over third-ranked Miami that caused many to wonder if Florida State would be motivated Saturday.
"People thought we were going to have a letdown; even the coaches thought we would," Ward said. "But our players are a little different in the way we've been able to keep our focus."
Ward was sharp in the first half, completing 15 of 21 passes for 236 yards, despite a sore right elbow that prevented him from practicing after Wednesday.
"Everything is fine," Ward said. "My elbow did not bother me. It's something that happens to pitchers, quarterbacks and anybody who throws a lot. Of course, on game day, it's always better."
The Seminoles were anywhere from 24 1/2- to 27-point favorites, depending on the oddsmaker. The final 26-point margin matched the spread in Florida State's next-closest ACC game this year, a 33-7 victory over North Carolina.
UVa, which lost four of five games after going 5-0 to start the 1992 season, plays host to the Tar Heels next week in a meeting of the two ACC teams with one loss each.
"If this football team is smart, it will really help," Welsh said. "I don't know how we're going to play, but we need to remember last year and suck it up. We've got lots left to play for." \
see microfilm for box score
by CNB