Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, September 4, 1994 TAG: 9409070091
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: TALLAHASSEE, FLA. LENGTH: Long
The Seminole war chant was barely audible Saturday as the Virginia and Florida State football teams changed ends following the first quarter.
For the first time since 1991, FSU found itself trailing after 15 minutes.
That's when fantasy turned into reality, however, as the defending national champions scored on the first play of the second quarter and were on their way to a rout by halftime.
Junior quarterback Danny Kanell, in only the second start of his career, passed for 330 yards and four touchdowns as fourth-ranked Florida State cruised to a 41-17 victory at Doak Campbell Stadium.
``Everything was in our favor,'' Florida State coach Bobby Bowden said. ``Virginia comes down here [in] hot, steamy, sultry, humid weather. I'd have hated to play 'em up there.
``They were battling us while they were still fresh. But, our plan was to run 'em and run 'em and run 'em and get them tired, so they would die. And, they died.''
Actually, the Cavaliers didn't die, scoring a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns, the last with 16 seconds left. And, the Seminoles hardly ran the ball, throwing 28 passes in 31 plays during one stretch.
``It did seem like we threw a lot,'' said Kanell, who attempted 37 passes in the first half. ``That's what the coaches told me we'd be doing all year, [going] with whatever worked.''
Warrick Dunn, the Seminoles' big-play tailback, scored Florida State's first touchdown on a screen pass from Kanell but had four rushes for 4 yards before leaving with a knee sprain.
The Seminoles had 277 yards in total offense in taking a 20-3 halftime lead, but they had some help from a Virginia offense that had five first downs - two by penalty - in the first 30 minutes.
``The offense was horrible in the first half,'' UVa coach George Welsh said. ``We had some chances, but we dropped some balls and we never had any rhythm.''
UVa quarterback Symmion Willis began the game 4-for-4, but was betrayed by his receivers, who dropped five passes that would have gone for first downs. Florida State's lone interception came after a ball slipped through the hands of Patrick Jeffers.
``You try and keep your composure, but it wears on you,'' said Willis, who had a costly fumble that led to the first-half Florida State touchdown that made it 20-3.
The interception, returned by Clifton Abraham for 37 yards, came on the first possession after the second half kickoff. Rock Preston scored one touchdown and his 38-yard run set up a second that made it 34-3 with 7:39 left in the third quarter.
At that point, Virginia had fewer than 100 yards in total offense for the day, but the insertion of the second offense provided a spark even though Florida State continued to play its first defense.
Back-up quarterback Mike Groh took the Cavaliers on drives of 80 and 84 yards, with both touchdowns coming on fourth-down passes to freshman wide receiver Germane Crowell.
``On the first touchdown pass, we were waiting for a television timeout,'' Groh said, ``and I told him, `The ball's coming to you. Be open.' He's going to be an exciting player to watch the next four years.''
Groh finished 8-of-12 for 92 yards, but Welsh quickly rejected any idea of a change at quarterback for Virginia's game next week at Navy. Offensive coordinator Tom O'Brien left some room for doubt, however.
``I don't think you make a change till you go back and watch the tapes and go through the offense,'' O'Brien said, ``but anything's up for grabs right now.''
Virginia amassed nearly half of its 285 yards in the fourth quarter, thanks in part to a 58-yard burst by tailback Tiki Barber, a sophomore from Roanoke. Barber rushed for 108 yards and also had a 42-yard kickoff return.
His twin brother, Ronde, started at cornerback and intercepted a pass on Florida State's first series and returned it 20 yards, setting up a UVa field goal. It was the first time Kanell had been intercepted in 73 career attempts.
Ronde Barber also blocked an extra point, but there was no stopping Florida State as the Seminoles improved their record in ACC games to 17-0. FSU showed no slippage despite the suspension of five players who accepted illegal gifts from agents.
``If I were Bobby Bowden, I would be very pleased with this performance, considering all that's happened,'' Welsh said. ``I think they are better than they were two years ago, but it's too early to tell if they're better than last year.''
The Seminoles defeated Virginia 40-14 last year, when both teams were unbeaten after five weeks. UVa has been 5-0 in three of the past four years, although some of the Cavaliers' best seasons have come after lopsided opening-game losses.
``We're going to have to get better if we're going to win this year,'' Welsh said. ``Right now we're not good enough to have a winning season.''
by CNB