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The Orlando Sentinel from Orlando, Florida • Page 40

Location:
Orlando, Florida
Issue Date:
Page:
40
Extracted Article Text (OCR)

C-8 The Orlando Sentinel, Sunday, September 8, 1985 Seminoles begin to wonder how good they can be II FLORIDA STATE mm 1 ITT? cm ran r-t By Jerry Greene 4 OF THE SENTINEL STAFF I SEMINOLES 17, 'HUSKERS 13 Mil mi. -i 1 si if- i FSU NEB. FIRST DOWNS 17 15 Rushing 5 13 Passing 1 1 2 Penalty 1 0 TOTAL NET YARDS 290 412 NET YARDS RUSHING 114 372 Rushes 43 55 Avg. per rush 2 65 6.76 NET YARDS PASSING 176 40 Completed-Att. 18-31 3-14 Sacked-Yds.

lost 3-14 2-14 Had intercepted 0 1 PUNTS-Avg. Had blocked 0 0 RETURN YARDS 22 98 Punts returns 2-6 2-1 7 Kickoffs returns 1-16 3-81 Interceptions 1-0 0-0 PENALTIES-Yds. 5-40 7-46 FUMBLES-Lost 1-0 2-2 TIME OF POSSESSION 30:58 29:02 Florida SL 7 10 0 017 Nebraska 7 6 0 013 J- 1 la something by beating Nebraska on the road," he said. "Listen, we are not a great team now but we can be great." Another young and presently unknown hero was Terry Warren, also a sophomore linebacker. Warren, from Titusville, was the first man to tackle the would-be Nebraska punter on the Cornhuskers' 6 setting up what proved to be the winning TD late in the second quarter.

"How good are we? Who knows?" Warren said. "All I know is that we should get better and better." Darrin Holloman, yet another sophomore, who starts at flanker and caught a 15-yard pass for the Seminoles' first TD, was willing to say what they all are thinking. "This team can be great the greatest Florida State has ever had," Holloman said. "I'll tell you what I think," Bowden said in a whisper, just inches from the cooling showers. "Right now we're the kind of team that's going to win games we shouldn't win and probably lose some we shouldn't lose, too.

We're going to make mistakes because we're young. "In fact, we might be too young to be good yet." As Bowden splashed his way into the showers, that "yet" hung in the humid air like a promise of golden Saturdays to come. And perhaps that's why the 75,000 left standing in Memorial Stadium were so respectfully silent at the end. They've seen potentially great teams on this field many times before and might have realized they had seen another one skipping back to its Tallahassee home. 1ST QUARTER: NEB Rathman 60 run (Klein kick); FSU Holloman 15 pass from McManus (Schmidt kick).

2ND QUARTER: FSU FG Schmidt 20; NEB DuBose 1 run (kick failed); FSU Cletis Jones 2 run (Schmidt kick). A 75,943. LINCOLN, Neb. As the final seconds evaporated into the tangible waves of heat, about 943 of the 75,943 football fans sweltering in famed Memorial Stadium became giddy both from the heat and the improbable event ending before their eyes. After a scoreless second half, mighty Nebraska had lost a home opener to Florida State University, 17-13.

To the credit of the 75,000 fans wearing red shirts and redder complexions, they did not boo the home team or taunt the victors. They simply stared in silence as the young war party of Seminoles literally skipped off the burning field. Who are these guys? Better yet, who are these kids? And, more to the point, how good are they and how good are they going to get? "That's why I'm so excited, just wondering how good we can be," said FSU Coach Bobby Bowden, longingly gazing at the dark, cool shadows of the shower room 45 minutes after his team upped its record to 2-0. "I don't know how good we will be, but the potential is, well, unlimited." Bobby's kids. Awkward one moment and awesome the next.

Foolish, then fantastic. Just like kids should be. Saturday's victory will not rank among the classics. It was a game of mistakes and Nebraska made more. And the heat (96 degrees in the stands and an incredible 132 on the artificial turf) turned the second half into a game of survival.

FSU survived. "V7 f'r- ii Individual stats ASSOCIATED PRESS FSU's Tony Smith seems to have Nebraska linebacker Steve Forch waiting for him. It was intercepted by FSU linebacker (and Winter Park product) Paul McGowan, killing Nebraska's next-to-last effort at scoring on the FSU 44. "I don't think he saw me," McGowan said. "Suddenly the ball was right in my face.

I bob-bled it once, then grabbed it. After that I just wanted to fall down. I was tired out there." Much was made of Nebraska having just five starters back from last year. But it was FSU that started 13 sophomores and one freshman Saturday. McGowan, 6 feet 1 and 218 pounds, is a sophomore who understands what winning at Nebraska can mean to the future of the Seminoles.

"I think we must have proved Using a self-made term, Bowden said the Cornhuskers nearly "out-heated" his Seminoles. Nebraska Coach Tom Osborne dressed 117 players and may have used them all in an effort to wear down the visitors. It might have worked if not for a pass that Nebraska quarterback (and Orlando native) McCathorn Clayton threw with 3:59 to play. FSU doesn't know who hero was Clayton's quest: Prove something Ex-Jones star out to show FSU he's winning QB at Nebraska By Jerry Greene By Barry Cooper OF THE SENTINEL STAFF OF THE SENTINEL STAFF Florida State Rushing Player No. Yds.

Net LG S. Smith 12 74 1 73 24 T. Smith 11 32 7 25 10 Wells 6 16 0 16 7 C. Jones 8 15 0 15 3 Holloman 1 6 0 6 6 Coker 3 0 7 -7 McManus 2 0 14 -14 Passing Player Att Co! Int. Yds.

TD McManus 27 15 0 172 1 Coker 4 3 0 4 0 Receiving Player No. Yds! Avg. TD Holloman 5 63 12 6 1 T.Smith 4 41 10.3 0 Wells 4 25 6.3 0 White 2 55 27.5 0 Carter 2 14 7.0 0 S. Smith 1 -5 0 Punt returns Player No. Yds.

Avg. TD Sanders 2 6 3.0 0 Kickoff returns Player No. Yds! Avg. TD Wells 1 16 16.0 0 Nebraska Rushing Player No. Yds.

Net LG Dubose 21 132 3 129 26 Rathman 12 113 0 113 60 Clayton 9 102 5 97 43 Sheppard 3 37 2 35 31 Turner 6 14 8 6 6 Jones 12 0 2 2 Brinson 1 0 2-2-2 Miles 1 0 2-2-2 Team 1 0 6-6-6 Passing Player Att Co! Int Yds. TD Turner 9 2 0 24 0 Clayton 5 1 1 16 0 Receiving Player No. Yds. Avg. TD Schmitz 2 24 12.0 0 Dubose 1 16 16.0 0 Punt returns Player No.

Yds. Avg. TD Sheppard 2 17 8.5 0 Kickoff returns Player No! Yds! Avg. TD Dubose 1 32 32.0 0 Sheppard 1 31 31.0 0 Jones 1 18 18.0 0 'A uv Ml" t-: I a1 )h 7 Am w.iw .11 I fTf1 I I -rf yi If 1 LINCOLN, Neb. It was perhaps the biggest play of the game, but FSU isn't sure who made it.

With 1:03 to play, Nebraska was driving for what it hoped would be a winning toucdown. But Travis Turner's fourth-down pass was deflected at the line of scrimmage, sealing a 17-13 victory for FSU. None of the Seminoles claimed credit for the deflection. "We aren't sure what happened," Coach Bobby Bowden said. "Either somebody got a hand on it or it went off somebody's helmet.

We're just glad it fell to the ground." TV replays showed the pass hit a Nebraska lineman in the back of the head. The 96-degree heat 132 degrees on the playing surface may not have had much of a bearing on the game, but it sure did affect concession sales at Memorial Stadium. The Cornhuskers reported selling 75,000 soft drinks. The demand was even greater than that but sales were halted when the 80,000 pounds of ice ran out. None of the Seminoles was seriously injured.

Quarterback Danny McManus, who blacked out temporarily after taking a hard hit, was walking and talking normally after the game. FSU was handicapped at wide receiver. With top receiver Hassan Jones out with a separated shoulder, FSU counted most on Darrin Holloman, who responded by catching five passes for 65 yards. Phillip Bryant and Herb Gainer played with slight injuries. i FSU freshman tailback Sammie Smith of Apopka gained 73 yards on 12 carries.

LINCOLN, Neb. McCathorn Clayton was a young man who had something to prove Saturday afternoon. He didn't quite pull it off. What he wanted to prove was that he is a winning quarterback, perfectly suited for that position in major-college football. Nebraska suspects it's true, but Florida State University never gave him the chance.

Clayton played prep football at Orlando Jones. He and another Jones product, sophomore monster back Gene Chealey, stand out on the Nebraska roster like foster children. They are the only Floirda natives in a massive lineup of corn-fed Nebraskans. FSU was interested in Clayton back in 1983 but not to play quarterback. "They had a really nice coaching staff," Clayton said, "but they wanted me to play strong safety." When asked about that, Seminoles Coach Bobby Bowden wouldn't confirm it, but he didn't deny it, either.

"I really don't remember, but I can see how we might have recuited him as a defensive back." In fairness to FSU, Clayton, 6 feet 1, 195 pounds, seems far more suited to Nebraska's rollout, running offense than he would to the Seminoles' Pro Set passing attack. As a quarterback, he might never have played for the Seminoles. But as a Cornhuskers quarterback, he almost beat them Saturday. Clayton spelled starting quarterback Travis Turner in the second quarter and immediately ran 43 yards to FSU's 3, setting up a TD and a 13-10 Nebraska lead. However, it also was Clayton who threw a late, fourth-quarter pass that was intercepted to stop what could have been the winning drive.

"I was supposed to read the linebackers, but I made a mistake," he said. After that mistake, Nebraska Coach Tom Osborne went back to Turner for the final drive, which also failed. Clayton, a redshirted sophomore, hasn't won the starting job from Turner yet. And Clayton has not beaten FSU yet. The two teams meet again next September.

But Clayton has more immediate things on his mind. "Because we lost doesn't mean I'm going to get down," he said. "I'll get up for Illinois instead." McCathorn Clayton, quarterback, isn't finished yet. MISSED FIELD GOALS Florida State, none; Nebraska, Klein (31). How they scored FIRST QUARTER NEBRASKA Tom Rathman scored on a 60-yard run.

Dale Klein PAT. 4 plays, 80 yards, 1:49. 7-0, Cornhuskers. FSU Danny McManus passed 15 yards to Darrin Hollman for a TD. Key play: McManus' 13-yard pass to Chuck Wells on third-and-12 at the Cornhuskers' 28.

Derek Schmidt PAT. 14 plays, 79 yards, 5:05. 7-7. SECOND QUARTER FSU Schmidt kicked a 20-yard field goal. Key play: McManus' 29-yard pass to Gaylon White that placed the ball at the Cornhuskers' 5.

10 plays, 66 yards, 3:18. 10-7, Seminoles. NEBRASKA Doug DuBose ran 1 yard for a TD. Key play: DuBose ran for 14 yards on fourth-and-1 at the FSU 40. PAT attempt failed afler bobbled snap.

10 plays, 69 yards, 4:37. 13-10, Cornhuskers. FSU Cletis Jones ran 2 yards for a TD. Key play: Bad snap from center forced Nebraska punter Dan Wingard to run from his 2-yard line. He was tackled at Nebraska 6 by Terry Robinson.

Schmidt PAT. 2 plays, 6 yards, 0:50. 17-13, Seminoles. UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL FSU's Martin Mayhew Robb Schnitzler reach pass at same time. FSU From C-1 How 'Holes have fared The Seminoles got their points on Danny McManus' 15-yard TD pass to Darrin Holloman, a 20-yard field goal by Derek Schmidt and a 2-yard TD run by Cletis Jones.

Jones' score, with 3:27 left in the half, proved to be the winning touchdown and came after Ne braska punter Dan Wingard picked up a bad snap and was tackled at FSU's 6. The Cornhuskers scored first, and the lead rocked back and forth until Jones scored just before the half. McManus completed 15 of 27 passes for 172 yards before being knocked out of the game with 14:12 to play on a hard hit by Nebraska defensive tackle Jim Skow. McManus, okay afterward, It was the second time FSU had knocked off mighty Nebraska here; the Seminoles' 18-14 victory over Nebraska in 1980 is considered one of FSU's most cherished moments. Saturday's victory likely will not rank with that accomplishment, but the Seminoles could care less.

For them, this game was a steal. It was the season-opener for Nebraska FSU is 2-0 and that may have been the difference. "I think," Bowden said, "that if Nebraska had had a game under its belt it would have won. We had played a game and they hadn't, and they weren't quite able to put the pieces together." The Cornhuskers, with only said he blacked out on the tackle, and Bowden chose to go with backup Kirk Coker the rest of the way. With McManus out, the Seminoles, who already had turned conservative, really put things under wraps.

"We were winning, our defense was playing good, and we didn't want to do anything stupid," Bowden said. The Cornhuskers seemed to have more energy in the final minutes, and Bowden said he knew why. "They played a lot of people, and I thought we were running out of gas," he said. "Nebraska outsubstituted us probably 2-to-l, and we were dead by the end of the game." four starters back from last year's 10-2 team, could not resurrect their intimidating "big red machine" style of play. They proved vulnerable, especially against the short pass, and FSU carved out 176 yards with quick tosses, mostly over the middle.

Nebraska's relative inefficiency confirmed suspicions held by Cornhuskers Coach Tom Osborne. "At times, we looked like a sloppy football team," he said. "Any time you have inexperience at key spots, you're going to make mistakes. It wasn't like we got kicked all over the field, but it's very disappointing to lose." It was a workmanlike effort for the Seminoles, who turned down the throttle on their bombs-away offense. 1 FSU's 14 with 14:55 to play; cor-nerback Terry Robinson tackled Nebraska punter Dan Wingard at FSU's 6, leading to the Seminoles' winning TD; and linebacker Paul McGowan killed a fourth-quarter drive by Nebraska with a pass interception at the Cornhuskers' 49.

It was a tough, gutty performance. "We won this game because we outfought them," FSU defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews said. "X's and O's strategy didn't have anything to do with it. These kids just went out there and got the job done." FSU 38 Tulane 12 FSU 17 Nebraska 13 Sept. 21 MEMPHIS STATE, 12:15 p.m.

Sept. 28 KANSAS, 7 p.m. Oct. 1 2 at Auburn, 2:30 p.m. Oct.

19 TULSA, 7 p.m. Oct. 26 at North Carolina, 1 p.m. Nov. 2 MIAMI, 7 p.m.

Nov. 9 SOUTH CAROLINA, 7 p.m. Nov. 16 WESTERN CAROLINA, 7 p.m. Nov.

30 at Florida, 12:30 p.m. IIJIJ.U1.J--.

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