FSU takes charge over Buffalos

FSU takes charge over Buffalos

Bowden coaches 500^th game

JACKSONVILLE - For the 500th time in his illustrious coaching career Bobby Bowden took the field Saturday.  And as flat as his team played for game 499 was contrasted by how sharp they played Saturday night enroute to a 39-21 victory against the Colorado Buffalos..

FSU Head Coach Bobby Bowden coached his 500th game Saturday.

"Just remember this was the 500th game and not the 500th win," Bowden said. "If this had been my 500th win I'd just call Joe now and tell him to forget it."

After allowing a Colorado (3-1, 0-0) touchdown midway through the first quarter, Bowden's Noles took over the game dominating the Buffalos as handily as they had the two Football Championship Series teams with which FSU opened the season.

And while FSU (3-1, 0-1) did give up an early fourth quarter touchdown to the Buffalos, senior cornerback Michael Ray Garvin took the next kickoff at his own 15-yard-line and ran it back for the score.

That was the first kickoff returned for a touchdown for the Seminoles since a return by Leon Washington in 2002.

"We got a lot better tonight mainly because of the play of the offensive line," Bowden said. "You have to realize that we are the youngest offensive line in the country."

The Seminoles opened the game strong. Colorado took the opening kickoff and gave up a sack on their first play from scrimmage. Senior defensive end Neefy Moffett floored Colorado

Antone Smith powered the Seminoles' offense with three scores.

quarterback Cody Hawkins for a loss of eight. Two plays later the Noles defense forced a fumble recovering the ball on the Buffalos 27-yard line.

Senior tailback Antone Smith carried the ball all four plays for the Seminoles knocking it into the end zone less than three minutes into the game.

Colorado replied five minutes later with a touchdown of their own to tie the game. And that was how the game would remain for the 20 minutes.

Both sides traded turnovers and punts until Smith once again got the call for the Noles.

He took the ball on his own 40-yard-line, ran around the right side of the Buffalos defense and into the end zone leaving a trail of Colorado players in his wake.

Smith's run sparked the rest of the Seminoles downing the Buffalos inside their own five-yard line on the ensuing punt. And after using their three time outs, FSU's defense smothered the Buffalos forcing them to go three and out and punt out of their own end zone.

As if to prove Defensive Coordinator Mickey Andrews' statement at the start of the season about one part of the team sparking another, the FSU special teams players hit the field and blocked their first punt of the season resulting in a Seminoles safety.

Freshman kick return specialist and wide receiver Bert Reed decided that he could feed off some of the new-found enthusiasm and returned the Colorado free kick more than 40 yards giving sophomore quarterback Christian Ponder first and ten from inside the Colorado 20-yard line with less than a minute left in the half.

Senior kicker Graham Gano came in and booted the 36-yard field goal giving FSU a 19-7 lead and a shot of momentum going into half time.

The Noles took the second half kickoff and added three points following a 52-yard Gano field goal.

Gano had just missed a 47-yard attempt wide right that was waived off following a delay of game penalty against FSU. He corrected his aim for the longer attempt and split the uprights.

"He (Gano) was just dadgum good tonight," Bowden said. "He didn't practice much and that 52-yarder was just so important."

Ponder's numbers for the game were not great but good enough to ensure the victory.

Ponder completed 10 of 22 passes with one interception for 119 yards.

This came after being pulled at halftime last week against Wake Forest.

"Coach (Jimbo Fisher) told me Monday to be prepared to play this week," Ponder said. "It shows me that coach has confidence in me."

Colorado added a pair of touchdowns late in the game but it wasn't enough to overcome the Seminoles lead. And FSU mounted a pair of late drives answering both of Colorado's touchdowns.

Florida State plays their first road game next week traveling to face arch nemesis Miami.