North Carolina State University Athletics
Gary Hahn's Scouting Report: Florida State
11/14/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 14, 2003
NC STATE (7-3, 4-2) at No. 13 FLORIDA STATE (8-2, 6-1)
DATE: Saturday, November 15, 2003
TIME: Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. (EST) Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee, FL (82,300)
RADIO: Wolfpack Radio Network. AIRTIME: 2:30 p.m. (EST)
TELEVISION: ABC (Regional)
OPPONENT----The son of a coaching legend finally beat his father on the fifth try and kept the door open for the possibility of a shared ACC Football Championship. Clemson's Tommy Bowden capped a week of speculation about his job security with a 26-10 win over his father, Bobby, and No. 3 Florida State on Saturday night at Memorial Stadium.
Florida State has already clinched a share of the ACC title, but needs to beat NC State this Saturday to assure an outright championship. NC State wins over the Seminoles and Maryland on November 22nd, would give the Wolfpack a share of the crown.
Charlie Whitehurst threw for one touchdown and ran for another as Clemson (6-4, 4-3) snapped an 11-game losing streak to the Seminoles. Aaron Hunt added four field goals and the Tigers held the Seminoles to their fewest points of the season and only 11 yards rushing. To boil it down, the Tigers played as if they didn't want to lose their coach. And the Seminoles never showed their usual poise and power.
FSU quarterback, Chris Rix, had one of his worst performances of the season against a Clemson defense that blitzed repeatedly. Rix missed his target on several passes and was intercepted by Tye Hill in the first quarter to end Florida State's only first-half drive in Clemson territory.
The Tigers kept Rix from getting into any rhythm. He didn't get the ball off quickly enough with accuracy. The receivers messed up routes. Blocks were missed. Clemson's blitzing also affected FSU's running game, which was quickly abandoned. FSU backs rushed the ball four times in the first two drives for 6 yards.
Down 16-0 in the third quarter at Clemson's 30, Rix threw three straight passes nowhere near his receivers and the Seminoles settled for Xavier Beitia's 46-yard field goal. Rix ended 16-for-31 for 194 yards and two interceptions.
A 17-yard Whitehurst pass to receiver Kevin Youngblood led to Hunt's second field goal from 35 yards out and a 6-0 Clemson lead. With 2:50 to go in the half, Whitehurst led a 65-yard touchdown drive -- 51 on a pass to Youngblood. That was followed by a Whitehurst 1-yard scoring run with 15 seconds left that made it 13-0.
Late in the third quarter, Whitehurst lofted a pass to a wide-open Derrick Hamilton for a 58-yard touchdown that gave Clemson a 23-3 lead late in the third quarter. The Seminoles scored their lone touchdown, a 71-yard reception from backup quarterback Fabian Walker to Chauncy Stovall with 2:14 left.
The Seminoles defense is especially strong and experienced. FSU leads the ACC in scoring defense (12.3 ppg.) and ranks third nationally in that category, allowing just 11 touchdowns this season and only four in the second half. Just as impressive is the fact that FSU has held five opponents (Maryland, Georgia Tech, Colorado, Duke and Virginia) to less than 100 yards of total offense in the second half. The 'Noles are 14th in the nation in total defense (297) and seventh in pass efficiency defense.
Redshirt senior tackle, Darnell Dockett (6-4, 280), the school's all-time leader in tackles for loss (62), and end Eric Moore (6-4, 247, Jr.) are anchors on the front line. Moore is No. 2 in the ACC with 6.5 sacks while the other end; Kevin Emanuel (6-4, 257, Sr.) leads the league in forced fumbles. FSU tops the ACC in sacks with 31 and has the ACC's No. 2 rushing defense (110 ypg.) behind NC State (109.8 ypg.).
Outside linebacker, Michael Boulware is a Butkus semifinalist and leads FSU with 84 tackles. The other outside linebacker in the 'Noles 4-3 defensive alignment, Kendyll Pope, is a two-time All-ACC selection. He missed three games with an injury, but returned to play a solid game against Clemson.
The secondary is very deep and experienced. Junior cornerback Leroy Smith (5-10, 179) has three interceptions while his backup, Bryant McFadden (6-0, 180, Jr.) has started nine games this season. The other corner, Stanford Samuels, is a redshirt senior who is No. 2 in the ACC in pass break-ups. The starting safeties, B.J. Ward (6-3, 208, Jr.) and Jerome Carter (6-0, 214, Jr.) have combined for 126 tackles.
Offensively, the 'Noles starting line averages 6-4, 305 pounds and is dominated by redshirt juniors. The back-ups, however, do not have a lot of experience. Much of FSU's success hinges on the play of redshirt junior quarterback, Chris Rix. When he's hot, he's one of the best in the nation, but when he's not, the Seminoles can be out of sync for extended periods as they were against Clemson. Rix is fourth in the ACC in passing (270) and third in total offense behind NC State's Philip Rivers and Virginia's Matt Schaub.
Rix has the fastest receiver in the ACC as a target. Junior Craphonso Thorpe (6-2, 175) is the reigning ACC track & field champion in the 100 and 200-meter dashes. He's been clocked at 4.31 in the 40-yard dash. The Biletnikoff Award semifinalist is the 'Noles leading receiver with 46 catches, including 9 for touchdowns. Junior P.K. Sam (6-3, 195) is also a big-time threat (41 catches, 3 touchdowns).
The FSU running game is 8th in the ACC (122 ypg.) ahead of only NC State (95 ypg.). Leading rusher, Greg Jones (6-1, 255, Sr.) physically did not appear totally sound against Clemson. Jones missed the final four games last season and all of spring practice after tearing his ACL against Wake Forest. This year he has rushed for 451 yards and 6 touchdowns while playing in every game.
NC State (435 ypg.) and FSU (418 ypg.) are one-two in the ACC in total offense and passing offense. However, both teams are at the bottom of the league in rushing. The Seminoles are averaging 122 yards a game to NC State's 95. The Wolfpack held FSU to 34 rushing yards last season and has two straight victories over the 'Noles.
Florida State's special teams look solid. Sophomore Leon Washington leads the ACC in punt returns (12.8 avg.) and has one touchdown. True freshman, Antonio Cromartie, with a 22.7-yard average, is ninth in the conference in kick returns. Lou Groza Award semifinalist, Xavier Beitia, is one of the best place-kickers in the ACC and has 15 of 19 field goal attempts with a long of 48-yards. Senior punter, Jesse Stein, a first-year starter, has been solid with a 41.6-yard average.
INJURIES--NC State: OT Chris Colmer-Out, Parsonage Turner Syndrome; WR Sterling Hicks-Out, torn ACL; WR Richard Washington-Probable, cracked ribs; DE Renaldo Moses-Out, torn ACL & MCL; OG Ashley Wingate-Out, broken leg. Florida State:FB B.J. Dean-Questionable, knee sprain.
