Florida State Routs BYU

J A C K S O N V I L L E, Fla., Aug. 27, 2000 -- Not bad for an old guy.

Chris Weinke did more than stand back in the pocket and throwtouchdown passes: The 28-year-old quarterback ran, blocked and evenknocked over the opposing coach as No. 2 Florida State openeddefense of its national title with a 29-3 victory over BYU inSaturday night’s Pigskin Classic.

Weinke wasn’t his usual accurate self, but he hit on 32 of 50passes — both career highs— for 318 yards and two touchdowns. Healso ran 21 yards — the longest of his career — to set up a thirdscore, a 6-yard double reverse in which he threw the key block.

“We did some good things, but we had a couple of missed fieldgoals, a couple of missed opportunities,” said the 6-foot-5,slimmed-down-to-229-pound Weinke. ‘We know we could have gottenmore points but you can’t be disappointed when you win. We know wehave some more work to do.”

Defense Dominates

Florida State coach Bobby Bowden, in gaining career win No. 305,said the offense was inconsistent, but praised the defense, whichlost many of its stars from last season’s title team.

“The game surprised me,” Bowden said. “I thought it would bea high-scoring game since our offense performed so well leading upto the game. Our defense had struggled all preseason, But ourdefense played just beautifully.”

Anchored by defensive end Jamal Reynolds, who caused a safetyand had two sacks, the Seminoles intercepted three passes,recovered a fumble and totaled five sacks against BYU quarterbacksBret Engemann and Charlie Peterson.

The Cougars had 79 yards in the first half—minus-13 rushing -and finished with 225 total yards.

“They’re incredible,” said Engemann, who was 12 of 28 for 139yards and two interceptions. “If they don’t win the championshipagain this year, I’ll be surprised.”

Rips Running Game, Kicker

Bowden isn’t as confident. He criticized his team’s runninggame, which produced 57 yards; and his kicker, Matt Munyon, whomissed two field goals and an extra point.

“What needs work? Sustaining out block in the running game,”said Bowden. “And the kicking game was what I was afraid it wouldbe.”

But there was Weinke. On his first TD pass, a 19-yarder to JavonWalker just 2:47 into the season, the quarterback was pushed intoBYU’s LaVell Edwards on the sideline and the collision sent the69-year-old coach sprawling. It might have been the hardest hitWeinke took all night at Alltel Stadium.

BYU was overmatched from the start, unable to keep up withFlorida State’s new set of speedy receivers featuring MarvinMinnis, Atrews Bell, Anquan Boldin and Walker. Peter Warrick? Who’she?

BYU barely extended its NCAA record of scoring in consecutivegames to 313 when Owen Pochman kicked a 42-yard field goal with2:19 left in the third quarter. The Cougars were last shut out in1975, 20-0 by Arizona State

“It was frustrating,” Edwards said. “It was a typical opener.We did some good things. We played hard and well on defense. FSU’sdefensive quickness made it difficult for us.”

After a 3-yard TD pass to Bell and safety made it 15-0, he tookoff on the longest run of his career. Before the 21-yarder, hisprevious longest run was 8 yards.

He rolled left, saw running room and outran several BYUdefenders before being chased out of bounds at the 6. On the nextplay, a double reverse, he threw the block that freed up Bell forthe TD that put the Seminoles in control at 22-0 early in thesecond quarter.

BYU, making a rare visit to the East Coast, had little chanceagainst the much faster Seminoles, who were last seen beatingVirginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl for their second national title.

Takes Aim at Record

Weinke needs 389 yards to become Florida State’s career passingleader, ahead of Gary Huff, who had 6,378 yards from 1970-72.Weinke, among the top Heisman Trophy contenders, has won 22 of 23games he’s started.

Florida State extended its winning streak to 13 games and haswon 22 consecutive regular-season games.

Florida State, with a crowd of 54,260 looking on, scored on itsopening drive, with Weinke’s first completion of the season a15-yarder to Minnis helping to set up the TD. Four plays later, theone in which he was shoved into Edwards, Weinke lofted his TD passto Walker from about the 30. It dropped into the receiver’s armswith three BYU defenders around him.

“I was actually trying to throw the ball away,” Weinke said.“I saw one receivers and figured it would either go to him or outof bounds. Then I got pushed into somebody, and I didn’t know whoit was. But that’s football.”

Florida State added a final TD with 1:11 left on Travis Minor’s5-yard run.

Minnis led Florida State receivers with nine catches for 137yards; Walker had eight catches for 70 yards.

While BYU still hopes to make Edwards’ 29th and final season awinning one, no doubt the coach will not soon forget the hit he andhis team took against Florida State.