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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- Although No. 6 Florida State's offense
sputtered at times Saturday, the defense was almost perfect in a
37-3 victory over Virginia.
"I don't remember anybody stopping us cold like that, at least
in the last 12 years," Virginia coach George Welsh said. "We
couldn't run the ball worth a damn."
|  | | Florida State tailback Travis Minor rushes for 89 yards on nine carries. |
Florida State (7-1, 5-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) forced five
turnovers and totaled five sacks while holding Virginia to just 199
total yards -- 33 rushing.
"Our defense played about as good as it can," Florida State
coach Bobby Bowden said. "It was hard to beat us with two freshmen
quarterbacks."
Freshmen Bryson Spinner and Matt Schaub handled Virginia's
quarterback duties in place of senior starter Dan Ellis, who missed
the game with a hamstring injury. Spinner was 9-of-21 for 130 yards
and sacked four times. Schaub was 5-of-6 for only 36 yards and both
were intercepted.
Florida State, meanwhile, had the country's oldest quarterback
leading the way in 28-year-old Chris Weinke.
Snoop Minnis caught two touchdown passes and William McCray
scored twice on short runs and freshman Chance Gwaltney added three
field goals as the Seminoles extended the nation's longest
homefield unbeaten streak to 50 games, including 33 straight wins.
Florida State has not lost at home since a 17-16 defeat to Miami
in 1991.
Minnis, who had four receptions for 131 yards, caught scoring
passes from Weinke that covered 58 and 30 yards.
Gwaltney kicked field goals of 22, 36 and 25 yards for the
once-beaten Seminoles, who are trying to claw their way back into
contention for a third straight appearance in the national
championship game.
"We know we have to win out," said Minnis, who has 42 catches
for 808 yards and five TDs this season. "We're taking each game
like it's a playoff game and it really is a playoff game because if
we lose we're out of it."
The Seminoles took advantage of numerous Virginia mistakes early
on their way to a 27-0 halftime lead. In addition to the turnovers,
Virginia had two bad center snaps that resulted in losses totaling
60 yards.
Virginia (4-3, 3-2) avoided a shutout when David Greene hit a
37-yard field goal early in the third quarter. The Cavaliers
fumbled away a chance -- on a bad handoff -- for a touchdown in the
fourth quarter at the Florida State 1.
"We shot ourselves in the foot," Welsh said. "We didn't give
ourselves a chance."
Although Weinke and the offense were at times sluggish, Florida
State still rolled up 554 yards, including 426 in the air. The
Seminoles, who lead the nation in yardage, have rolled up over 500
yards in seven straight games.
"Our skill people were too much for them," Bowden said. "It
was a guessing game who to throw to."
Weinke was 16-of-28 for 274 yards in three quarters. Backup
Marcus Outzen was 6-of-7 for 152 yards.
Florida State scored in the opening 86 seconds when linebacker
Tommy Polley chased down an errant Virginia snap and ran 9 yards to
the Cavaliers' 1 to set up McCray's first touchdown.
"Anytime you can get a turnover at the beginning of the game it
helps the defense tremendously and it gives big momentum," Polley
said.
On Florida State's next offensive series, Minor's 67-yard run
set up the first Gwaltney's field goal.
Bowden recorded his 311th career victory to move within three of
Amos Alonzo Stagg, who is fourth on the career list. Bowden also
picked up his 67th ACC win (against two losses) to move into second
place in conference history, ahead of former Clemson coach Frank
Howard.
Bowden trails Welsh, who has 83.
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ALSO SEE
College Football Scoreboard
Virginia Clubhouse
Florida State Clubhouse
AUDIO/VIDEO
 FSU's Marvin Minnis lays out to haul in a 30-yard TD pass from Chris Weinke.
avi: 1276 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Travis Minor sets up a field goal with a 67-yard run.
avi: 1068 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Marvin Minnis scores his second TD of the day, this one for 58 yards.
avi: 812 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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