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Virginia Falls at Florida State
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Nov. 4, 2006
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) – Tony Carter returned an interception 35 yards for a touchdown 74 seconds into the game, and Florida State was on its way to snapping a two-game skid with a 33-0 victory over Virginia on Saturday.
Coach Bobby Bowden’s Seminoles (5-4, 3-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) started the day in last place in the Atlantic Division, then dominated the Cavaliers (4-6, 3-3) from start to finish. Florida State held Virginia to 12 first downs and 183 yards offense, and posted their first shutout since a 37-0 win at Notre Dame in 2003.
Florida State, a win away from being bowl eligible, had a 14-0 lead less than five minutes into the game.
After Carter picked off Jameel Sewell’s pass and raced for a touchdown, freshman walk-on Eli Charles blocked a punt to set up Lorenzo Booker’s 1-yard TD run.
Gary Cismesia’s 44-yard field goal with 2:21 left in the second quarter gave the Seminoles a 17-0 lead at halftime. Florida State boosted its lead to 26-0 five minutes into the third quarter.
Buster Davis sacked Sewell in the end zone for a safety and the Seminoles needed just four plays on the ensuing possession to get into the end zone on Xavier Lee’s 37-yard pass to Chris Davis.
Sewell as under duress all afternoon, throwing two interceptions and getting sacked six times. He completed 17 of 32 passes for 125 yards and Jason Snelling added 63 yards rushing.
Virginia needs wins over Miami and Virginia Tech to qualify for the postseason.
Florida State, which has not missed out on a bowl game since 1981, finishes the season with three straight home dates against Wake Forest, Western Michigan and Florida.
After a slow start Saturday, Lee completed 12 of 25 passes for 185 yards and a touchdown. Lee, making just his second start and first at home, also rushed for 49 yards on four carries. He left in the fourth quarter after Antone Smith’s 2-yard TD run made it 33-0.
In the last two games, Lee has produced 570 yards offense and thrown three touchdown passes without a turnover.
Drew Weatherford finished up for Bowden, who notched his 364th career win – best in NCAA Division I-A.