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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Seminoles look like old selves

Florida State makes big plays, routs Badgers

By MARK WANGRIN Associated Press

ORLANDO, Fla. – Bobby Bowden glimpsed into the past, and it made the 79-year-old coach excited about Florida State’s future.

Bowden saw a big-play offense and a hard-hitting, opportunistic defense in the Seminoles’ 42-13 win over Wisconsin at the Champs Sports Bowl on Saturday.

“It looked like the old Florida State out there,” Bowden said. “Not that we’re there, but we looked like we used to.”

Florida State (9-4) finished with more than eight wins for the first time since 2004. Nine victories was once a given for Bowden’s Seminoles, who hit that mark in 17 of 18 seasons before tailing off in recent seasons.

Many key players on this team will be back next season, so there’s reason to believe Florida State is headed for even better results.

Derek Nicholson and Dekoda Watson returned fumbles for touchdowns, Christian Ponder threw two TD passes and the Seminoles got a game MVP performance from punter Graham Gano.

Watson and Ponder are among the underclassmen who will be back for the Seminoles next season.

Nicholson, a senior, had two fumble recoveries, including one he returned 75 yards for a first-quarter score. Gano averaged 48.2 yards on five punts and had three downed inside the Wisconsin 5 to earn game MVP.

“Once we got our feet on the ground, we were almost unstoppable out there,” said Ponder, who was 18 for 31 for 199 yards. “We got into a groove and every one was making plays.”

P.J. Hill ran for 140 yards on 15 carries for the Badgers (7-6), but quarterback Dustin Sherer completed only 4 of 9 passes for 55 yards through the first three quarters. His fumble early in the fourth quarter was returned 51 yards for a score by Watson to put FSU up 35-6.

“I was disappointed in everything out there,” Sherer said. “I didn’t make the plays we needed. They made it tough on us early with the punts, but we really kind of shot ourselves in the foot and allowed them to do that.”

Florida State, playing in its NCAA-leading 27th consecutive bowl game, improved Bowden’s career record to 21-10-1.

“I plan on coming back next year,” said Bowden, who has 382 career victories, one behind Penn State’s Joe Paterno for the major college record. “This makes it exciting to coach.”