In week seven of our 2002 dream season the Seminoles squeaked out an exciting 24-23 victory over the Miami Hurricanes to move to a perfect 7-0 record and a No. 2 ranking behind Oklahoma. After getting a week off FSU plays their second-straight top 10 opponent in Notre Dame. The Irish have been the top story of the 2002 college football season and come into Tallahassee with a surprising 7-0 record and a No. 7 ranking.

TALLAHASSEE, FL - In a game originally scheduled for a Noon kickoff, ABC elected to move the top 10 matchup to prime time for a national television audience. Most of the 80,000-plus fans in Doak Campbell Stadium went away happy but it was a long game and a long trip home for the Irish. Florida State rolled to an impressive 52-14 win over the not-so-Fighting Irish and in the process burst the bubble on America's Cinderella team.

Despite

the lopsided score Notre Dame was the first to strike. Florida State fumbled the opening kickoff giving their opponents to the north prime field position. On a third and five from the 10-yard line quarterback Carlyle Holiday got the Irish on the board when he faked a pitch on an option play and took the it through the heart of the Seminole defense for a touchdown.

Notre Dame's surprising 7-0 lead didn't last long. On FSU's next possession quarterback Chris Rix picked apart the Irish secondary to even the score. Starting from the 20-yard line FSU went on a eight-play 80-yard drive that ended when Rix, who was five-for-five on the drive, found fellow sophomore Craphonso Thorpe on a 15-yard out on the right side of the endzone.

Soon after the Tribe grabbed their first lead. On Notre Dame's next drive fortunes changed on one play. Using almost exclusively the option, Holiday helped his team to three straight first downs giving the Irish the ball on FSU's 42-yard line. However, first-year head coach Tyrone Willingham went to the well once too often. Florida State safety Kyler Hall, who was caught leaning the wrong way on Holiday's touchdown run, stayed home and stuck the 6'3", 214-pound signal caller when he faked a pitch. The result of the jarring hit was a loose ball that was promptly scooped up by Michael Boulware. The 'Noles' strong-side linebacker broke a tackle and raced 52 yards for FSU's second score. From there the rout was on.

Notre Dame's option attack was effective early but as the half wore on Mickey Andrews defense adjusted. Meanwhile the combination of Chris Rix, Anquan Boldin and Greg Jones wreaked havoc on the Irish defense. Before the end of the first quarter Jones busted off a 58-yard run to extend FSU's lead to 21-7.

With the Seminole defense catching on to the option attack Notre Dame began to explore their options through the air. The new aerial approach had only short-term success. Early in quarter two senior wide receiver Arnaz Battle made a one-handed grab to put the Irish in scoring position at FSU's 28-yard line. However, the success through the air came to a stretching halt when cornerback Stanford Samules picked off a Holiday pass deep in Seminole territory.

From there Rix went to work hitting Anquan Boldin four times on the next drive. With Florida State going to a four-wideout set, the 6'2" junior exploited one-on-one coverage for some easy receptions. He got into the endzone after going up high over cornerback Vontez Duff for the 12-yard touchdown and in the process extended FSU's lead to a commanding 28-7.

"Anquan was on fire out there," said quarterback Chris Rix.

"Notre Dame didn't have an answer for him and I just kept getting him the ball

and he did the rest."

While the Seminole offense was clicking the defense began to find its rhythm. Notre Dame managed only two first downs in the second quarter thanks in large part to a dominating defensive line. The leader was All-American candidate Darnell Dockett. The junior defensive tackle put on a show against the Irish totaling 12 tackles, four for loss, two sacks and forced a fumble. The fumble came with only a minute and a half left in the half when Dockett stripped the ball from running back Ryan Grant. The offense stalled but kicker Xavier Beitia booted a 51-yard field goal to close out the half and give FSU a decisive 31-7 lead.

Chris Rix, who threw for 230 yards in the first half, took the rest of the night off after leading the offense to another score early in quarter three. The nation's No. 3 rated passer directed an efficient 13-play 71-yard drive to extend FSU's commanding lead to 38-7. Once again Boldin was his primary target and the two hooked up for a 23-yard score on the final play of the series.

Near the end of the third quarter Notre Dame put together their first real drive. Mixing the run and the pass backup quarterback Dan Novakov led the Irish offense on an impressive 9-play, 65-yard drive. The 6'1" junior twice hooked up with tight end and former quarterback Gary Godsey. The second time Novakov threaded the needle and found Godsey in the back of the endzone from 11-yards out for Notre Dame's second touchdown.

With FSU's lead reduced to 24 points it was back to the aerial attack but this time it came from the right arm of Fabian Walker. The sophomore signal caller has been splitting time with Adrian McPherson as Rix' backup and saw his first real game action versus the Irish. The redshirt Walker kept the Seminole offense rolling thanks to clutch passing and some elusive running by freshman Lorenzo Booker. Walker, who played a year in junior college at Jones, finished off the scoring drive when he hooked up with another former junior college player, Chauncey Stovall from

28-yards out. The scoring toss gave FSU's its comfortable lead back at 45-14.

With the final minutes of the game winding down, Lorenzo Booker, who selected FSU over Notre Dame on signing day, topped off the scoring with a dazzling run. From the Seminole 28-yard line, the high school All-American took a pitch from Walker ran left, changed direction, broke a tackle and turned up field and outran the Irish secondary for the 72-yard touchdown. That was the final score of the game as the 'Noles cruised to the 52-14 win and moved to a perfect 8-0 on the season.

"I'm glad Lorenzo got some carries," said Bowden. "He's done well in practice and we wanted to reward him. He certainly made the most of his chance, that's for sure.

"We played very well on both sides of the ball tonight. It was good to see us put together a complete game like that. There are still a lot of games left in the season but so far so good."

Next weekend Florida State travels to Winston-Salem to take on Wake Forest. The game will be broadcast regionally by ABC.

STATISTICAL LEADERS

Chris Rix 16 of 19 for 282 yards (3 TDs)

Fabian Walker 6 of 9 for 132 yards (TD)

Greg Jones 20 carries for 132 yards (TD)

Lorenzo Booker 6 rushes for 96 yards (TD)

Nick Maddox 4 rushes for 21 yards

Anquan Boldin 9 catches for 162 yards (2 TDs)

Craphonso Thorpe 3 catches for 72 yards (TD)

Chauncey Stovall 2 catches for 44 yards (TD)

P.K. Sam 4 catches for 40 yards

Talman Gardner 2 catches for 33 yards

Darnell Dockett - 12 (4 TFL)

Michael Boulware - 9

Kendyll Pope - 8

Kyler Hall - 7

Darnell Dockett - 2

Alonzo Jackson - 1

Willie Jones, Jr. - 1

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