CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- With his team's season on the brink Thursday night, Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder delivered his finest in a series of impressive performances.
And for the first time in weeks, the Seminoles' defense didn't crumble down the stretch.
With Ponder throwing for nearly 400 yards against a North Carolina defense that entered the game leading the nation in passing defense, the Seminoles rallied from an 18-point, second-half deficit and secured a stunning 30-27 victory.
The comeback victory marked FSU's first victory in a month and helped the Seminoles erase the awful memory of a 49-44 loss to Georgia Tech less than two weeks ago.
``I told the coaches and I also told the players at the half, that was the worst half of football I can ever remember,'' FSU coach Bobby Bowden said. ``But then they came back out in the second half -- and settled down and played like they are capable of playing.''
UNC entered the game allowing just 125.2 yards passing per game, but Ponder torched the Tar Heels for 395 yards on 33-of-40 passing. He also threw for three touchdowns with no interceptions. Ponder finished the game by completing his final 16 passes for 236 yards and three scores.
``[He's playing] as good as anybody I've ever been around,'' FSU offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher said. ``I wouldn't trade him for anybody in America. Period.''
PONDER ON A TEAR
It marked the third consecutive career-high passing performance for Ponder, who has set new passing marks in five of the Seminoles' seven games.
The junior completed passes to eight different receivers, with the top target being senior Rod Owens. Owens caught nine passes for 199 yards, including a 98-yard touchdown strike in the third quarter.
``I'm just proud of the way we fought back,'' Ponder said. ``Down 24-6, we had an opportunity to give up, and we didn't.''
For much of Thursday's game, it appeared the Seminoles (3-4, 1-3 ACC) again would lose despite Ponder's heroics. FSU's defense, which surrendered 49 points in its last game against Georgia Tech, didn't appear any sharper after more than a week of practice.
Against a North Carolina offense that entered the game ranked last in the ACC in scoring offense and total offense, FSU again seemed overmatched from the beginning.
On their opening drive, the Tar Heels (4-3, 0-3 ACC) drove 80 yards on 10 plays for a touchdown. They only generated 57 more yards of total offense in the first half, but they capitalized on two more scoring opportunities to claim a 17-6 lead at the break.
THINGS LOOKED BLEAK
The Tar Heels then extended their advantage to 24-6 on their first possession of the second half. UNC junior Greg Little, who did damage to FSU's defense as a runner and a receiver, got the Heels into scoring position with a 27-yard run to the Seminoles' 18.
Three plays later, UNC quarterback T.J. Yates raced into the end zone for a 10-yard score -- his first rushing touchdown of the season.
But the second half was controlled by Ponder and the Seminoles offense. The junior led FSU to scoring drives on four consecutive possessions before the Seminoles took their first lead at 30-27 midway through the fourth quarter.
During the surge, Ponder hit sophomore receiver Taiwan Easterling for a 6-yard score, Owens for a 98-yard strike and sophomore tight end Beau Reliford for an 18-yard touchdown.
In his past two games, Ponder has thrown nine touchdown passes with no interceptions.
But unlike the Georgia Tech game, which saw the Seminoles defense give up more than 500 yards of total offense and seven touchdowns, defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews' unit came to life in the second half.
It gave up just three points after the Tar Heels' first drive of the second half.
And for the first time in weeks, the Seminoles' defense didn't crumble down the stretch.
With Ponder throwing for nearly 400 yards against a North Carolina defense that entered the game leading the nation in passing defense, the Seminoles rallied from an 18-point, second-half deficit and secured a stunning 30-27 victory.
The comeback victory marked FSU's first victory in a month and helped the Seminoles erase the awful memory of a 49-44 loss to Georgia Tech less than two weeks ago.
``I told the coaches and I also told the players at the half, that was the worst half of football I can ever remember,'' FSU coach Bobby Bowden said. ``But then they came back out in the second half -- and settled down and played like they are capable of playing.''
UNC entered the game allowing just 125.2 yards passing per game, but Ponder torched the Tar Heels for 395 yards on 33-of-40 passing. He also threw for three touchdowns with no interceptions. Ponder finished the game by completing his final 16 passes for 236 yards and three scores.
``[He's playing] as good as anybody I've ever been around,'' FSU offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher said. ``I wouldn't trade him for anybody in America. Period.''
PONDER ON A TEAR
It marked the third consecutive career-high passing performance for Ponder, who has set new passing marks in five of the Seminoles' seven games.
The junior completed passes to eight different receivers, with the top target being senior Rod Owens. Owens caught nine passes for 199 yards, including a 98-yard touchdown strike in the third quarter.
``I'm just proud of the way we fought back,'' Ponder said. ``Down 24-6, we had an opportunity to give up, and we didn't.''
For much of Thursday's game, it appeared the Seminoles (3-4, 1-3 ACC) again would lose despite Ponder's heroics. FSU's defense, which surrendered 49 points in its last game against Georgia Tech, didn't appear any sharper after more than a week of practice.
Against a North Carolina offense that entered the game ranked last in the ACC in scoring offense and total offense, FSU again seemed overmatched from the beginning.
On their opening drive, the Tar Heels (4-3, 0-3 ACC) drove 80 yards on 10 plays for a touchdown. They only generated 57 more yards of total offense in the first half, but they capitalized on two more scoring opportunities to claim a 17-6 lead at the break.
THINGS LOOKED BLEAK
The Tar Heels then extended their advantage to 24-6 on their first possession of the second half. UNC junior Greg Little, who did damage to FSU's defense as a runner and a receiver, got the Heels into scoring position with a 27-yard run to the Seminoles' 18.
Three plays later, UNC quarterback T.J. Yates raced into the end zone for a 10-yard score -- his first rushing touchdown of the season.
But the second half was controlled by Ponder and the Seminoles offense. The junior led FSU to scoring drives on four consecutive possessions before the Seminoles took their first lead at 30-27 midway through the fourth quarter.
During the surge, Ponder hit sophomore receiver Taiwan Easterling for a 6-yard score, Owens for a 98-yard strike and sophomore tight end Beau Reliford for an 18-yard touchdown.
In his past two games, Ponder has thrown nine touchdown passes with no interceptions.
But unlike the Georgia Tech game, which saw the Seminoles defense give up more than 500 yards of total offense and seven touchdowns, defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews' unit came to life in the second half.
It gave up just three points after the Tar Heels' first drive of the second half.
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