SOUTH ROUNDUP : No. 1-Ranked Florida State Uses Different Weapons to Beat Tulane, 38-11

Florida State Coach Bobby Bowden may have broken the mold Saturday night.

Bowden usually relies on his tight ends to throw good solid blocks while Florida State’s wide receivers and running backs earn the glory.

That changed as sophomore tight ends Warren Hart and Lonnie Johnson combined to catch nine passes for 178 yards and four touchdowns as the top-ranked Seminoles defeated Tulane, 38-11, at Tallahassee, Fla.

“They (Tulane) chose slow death,” Bowden said. “They gave us nothing long. We got only the short stuff.”

Hart caught three passes for 24 yards, all for touchdowns. Johnson caught six passes for 154 yards, including a 78-yard touchdown on Florida State’s first offensive play.

“I was surprised because it happened the same way in practice, I was wide open,” Johnson said. “They took away our receivers and were saying you will have to beat us with your tight ends.”

Florida State quarterback Casey Weldon completed 20 of 28 passes for 249 yards and three touchdowns before departing early in the fourth quarter.

Although sluggish at times, the Seminoles (2-0) still rolled up 562 yards and 30 first downs. Tulane managed 241 yards and a dozen first downs despite being almost shut out in the middle two quarters.

No. 8 Clemson 34, Appalachian State 0--Despite missing three defensive linemen who were suspended for violating team rules, the Tigers limited Appalachian State to 18 yards and no first downs en route to a 24-0 halftime lead in their opener at Clemson, S.C.

Led by nose guard Rob Bodine’s 11 tackles, Clemson limited the Mountaineers (1-1) to two yards rushing and 84 yards overall. The Tigers did not allow Appalachian State past midfield until the final five minutes of the game.

Ronald Williams, the 1990 Atlantic Coast Conference rookie of the year, rushed for 108 yards and one touchdown in 14 carries.

Clemson had 254 yards in the first half and finished with 409 before 72,000 at Death Valley.

Maryland 17, Virginia 6--The Terrapins took advantage of six fumbles by the Cavaliers for the Atlantic Coast Conference victory at College Park, Md.

Maryland (1-0) built a 10-0 lead early in the second quarter, then held on behind an opportunistic defense that repeatedly frustrated the Cavaliers.

Virginia (0-1) fumbled twice in the fourth quarter, and the Terrapins converted the final turnover into the clinching five-yard touchdown run by Mark Mason with 1:50 left.

Mason gained 96 yards in 22 carries.

Troy Jackson also rushed for 96 yards and a touchdown for the Terrapins.

North Carolina State 7, Virginia Tech 0--Terry Jordan connected with Shad Santee on a 10-yard touchdown pass play just before halftime and the Wolfpack defense intercepted five Virginia Tech passes at Raleigh, N.C.

The Hokies (1-1) didn’t go without putting a scare into the Wolfpack in the closing minutes. They lost one opportunity when a pass by Will Furrer was intercepted by Mike Reid and returned 31 yards with 2:04 left.

The Wolfpack gave the ball back at midfield when Aubrey Shaw fumbled and Bryan Campbell recovered for the Hokies with 1:49 to play.

Two completions moved the ball to the Wolfpack 25, but another pass by Furrer was intercepted by linebacker Billy Ray Haynes with 1:10 to play.

Furrer completed 20 of 37 passes for 198 yards.

South Carolina 24, Duke 24--Duke quarterback Dave Brown passed four yards to Walter Jones as time expired, then threw to Aaron Shaw for a two-point conversion to give the Blue Devils the tie at Columbia, S.C.

Brown’s touchdown pass to Jones capped a seven-play drive after the Blue Devils recovered an onside kick.

Brown passed for 323 yards, 247 in the second half.