Virginia the Latest Florida State Victim : ACC: Ward has three touchdown passes as Bobby Bowden’s team boosts record to 7-0 with 40-14 victory.

Charlie Ward took apart another undefeated team Saturday, throwing three touchdown passes and running for another as top-ranked Florida State routed No. 15 Virginia, 40-14.

“He hurts you passing and then you leave him a lane and he runs for the big one,” Seminole Coach Bobby Bowden said, still amazed at what he sees in his quarterback. “He moves the sticks, sets up a touchdown or makes a touchdown.”

Bowden wasn’t the only one impressed with Ward, who had been bothered during the week with tendinitis in his throwing arm.

“He doesn’t force things,” said Virginia quarterback Symmion Willis, who came into the game as the nation’s top-rated passer. “He takes what the defense gives him and if nothing is there, he’ll run.”

Ward and backup Danny Kanell used 13 different receivers while eight running backs also got in on a 560-yard day for Florida State.

It was the sixth time this season that Florida State (7-0 overall, 5-0 in the Atlantic Coast Conference) beat an unbeaten foe and the fourth time they have had little difficulty putting away a ranked team.

The Seminoles have outscored nationally ranked opponents, 158-31.

Ward ignored a slick field and drizzly weather to pass for 236 yards and two touchdowns as the Seminoles rolled up a 30-0 halftime lead.

Ward, who sat out all but two plays of the fourth quarter, completed 23 of 31 passes for 322 yards and ran for 38 yards on five tries.

Virginia (5-1, 3-1) became the first team to score more than one touchdown against the Seminoles this season.

Florida State pretty much took any mystery out of the contest with two touchdowns in the final 2:48 of the half. William Floyd scored on a 1-yard run to complete an 86-yard, nine-play drive, and Ward culminated a 66-yard drive two minutes later when he vaulted the final five yards into the end zone.