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Florida St.-N.C. State Preview

Oct 25, 2010 - 7:14 PM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

No. 16 Florida State (6-1) at North Carolina State (5-2), 7:30 p.m. EDT

A shoulder injury caused Florida State's Christian Ponder to miss the final four games of last season. The surging Seminoles don't believe a ruptured bursa sac in the quarterback's elbow will keep him from leading their attempt to get back to the ACC title game.

Coming off a bye week, Ponder and 16th-ranked Florida State visit North Carolina State on Thursday night in a key Atlantic Division showdown.

The Seminoles (6-1, 4-0) are in first place in the division ahead of N.C. State (5-2, 2-1) and Maryland, who each have one conference loss.

Under first-year coach Jimbo Fisher, Florida State is off to its best start in league play since 2003, when it won its first six games. The Seminoles are eying their first appearance in the ACC championship game since 2005 and know a win over the Wolfpack would be key.

"It's important for us to figure out how to handle it, handle the success," Ponder said. "It is a positive that we do control our own destiny but we've got to handle it the right way."

Ponder's play has been a big reason for Florida State's success, as he has thrown for 1,187 yards and 12 touchdowns while completing 60.4 percent of his passes.

The Seminoles also boast the top scoring defense in the conference and are 13th in the country in that department, holding opponents to 16.1 points per game. Their defense could receive a stiff test from N.C. State, which is averaging 36.0 points and a conference-best 448.9 yards of offense.

Florida State struggled to defeat Boston College 24-19 on Oct. 16, as Ponder had four turnovers and a season-high three interceptions. The bursa sac injury, though, may have played a part in his uncharacteristic inaccuracy.

Ponder took several days off to help reduce the swelling, and he's expected to play Thursday after returning to practice Saturday.

"He threw real well," coach Jimbo Fisher told the Seminoles' official website after Ponder practiced for a second straight day Sunday. "I was shocked. I thought there might be a little soreness (from Saturday). He was a lot better. I was very pleased with how he practiced."

Besides the bursa sac, Ponder has been dealing with a bruised triceps in his throwing shoulder and a bad contusion on his right leg. A separated shoulder kept him out of the last four games last season.

"It gets frustrating sometimes, but it's football," Ponder said. "It comes with the territory from playing a physical game."

The week off wasn't enough for right guard David Spurlock, whose string of 28 consecutive starts will end after he suffered a second concussion against the Eagles. Freshman Bryan Stork is expected to make his first career start after replacing Spurlock and playing the entire second half.

Ponder, tied with Danny McManus with 19 wins for seventh all-time at Florida State, is 2-0 against N.C. State.

The Wolfpack also had a bye following their 33-27 overtime loss to East Carolina on Oct. 16. Russell Wilson was intercepted on his final pass and N.C. State failed to take advantage of numerous Pirates miscues, which included four fumbles and 10 penalties for 90 yards.

The Wolfpack trailed 21-0 after the first quarter and gave up a season-high 496 yards of offense - 376 through the air.

"We got so far behind and fought back and just couldn't get over the hump there at the end," coach Tom O'Brien said. "We have to regroup and get ready for our next game."

N.C. State's offense is led by Wilson, who's first in the conference with 303.4 passing yards per game and 18 touchdowns. However, he threw three interceptions against East Carolina and posted his second-lowest rating of the season.

Florida State has taken the last three meetings in the series, winning 45-42 at Tallahassee on Oct. 31 on receiver Bert Reed's 3-yard touchdown run with 1:36 left.