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Florida State aims for fifth straight win

Nov 1, 2008 - 10:51 AM (16) Florida State (6-1) at Georgia Tech (6-2), 3:30 pm EDT

ATLANTA (Ticker) -- Florida State's rebuilding project seems to be coming along quicker than expected.

The 16th-ranked Seminoles seek their fifth consecutive victory and hope to continue their push for the Atlantic Coast Conference title Saturday when they visit Georgia Tech.

Florida State's defense forced a pair of turnovers and knocked Virginia Tech's top two quarterbacks from the game en route to a 30-20 victory last Saturday.

"This year we've won the close games. Now can we keep it up? I don't know but that's your key," Seminoles coach Bobby Bowden said. "We're just good enough to get ahead of you."

First-year starter Christian Ponder completed 11-of-19 passes for 161 yards and connected with Taiwan Easterling on a 4-yard touchdown to give Florida State (6-1, 3-1 ACC Atlantic) the lead for good in the third quarter.

A sophomore, Ponder has performed admirably and continues to improve each week. He has passed for 1,119 yards and nine touchdowns with six interceptions this season.

Antone Smith has provided the rushing threat, gaining 540 yards and 11 scores on 109 carries on the campaign.

The duo has allowed the Seminoles to pull into a tie with Maryland atop the Atlantic Division standings.

The Yellow Jackets (6-2, 3-2 Coastal) fell from the rankings after squandering an early 11-point lead and falling to Virginia, 24-17, last Saturday.

Georgia Tech had a drive going in the final minutes and converted a 4th-and-5 for a first down near midfield. But Virginia's Vic Hall stepped in front of a pass by Josh Nesbitt for a game-clinching interception with 1:18 to play.

"I'm really disappointed. We made enough mistakes in about every area to lose the game twice over," Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson said. "We turned the ball over three times on offense. I think on defense, we forced one punt."