Oct 31, 2009 8:23 pm US/Eastern
Seminoles Beat NC State, 45-42, In Shootout
By Solange Reyner
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
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PROVO, UT - SEPTEMBER 19: Christian Ponder #7 of Florida State Seminoles passes the football to teammate Tavares Pressley #39 during the game against Brigham Young University Cougars at La Vell Edwards Stadium on September 19, 2009 in Provo, Utah.
Melissa Majchrzak/Getty Images
Bert Reed ran an inside reverse for a three yard touchdown to lift Florida State to a 45-42 victory over North Carolina State in a wild win on Saturday.
Jermaine Thomas and Chris Thompson also had rushing touchdowns for the Seminoles (4-4, 2-3 ACC), who won two straight after a three-game losing streak that placed an immense amount of scrutiny on Bobby Bowden's future in Tallahassee.
Thomas had a career-high 186 yards rushing for Florida State in a game that produced 1,100 yards on offense.
The 67,712 fans at Doak Campbell Stadium was the smallest in 16 years. That wasn't a surprise to Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder, who had 277 yards, two interceptions and a touchdown.
"We've had a disappointing season," Ponder said. "We had a lot of high expectations going into the season and so did the fans. I can understand why they are upset."
Reed, Florida State's leading receiver this season, had 44 yards on four runs and caught six passes for 66 yards. The 170-lb. redshirt sophomore punched the touchdown in with 1:36 left in the game to lift the Seminoles.
"I'm running pretty fast. So I try to use that as my advantage (so) when they hit my I won't go flying back so far," Reed said. "I just go in there."
Coming into the game, Florida State said it needed to contain Russell Wilson, North Carolina's scrambling quarterback.
Wilson had 349 yards and five touchdowns on 20 of 30 passing.
He gave NC State its first lead at 42-38 with 3:50 left when he found Jarvis Williams for his third touchdown catch of the game.
The Seminoles answered with a game-winning eight-play, 66-yard drive.
Wilson, the ACC's all-conference quarterback last season as a freshman, hit on 20 of 30 throws and was also intercepted twice -- the last pick by Florida State's Jamie Robinson at the goal line ending the game.
"I got hit when I threw it, but saw it go in the end zone and said, 'come on, come on,' don't fall short," Wilson said. "We had a chance."
Wilson threw for 349 yards and a career-best five touchdowns for the Wolfpack (3-5, 0-4).
"He was spectacular," NC State coach Tom O'Brien said. "We were one play away."
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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