1968 Football - Year In Review

1968 Football - Year In Review

Coaching Staff
Bill Peterson, Head Coach
Al Conover, Running Backs
Joe Gibbs, Offensive Chief
Doug Hafner, Head Recruiter
Bob Harbison, Defensive Chief
Dan Henning, Quarterbacks, Receivers
Bobby Jackson, Defensive Ends, Linebackers
Gene McDowell, Freshman
John McGregor, Graduate Assistant
Gary Wyant, Defensive Backfield

Click here for team picture

Click here to see individual photos
1968 FSU Football Handbook

Back: Chip Glass, Jack Fenwick
Front: Dale McCullers, Ron Sellers

1968 Florida State Signees/Newcomers

From the FSU Football Handbook, page 24.

Robert Ashmore, 6-0, 186, DB, Tallahassee - This young safety had a good spring and is counted on heavily for the future. He could see action this fall. A Tallahassee Leon product who was a defensive back in high school. Showed great promise in the spring when he was a parttime starter.

Tom Bailey, 6-2, 212, RB, Miami - Worked at halfback and fullback during spring. If he matures, he could be Florida State's finest runner. Showed signs of greatness during spring drills. Has all the physical tools needed for a star. He could be the good, big halfback the Seminoles have been seeking for such a long time. He is an excellent receiver who has improved his blocking. Could be a super star if he puts things together.

Don Bancroft, 6-0, 208, OG, Fort Lauderdale

Theron Bass, 5-10, 200, LB, Live Oak - Was having good spring until he received a broken jaw. First string linebacker as a freshman. Hard-nosed with excellent quickness. Plays run well. Was about ready to make his move this spring when jaw was broken. That put him out final three weeks. He'll be heard from in future.

Steve Beville, 6-1, 205, TE, Fernandina Beach - Best blocker up from the freshman end corps. Possesses good hands for a receiver. Missed spring game due to an injury, so he didn't get the final test. However, he showed promise during some scrimmages. If he puts all his talents together, he could be heir to Glass as tight end.

Jon Bleier, 6-0, 219, OT, Brooklyn, N.Y.

Randy Burden, 6-0, 183, QB, Atlanta, Ga.

Duane Carrell, 5-9, 175, PK-P, Washington, D.C.

Randy Cassady, 6-2, 225, DT-TE, Florala, Ala.

Chris Corral, 5-9, 164, DB, Tampa

George Davis, 6-0, 180, WR, Winter Haven

Rhett Dawson, 6-1, 184, FL, Valdosta, Ga. - Injured most of his freshman year, he did get in enough playing time to impress coaches. Younger brother of former Seminole Red Dawson. Has good hands and strength. During the first week of spring drills, he caught everything thrown his way. Then he was injured in a scrimmage which sidelined him for the rest of the spring. He has an excellent attitude and may be a future team leader. He will get bigger.

George Diaz, 6-0, 216, DT, Jacksonville

Kent Gaydos, 6-7, 197, SE, Maitland - Another giant target Florida State quarterbacks can shoot at in 1968. Had bright moments as a freshman when he divided his playing time between quarterback and wide receiver. Also looked good during parts of the spring. Badly needs experience. Size is a big plus.

Steve Gildea, 6-0, 190, LB, Daytona Beach - Another linebacking prospect who was injured during part of spring practice. Small, but has outstanding quickness and speed. Comparable to Elliott. Should be a top linebacker in the next three years. Could push someone up the ladder this season if he stays healthy. Intelligent, he likes the game.

Brent Gilman, 6-2, 210, FB, Long Beach, Calif. - Junior college transfer. Must adjust to Florida State's offense. Injuries slowed him during spring practice. However, he showed some potential. Hard worker who will see playing time.

Harry Harley, 5-9, 175, RB, Savannah, Ga.

George Henderson, 5-9, 182, DE, Tallahassee

Ken Hughes, 5-11, 190, OG, Fort Lauderdale

Steve Ivie, 6-2, 178, SE, Atlanta, Ga.

Ned Jaros, 6-2, 229, OT, North Plainfield, N.J.

James Jarrett, 6-1, 194, FB, Elizabethton, Tenn. - Converted to fullback the final two weeks of spring drills. Showed a great deal of promise after playing quarterback on the freshman club last season. Is tough, eager and looks like a fine receiver. Has power and can be a passing threat. Tremendous desire to play and learn.

Steve Jernigan, 5-11, 193, FB, Tampa

John Lanahan, 6-0, 196, DB, Jacksonville - Another future bright spot in the Seminole secondary. Made improvement in the spring. He can play either safety or corner. Another parttime starter last spring.

Bill Lohse, 6-0, 225, LB, Saint Petersburg - A most impressive sophomore. Should see plenty of action this fall, maybe working himself into starting roll. Called by some as the best young linebacker prospect Florida State has had. Very strong, he plays run as well as anyone. Reacts to the situation and is aggressive. All he needs is experience and maturity.

Ron Lowe, 6-0, 175, DB, Thomaston, Ga. - Transferred from Northeast Oklahoma JC where he was an All-America as an outside linebacker. Was also prep All-America at R. E. Lee High School in Thomaston. Started spring as a monster man but moved when a number of linebackers were injured. Showing great improvement at the end. Size a problem, but he can overcome this with his toughness.

Craig MacKenzie, 6-3, 204, TE, Clearwater

Robert McEachern, 6-2, 219, DT, Tallahassee - Played prep football on Florida State campus since he was former Florida High star. Ex-prep fullback who has made adjustment to defense. One of the most promising sophomores on squad. Has size, speed and strength to develop into a great one. Batted down more passes at the line of scrimmage during spring practice than any other lineman. Uses height to advantage. Lacks maturity and experience.

George Montgomery, 6-2, 218, DE, Coral Gables

Arthur Munroe, 6-0, 188, RB, Quincy - Another fine running back off the freshman squad. Injuries hampered his progress during spring practice. However, when he was healthy, he showed definite signs of a good running back. He was just beginning to show up well when he was injured. An excellent open field runner, he is also a better than average receiver. Was an all-star quarterback in high school. Needs playing time.

Don Pederson, 6-0, 174, FL, Groveland - Fastest man on the squad, he'll be used on punt returns and kickoffs also. Has run a 9.8 100. Needs experience for outside receiver but showed potential to be a great one. Was an outside receiver and running back as a freshman last season. A definite deep threat, he scored seven times for frosh. Was used as a running back some during spring drills.

John Pell, 5-11, 173, DB, Pahokee - Transferred from Northeastern A&M Junior College in Miami, Okla. His dad is coach at Pahokee High School. Had a great spring practice when he was the surprise of the secondary. Tremendous speed, he'll be pushing for starting job. He needs experience in early games. A good cover man, he's counted on for plenty of playing time this fall.

Bill Rimby, 6-4, 205, TE, Saint Petersburg - Performed at both tight and defensive end this spring. Looked exceptional at times on defense but inexperience could make him year away. Has size for either position. He'll play somewhere before he is through.

Benny Rust, 6-0, 183, DB, West Palm Beach - Great potential as a cornerback. Outstanding speed and quickness. Had an exceptional spring practice for a newcomer. Lacks overall experience right now but should come fast in the fall. Reacts well to enemy aerials and likes contact.

Mike Sammons, 6-1, 208, OG-C, Atlanta, Ga. - One of the brightest spots off the freshman team. Showed willingness to work during spring and improved with each practice. Moved up to second team. Strong and has good speed. A starter of the future who will play some this fall.

Gary Semanchik, 6-0, 205, LB, Leesburg

Jay Stokes, 6-3, 203, C, Sanford - One of two offensive linemen off the freshman club who showed he was ready for varsity competition last spring. Has the tools, just needs experience. Worked hard during the spring and accomplished a great deal.

Joe Strickler, 6-2, 220, OT, Avon Park

Danny Thomas, 5-9, 178, DB, West Palm Beach - Came out as non-scholarships candidate and won himself a job. A sure tackler, he has great speed and quickness. A dedicated, self-made football player. He's a good coverage man with excellent ball reaction. He'll play considerable amount this fall.

Ron Wallace, 6-2, 193, DE, Macon, Ga. - Defensive standout in this year's Garnet and Gold game when he tossed quarterbacks for numerous losses. Caught one QB in end zone for safety. Hurt the first week of spring drills, so he had to start at the bottom and work up. Great speed and quickness. Should be an outstanding pass rusher. Needs to put on some weight and add strength. During prep days he ran 100 in 10.1. Has great character, desire to play and win.

Frank Whigham, 6-0, 177, QB, Sanford

Gary Yancey, 6-3, 230, OG, Tampa


1968 Roster - By Name

From the FSU Football Handbook, page 42.
L
T                                                  PY
R No Name                  Pos     Hgt   Wgt  Cl   Ltr  Hometown (Prior School)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* 19 Phil Abraira          SE      6-0   184  Jr   *    Fort Lauderdale (Fort Lauderdale)
  11 Rick Anderson         QB      6-2   200  So-R      Winter Haven (Winter Haven)
  26 Robert Ashmore        DB      6-0   186  So        Tallahassee (Leon)
* 30 Tom Bailey            RB      6-2   212  So        Miami (Coral Gables)
     Don Bancroft          OG      6-0   208  So        Fort Lauderdale (Fort Lauderdale)
* 62 Theron Bass           LB      5-10  200  So        Live Oak (Suwannee)
* 47 Joe Benson            LB      5-11  199  Sr-R **   Birmingham, Ala. (Shades Valley)
  85 Steve Beville         TE      6-1   205  So        Fernandina Beach (Fernandina Beach)
     Jon Bleier            OT      6-0   219  So        Brooklyn, N.Y. (Brooklyn Tech)
     Jim Bracken           OT      6-1   218  Jr        Canton, Ohio (Perry)
* 67 Mike Bugar            LB-DE   5-10  206  Sr-R **   Youngstown, Ohio (Austintown Fitch)
     Randy Burden          QB      6-0   183  So        Atlanta, Ga. (Brown)
* 54 Bobby Burt            LB      6-0   210  So-R      Cairo, Ga. (Cairo)
* 18 Clint Burton          DB      6-1   180  Sr   **   Atlanta, Ga. (Roosevelt)
* 14 Bill Cappleman        QB      6-3   207  Jr-R      Dunedin (Dunedin)
  40 Duane Carrell         PK-P    5-9   175  So        Washington, D.C. (Woodrow Wilson)
  53 Randy Cassady         DT-TE   6-2   225  Jr        Florala, Ala. (Florala)
  32 Ed Chereshkoff        RB-P    5-11  191  So-R      Hollywood (McArthur)
* 42 Bill Cheshire         P       6-1   193  Jr   *    Odum, Ga. (Wayne County)
  20 Chris Corral          DB      5-9   164  So        Tampa (Jesuit)
* 27 Billy Cox             SE      6-1   182  Sr-R **   Atlanta, Ga. (Grady)
* 41 John Crowe            DB      6-0   178  Sr   **   Saint Cloud (Saint Cloud)
* 77 Jeff Curchin          OT      6-7   268  Jr-R      Ocala (Ocala)
  14 George Davis          WR      6-0   180  So        Winter Haven (Winter Haven)
  82 Rhett Dawson          FL      6-1   184  So        Valdosta, Ga. (Valdosta)
     George Diaz           DT      6-0   216  So        Jacksonville (Ribault)
* 49 Terry Eagerton        FB      5-10  194  Jr-R *    Jacksonville (Lee)
* 22 Chuck Eason           DB      5-10  192  Sr   **   Tallahassee (Leon)
* 61 Chuck Elliott         LB      6-0   195  Sr-R **   Troy, Ohio (Tippecanoe)
* 76 Jack Fenwick          OT      6-4   226  Sr-R **   Norwood, Ohio (Norwood)
  82 Kent Gaydos           SE      6-7   197  So        Maitland (Winter Park)
* 58 Steve Gildea          LB      6-0   190  So        Daytona Beach (Father Lopez)
* 40 Brent Gilman          FB      6-2   210  Jr        Long Beach, Calif. (Lakewood)
* 84 Chip Glass            TE      6-4   231  Sr   **   Tampa (Chamberlain)
* 35 Mike Gray             SE      6-3   198  So-R      Lake Mary (Seminole)
* 31 Bill Gunter           RB      6-0   171  Sr-R *    Dothan, Ala. (Ashford)
* 80 Doug Gurr             DE      6-0   208  Sr   **   Albany, Ga. (Albany)
* 33 Grant Guthrie         PK      6-0   204  Jr   *    Claymont, Del. (Claymont)
* 86 Randy Hall            DE      6-0   198  So-R      Miami (South Dade)
     Harry Harley          RB      5-9   175  Jr        Savannah, Ga. (Savannah)
* 66 Ken Hart              OG      6-3   217  Sr-R **   Groveland (Groveland)
     George Henderson      DE      5-9   182  So        Tallahassee (Leon)
* 12 Phil Hiatt            SE-TE   6-4   205  Jr-R      Tipp City, Ohio (Tippecanoe)
     Charlie Huggins       RB      6-0   195  Jr-R      Mims (Titusville)
* 51 Bill Hughes           C       6-0   230  So-R      Rockledge (Cocoa Beach)
  68 Ken Hughes            OG      5-11  190  So        Fort Lauderdale (Fort Lauderdale)
     Steve Ivie            SE      6-2   178  So        Atlanta, Ga. (Lakeside)
  67 Ned Jaros             OT      6-2   229  So        North Plainfield, N.J. (North Plainfield)
  48 James Jarrett         FB      6-1   194  So        Elizabethton, Tenn. (Elizabethton)
     Steve Jernigan        FB      5-11  193  So        Tampa (Plant)
* 78 Wayne Johnson         OT      6-2   238  Jr-R *    Macon, Ga. (Willingham)
* 73 Duke Johnston         DT      6-2   252  Jr   *    Fort Lauderdale (Fort Lauderdale)
     Richie Jones          DT      6-1   195  Jr-R      River Vale, N.J. (Pascack Valley/Pratt CC)
  28 John Lanahan          DB      6-0   196  So        Jacksonville (Bishop Kenny)
* 72 Randy Logan           OG-DT   6-3   230  Jr        Seal Beach, Calif. (Lakewood)
* 56 Bill Lohse            LB      6-0   225  So        Saint Petersburg (Admiral Farragut)
* 59 Frank Loner           PK      6-0   200  Sr-R **   Atlanta, Ga. (Richmond Academy)
  57 Ron Lowe              DB      6-0   175  Jr        Thomaston, Ga. (Lee/Northeastern Oklahoma A&M JC)
  66 Craig MacKenzie       TE      6-3   204  So        Clearwater (Clearwater)
* 50 Dale McCullers        LB      6-1   207  Sr   **   Live Oak (Suwannee)
* 74 Robert McEachern      DT      6-2   219  So        Tallahassee (Florida)
  27 Doug Mitchell         DB      6-3   198  So-R      Williston (Williston)
     Ronnie Montford       DE      6-0   203  So-R      Blountstown (Blountstown)
  63 George Montgomery     DE      6-2   218  So        Coral Gables (Coral Gables)
* 43 Hal Montgomery        DB      5-11  182  Sr   **   Blountstown (Blountstown)
* 55 Ted Mosley            C       6-1   213  Sr   *    Tampa (Chamberlain)
  46 Arthur Munroe         RB      6-0   188  So        Quincy (Quincy)
  17 Mike Page             DB      5-11  175  Jr   *    Winter Haven (Winter Haven)
* 16 Gary Pajcic           QB      6-2   188  Sr   **   Jacksonville (Paxon)
* 23 Don Pederson          FL      6-0   174  So        Groveland (Groveland)
* 21 John Pell             DB      5-11  173  Jr        Pahokee (Pahokee/Northeastern Oklahoma A&M JC)
* 68 Larry Pendleton       OG      6-0   212  Sr-R **   Winter Garden (Lakeview)
  23 Chuck Pickens         FL      5-9   165  Jr   *    Etowah, Tenn. (Etowah)
* 44 John Pittman          FB      5-11  195  Sr   *    Brunswick, Ga. (Glynn Academy)
  85 Floyd Ratliff         DE      6-3   195  Jr   *    Jesup, Ga. (Jesup)
* 75 Bill Rhodes           OT      6-3   240  Sr   **   Eustis (Eustis)
* 60 Barry Rice            LB      6-1   203  So-R      Fernandina Beach (Fernandina Beach)
* 88 Beryl Rice            DE      6-1   211  So-R      Fernandina Beach (Fernandina Beach)
  89 John Richardson       C-PK    6-0   205  Jr-R      Jacksonville (Lee)
  87 Bill Rimby            TE      6-4   205  So        Saint Petersburg (Dixie Hollins)
  29 Benny Rust            DB      6-0   183  So        West Palm Beach (Palm Beach)
  52 Mike Sammons          OG-C    6-1   208  So        Atlanta, Ga. (Brown)
* 34 Ron Sellers           FL      6-4   187  Sr   **   Jacksonville (Paxon)
  69 Gary Semanchik        LB      6-0   205  So        Leesburg (Leesburg)
  70 Tony Sewell           OT      6-4   228  Jr-R      Union Springs, Ala. (Bullock County)
  55 Jay Stokes            C       6-3   203  So        Sanford (Seminole)
  65 Joe Strickler         OT      6-2   220  So        Avon Park (Avon Park)
* 24 Walt Sumner           DB      6-1   178  Sr   **   Ocilla, Ga. (Irwin County)
* 20 Danny Thomas          DB      5-9   178  So        West Palm Beach (Palm Beach)
* 81 Jim Tyson             TE      6-1   196  So-R      Pahokee (Pahokee)
* 79 Frank Vohun           DT      6-3   225  Jr-R *    Brooksville (Hernando)
* 64 Stan Walker           OG      6-2   220  Jr   *    Tallahassee (Leon)
* 83 Ron Wallace           DE      6-2   193  So        Macon, Ga. (Willingham)
* 15 Tommy Warren          QB      6-1   185  Jr   *    Miami (Coral Gables)
  30 Barry Wenhold         FB-RB   5-10  200  So-R      Souderton, Pa. (Souderton)
  17 Frank Whigham         QB      6-0   177  So        Sanford (Seminole)
  69 Tom White             DT      6-0   238  So-R      West Palm Beach (Palm Beach)
     Gary Yancey           OG      6-3   230  Jr        Tampa (Chamberlain)
* 41 Bill Yeldell          TE      6-1   197  Jr-R      Jacksonville (Jackson)
* 71 Harvey Zion           DT      5-11  210  Sr   **   Atlanta, Ga. (Grady)

1968 Roster - By Number

From the FSU Football Handbook, page 42.
L
T                                                  PY
R No Name                  Pos     Hgt   Wgt  Cl   Ltr  Hometown (Prior School)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Don Bancroft          OG      6-0   208  So        Fort Lauderdale (Fort Lauderdale)
     Jon Bleier            OT      6-0   219  So        Brooklyn, N.Y. (Brooklyn Tech)
     Jim Bracken           OT      6-1   218  Jr        Canton, Ohio (Perry)
     Randy Burden          QB      6-0   183  So        Atlanta, Ga. (Brown)
     George Diaz           DT      6-0   216  So        Jacksonville (Ribault)
     Harry Harley          RB      5-9   175  Jr        Savannah, Ga. (Savannah)
     George Henderson      DE      5-9   182  So        Tallahassee (Leon)
     Charlie Huggins       RB      6-0   195  Jr-R      Mims (Titusville)
     Steve Ivie            SE      6-2   178  So        Atlanta, Ga. (Lakeside)
     Steve Jernigan        FB      5-11  193  So        Tampa (Plant)
     Richie Jones          DT      6-1   195  Jr-R      River Vale, N.J. (Pascack Valley/Pratt CC)
     Ronnie Montford       DE      6-0   203  So-R      Blountstown (Blountstown)
     Gary Yancey           OG      6-3   230  Jr        Tampa (Chamberlain)
  11 Rick Anderson         QB      6-2   200  So-R      Winter Haven (Winter Haven)
* 12 Phil Hiatt            SE-TE   6-4   205  Jr-R      Tipp City, Ohio (Tippecanoe)
* 14 Bill Cappleman        QB      6-3   207  Jr-R      Dunedin (Dunedin)
  14 George Davis          WR      6-0   180  So        Winter Haven (Winter Haven)
* 15 Tommy Warren          QB      6-1   185  Jr   *    Miami (Coral Gables)
* 16 Gary Pajcic           QB      6-2   188  Sr   **   Jacksonville (Paxon)
  17 Mike Page             DB      5-11  175  Jr   *    Winter Haven (Winter Haven)
  17 Frank Whigham         QB      6-0   177  So        Sanford (Seminole)
* 18 Clint Burton          DB      6-1   180  Sr   **   Atlanta, Ga. (Roosevelt)
* 19 Phil Abraira          SE      6-0   184  Jr   *    Fort Lauderdale (Fort Lauderdale)
  20 Chris Corral          DB      5-9   164  So        Tampa (Jesuit)
* 20 Danny Thomas          DB      5-9   178  So        West Palm Beach (Palm Beach)
* 21 John Pell             DB      5-11  173  Jr        Pahokee (Pahokee/Northeastern Oklahoma A&M JC)
* 22 Chuck Eason           DB      5-10  192  Sr   **   Tallahassee (Leon)
* 23 Don Pederson          FL      6-0   174  So        Groveland (Groveland)
  23 Chuck Pickens         FL      5-9   165  Jr   *    Etowah, Tenn. (Etowah)
* 24 Walt Sumner           DB      6-1   178  Sr   **   Ocilla, Ga. (Irwin County)
  26 Robert Ashmore        DB      6-0   186  So        Tallahassee (Leon)
* 27 Billy Cox             SE      6-1   182  Sr-R **   Atlanta, Ga. (Grady)
  27 Doug Mitchell         DB      6-3   198  So-R      Williston (Williston)
  28 John Lanahan          DB      6-0   196  So        Jacksonville (Bishop Kenny)
  29 Benny Rust            DB      6-0   183  So        West Palm Beach (Palm Beach)
* 30 Tom Bailey            RB      6-2   212  So        Miami (Coral Gables)
  30 Barry Wenhold         FB-RB   5-10  200  So-R      Souderton, Pa. (Souderton)
* 31 Bill Gunter           RB      6-0   171  Sr-R *    Dothan, Ala. (Ashford)
  32 Ed Chereshkoff        RB-P    5-11  191  So-R      Hollywood (McArthur)
* 33 Grant Guthrie         PK      6-0   204  Jr   *    Claymont, Del. (Claymont)
* 34 Ron Sellers           FL      6-4   187  Sr   **   Jacksonville (Paxon)
* 35 Mike Gray             SE      6-3   198  So-R      Lake Mary (Seminole)
  40 Duane Carrell         PK-P    5-9   175  So        Washington, D.C. (Woodrow Wilson)
* 40 Brent Gilman          FB      6-2   210  Jr        Long Beach, Calif. (Lakewood)
* 41 John Crowe            DB      6-0   178  Sr   **   Saint Cloud (Saint Cloud)
* 41 Bill Yeldell          TE      6-1   197  Jr-R      Jacksonville (Jackson)
* 42 Bill Cheshire         P       6-1   193  Jr   *    Odum, Ga. (Wayne County)
* 43 Hal Montgomery        DB      5-11  182  Sr   **   Blountstown (Blountstown)
* 44 John Pittman          FB      5-11  195  Sr   *    Brunswick, Ga. (Glynn Academy)
  46 Arthur Munroe         RB      6-0   188  So        Quincy (Quincy)
* 47 Joe Benson            LB      5-11  199  Sr-R **   Birmingham, Ala. (Shades Valley)
  48 James Jarrett         FB      6-1   194  So        Elizabethton, Tenn. (Elizabethton)
* 49 Terry Eagerton        FB      5-10  194  Jr-R *    Jacksonville (Lee)
* 50 Dale McCullers        LB      6-1   207  Sr   **   Live Oak (Suwannee)
* 51 Bill Hughes           C       6-0   230  So-R      Rockledge (Cocoa Beach)
  52 Mike Sammons          OG-C    6-1   208  So        Atlanta, Ga. (Brown)
  53 Randy Cassady         DT-TE   6-2   225  Jr        Florala, Ala. (Florala)
* 54 Bobby Burt            LB      6-0   210  So-R      Cairo, Ga. (Cairo)
* 55 Ted Mosley            C       6-1   213  Sr   *    Tampa (Chamberlain)
  55 Jay Stokes            C       6-3   203  So        Sanford (Seminole)
* 56 Bill Lohse            LB      6-0   225  So        Saint Petersburg (Admiral Farragut)
  57 Ron Lowe              DB      6-0   175  Jr        Thomaston, Ga. (Lee/Northeastern Oklahoma A&M JC)
* 58 Steve Gildea          LB      6-0   190  So        Daytona Beach (Father Lopez)
* 59 Frank Loner           PK      6-0   200  Sr-R **   Atlanta, Ga. (Richmond Academy)
* 60 Barry Rice            LB      6-1   203  So-R      Fernandina Beach (Fernandina Beach)
* 61 Chuck Elliott         LB      6-0   195  Sr-R **   Troy, Ohio (Tippecanoe)
* 62 Theron Bass           LB      5-10  200  So        Live Oak (Suwannee)
  63 George Montgomery     DE      6-2   218  So        Coral Gables (Coral Gables)
* 64 Stan Walker           OG      6-2   220  Jr   *    Tallahassee (Leon)
  65 Joe Strickler         OT      6-2   220  So        Avon Park (Avon Park)
* 66 Ken Hart              OG      6-3   217  Sr-R **   Groveland (Groveland)
  66 Craig MacKenzie       TE      6-3   204  So        Clearwater (Clearwater)
* 67 Mike Bugar            LB-DE   5-10  206  Sr-R **   Youngstown, Ohio (Austintown Fitch)
  67 Ned Jaros             OT      6-2   229  So        North Plainfield, N.J. (North Plainfield)
  68 Ken Hughes            OG      5-11  190  So        Fort Lauderdale (Fort Lauderdale)
* 68 Larry Pendleton       OG      6-0   212  Sr-R **   Winter Garden (Lakeview)
  69 Gary Semanchik        LB      6-0   205  So        Leesburg (Leesburg)
  69 Tom White             DT      6-0   238  So-R      West Palm Beach (Palm Beach)
  70 Tony Sewell           OT      6-4   228  Jr-R      Union Springs, Ala. (Bullock County)
* 71 Harvey Zion           DT      5-11  210  Sr   **   Atlanta, Ga. (Grady)
* 72 Randy Logan           OG-DT   6-3   230  Jr        Seal Beach, Calif. (Lakewood)
* 73 Duke Johnston         DT      6-2   252  Jr   *    Fort Lauderdale (Fort Lauderdale)
* 74 Robert McEachern      DT      6-2   219  So        Tallahassee (Florida)
* 75 Bill Rhodes           OT      6-3   240  Sr   **   Eustis (Eustis)
* 76 Jack Fenwick          OT      6-4   226  Sr-R **   Norwood, Ohio (Norwood)
* 77 Jeff Curchin          OT      6-7   268  Jr-R      Ocala (Ocala)
* 78 Wayne Johnson         OT      6-2   238  Jr-R *    Macon, Ga. (Willingham)
* 79 Frank Vohun           DT      6-3   225  Jr-R *    Brooksville (Hernando)
* 80 Doug Gurr             DE      6-0   208  Sr   **   Albany, Ga. (Albany)
* 81 Jim Tyson             TE      6-1   196  So-R      Pahokee (Pahokee)
  82 Rhett Dawson          FL      6-1   184  So        Valdosta, Ga. (Valdosta)
  82 Kent Gaydos           SE      6-7   197  So        Maitland (Winter Park)
* 83 Ron Wallace           DE      6-2   193  So        Macon, Ga. (Willingham)
* 84 Chip Glass            TE      6-4   231  Sr   **   Tampa (Chamberlain)
  85 Steve Beville         TE      6-1   205  So        Fernandina Beach (Fernandina Beach)
  85 Floyd Ratliff         DE      6-3   195  Jr   *    Jesup, Ga. (Jesup)
* 86 Randy Hall            DE      6-0   198  So-R      Miami (South Dade)
  87 Bill Rimby            TE      6-4   205  So        Saint Petersburg (Dixie Hollins)
* 88 Beryl Rice            DE      6-1   211  So-R      Fernandina Beach (Fernandina Beach)
  89 John Richardson       C-PK    6-0   205  Jr-R      Jacksonville (Lee)
Lettermen from the 1969 FSU Football Handbook, page 41.
From the Florida Times Union, 11/26/1968, page A-10, Ron Sellers selected UPI 2nd Team All-American, Dale McCullers selected UPI All-American Honorable Mention

From the Florida Times Union, 12/3/1968, page A-21, Ron Sellers selected AFCA 1st Team All-American


1968 Conference Awards

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bill Cappleman           All-South Independent - 1st Team

John Crowe               All-South Independent - 1st Team

Jack Fenwick             All-South Independent - 1st Team

Dale McCullers           All-South Independent - 1st Team

Ron Sellers              All-South Independent - 1st Team

All-Conference -  5

1968 All-Americans

Name                     Organization
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bill Cappleman           Associated Press - Honorable Mention 

Jack Fenwick             Associated Press - Honorable Mention 

Dale McCullers           Newspaper Enterprises Association - 1st Team 
                         Associated Press - 3rd Team 
                         United Press International - Honorable Mention 

Ron Sellers              American Football Coaches Association - 1st Team 
                         Associated Press - 1st Team 
                         Football News - 1st Team 
                         Kodak - 1st Team 
                         The Sporting News - 1st Team 
                         Time Magazine - 1st Team 
                         Football Writers Association of America - 2nd Team 
                         Newspaper Enterprises Association - 2nd Team 
                         United Press International - 2nd Team 

All-Americans -  4

1968 Noles in the Pros

Name                     No      Pos                Team
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fred Biletnikoff         25      FL                 Oakland  Raiders
Lane Fenner              42      WR                 San Diego Chargers
Kim Hammond              15      QB                 Miami Dolphins
Steve Tensi              13      QB                 Denver Broncos
Bud Whitehead            47      DB                 San Diego Chargers
Del Williams             61      OG                 New Orleans Saints

Noles in the Pros -  6

1968 Schedule and Results

           
GAME DAY
 
           
FSU
OPP
OPP EOY
DATE
POST
GAME
BOX
SCORE
LOC
OPPONENT
SCORE
AP
UPI
AP
UPI
AP
UPI
REC
09/21
Postgame
Box
A
Maryland
W 24-14
 
 
 
 
 
 
2-8
09/28
Postgame
Box
H
Florida
L 3- 9
 
20
5
14
 
 
6-3-1
10/05
Postgame
Box
H
Texas A&M
W 20-14
 
 
17
 
 
 
3-7
10/19
Postgame
Box
H
Memphis State
W 20-10
 
 
 
 
 
 
6-4
10/26
Postgame
Box
A
South Carolina
W 35-28
20
 
 
 
 
 
4-6
11/02
Postgame
Box
H
Virginia Tech
L 22-40
18
16
 
 
 
 
7-4
11/09
Postgame
Box
A
Mississippi State
W 27-14
 
 
 
 
 
 
0-8-2
11/16
Postgame
Box
A
North Carolina State
W 48- 7
 
 
 
 
 
 
6-4
11/23
Postgame
Box
H
Wake Forest
W 42-24
 
 
 
 
 
 
2-7-1
11/29
Postgame
Box
N
Houston
Jacksonville, Fla.
W 40-20
 
18
10
11
18
20
6-2-2
12/30
Postgame
Box
N
Louisiana State
Peach Bowl, Atlanta, Ga.
L 27-31
19
14
 
 
19
 
8-3
EOY Stats Ref

                Overall   Home    Away   Neutral
------------------------------------------------
FSU record is    8- 3     3-2     4-0     1-1
Against Top 25   2- 1     1-1     0-0     1-0
Final UPI - 14


1968 - 100 Yard Rushing Club

Name Date Opponent Att Yds Avg TDs ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Bill Gunter 09/21/1968 Maryland 28 133 4.75 0 Tom Bailey 11/23/1968 Wake Forest 12 105 8.75 0

1968 - 100 Yard Receiving Club

Name Date Opponent Rec Yds Avg TDs ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ron Sellers 11/23/1968 Wake Forest 14 260 18.57 5 Ron Sellers 10/26/1968 South Carolina 16 259 16.19 3 Ron Sellers 10/19/1968 Memphis State 13 218 16.77 2 Ron Sellers 11/29/1968 Houston 14 214 15.29 1 Ron Sellers 09/21/1968 Maryland 5 173 34.60 1 Ron Sellers 11/09/1968 Mississippi State 8 149 18.63 0 Jim Tyson 11/02/1968 Virginia Tech 6 112 18.67 2

1968 - 300 Yard Passing Club

Name Date Opponent Att Cmp Yds Int Avg TDs --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bill Cappleman 10/26/1968 South Carolina 42 25 437 1 10.40 4 Bill Cappleman 11/23/1968 Wake Forest 33 22 365 1 11.06 5 Bill Cappleman 11/29/1968 Houston 34 25 351 0 10.32 4

1968 EOY Stats

From the 1969 FSU Football Handbook, page 60. Overall Team Statistics TEAM STATISTICS FSU OPP -------------------------------------------------------- SCORING....................... 281 180 Points Per Game............. 28.1 18.0 TOUCHDOWNS.................... 37 24 TDs Rushing................. 7 13 TDs Passing................. 29 10 TDs Fumble Return........... 0 0 TDs Punt Return............. 1 0 TDs Interception............ 0 1 TDs Kickoff Return.......... 0 0 TDs Lateral................. 0 0 TDs Free Kick............... 0 0 PAT-ATTEMPTS.................. 33-36 19-24 Kick........................ 31-32 19-20 Pass........................ 2- 4 0- 4 Run......................... 0- 0 0- 0 FIELD GOALS-ATTEMPTS.......... 8-19 5-15 SAFETY........................ 0 1 FIRST DOWNS................... 233 182 Rushing..................... 91 95 Passing..................... 127 71 Penalty..................... 15 16 RUSHING YARDAGE............... 1484 1811 Yards gained rushing........ 1826 2098 Yards lost rushing.......... 342 287 Rushing Attempts............ 436 462 Average Per Rush............ 3.4 3.9 Average Per Game............ 148.4 181.1 PASSING YARDAGE............... 2844 1392 Att-Comp-Int................ 356-195-13 226-115-25 Efficiency.................. 141.46 95.10 Average Per Pass............ 8.0 6.2 Average Per Catch........... 14.6 12.1 Average Per Game............ 284.4 139.2 TOTAL OFFENSE................. 4328 3203 Total Plays................. 792 688 Average Per Play............ 5.5 4.7 Average Per Game............ 432.8 320.3 KICK RETURNS: #-YARDS......... 33- 730 49- 892 Average Per Return.......... 22.1 18.2 PUNT RETURNS: #-YARDS......... 21-207 27-160 Average Per Return.......... 9.9 5.9 INT RETURNS: #-YARDS.......... 25-201 13-154 Average Per Return.......... 8.0 11.8 FUMBLES-LOST.................. 13- 9 27-12 PENALTIES-YARDS............... 55- 554 44- 496 Average Per Game............ 55.4 49.6 PUNTS-YARDS................... 54-2007 61-2303 Average Per Punt............ 37.2 37.8 Net punt average............ 34.2 34.4 ATTENDANCE.................... 177,382 119,438 Games-Avg Per Game.......... 5-35,476 4-29,860 ATTENDANCE-NEUTRAL FIELD...... 39,400 Games-Avg Per Game.......... 1-39,400
 1st2nd3rd4th Total
Florida State
54
91
66
70
281
Opponents
24
101
41
14
180
Overall Individual Statistics

RUSHING              G  Att Gain  Loss  Net   Avg  TD Long  Avg/G
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Tom Bailey          10  116  582   12   570   4.9   2  45    57.0
Bill Gunter         10  136  495   30   465   3.4   4  22    46.5
John Pittman         8   66  292   15   277   4.2   0  24    34.6
Brent Gilman         4   11   60    0    60   5.5   0  23    15.0
Tommy Warren        10    7   52    4    48   6.9   0  21     4.8
Billy Cox           10    6   45    0    45   7.5   0  18     4.5
Gary Pajcic          8   23  104   59    45   2.0   0  28     5.6
Phil Abraira         8    1   23    0    23  23.0   0  23     2.9
Barry Wenhold        3    7   15    0    15   2.1   0   4     5.0
Terry Eagerton       1    1    4    0     4   4.0   0   4     4.0
Bill Cappleman      10   62  154  222   -68  -1.1   1  20    -6.8

Total.........      10  436 1826  342  1484   3.4   7  45   148.4
Opponents.....      10  462 2098  287  1811   3.9  13       181.1


PASSING              G   Effic Att-Cmp-Int   Pct  Yds  TD Long  Avg/G
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Bill Cappleman      10  148.06 287-162-11   .564 2410  25  63t  241.0
Gary Pajcic          8  115.73  53- 27- 1   .509  354   2  82t   44.3
Tommy Warren        10  132.50  12-  5- 1   .417   75   2  25t    7.5
Rick Anderson        1   35.50   4-  1- 0   .250    5   0   5     5.0

Total.........      10  141.46 356-195-13   .548 2844  29  82t  284.4
Opponents.....      10   95.10 226-115-25   .509 1392  10       139.2


RECEIVING            G  No   Yds   Avg  TD Long  Avg/G
------------------------------------------------------
Ron Sellers         10  86  1496  17.4  12  82t  149.6
Billy Cox           10  23   341  14.8   3  46t   34.1
Chip Glass           9  18   227  12.6   1  22    25.2
Tom Bailey          10  21   209  10.0   1  16    20.9
Jim Tyson            8  11   151  13.7   4  34t   18.9
Phil Abraira         8  12   139  11.6   3  37t   17.4
Bill Gunter         10   7    87  12.4   2  42t    8.7
Don Pederson         6   4    68  17.0   0  24    11.3
Tommy Warren        10   3    56  18.7   0  34     5.6
Gary Pajcic          8   2    43  21.5   2  25t    5.4
John Pittman         8   8    27   3.4   1   6t    3.4

Total.........      10 195  2844  14.6  29  82t  284.4
Opponents.....      10 115  1392  12.1  10       139.2


PUNT RETURNS         No  Yds   Avg TD Long
------------------------------------------
Walt Sumner           9  111  12.3  1  58t
Tommy Warren          7   57   8.1  0  12 
John Crowe            2   24  12.0  0  15 
John Pell             2   17   8.5  0  14 
Danny Thomas          1   -2  -2.0  0  -2 

Total.........       21  207   9.9  1  58t
Opponent......       27  160   5.9  0     


INTERCEPTIONS        No  Yds   Avg TD Long
------------------------------------------
Walt Sumner           5   25   5.0  0  11 
John Crowe            5   16   3.2  0   9 
Clint Burton          3   29   9.7  0  21 
Steve Gildea          2   79  39.5  0  48 
Joe Benson            2   24  12.0  0  19 
Chuck Elliott         2   12   6.0  0   8 
Chuck Eason           2    0   0.0  0   0 
Hal Montgomery        1    6   6.0  0   6 
Theron Bass           1    5   5.0  0   5 
John Pell             1    5   5.0  0   5 
Mike Page             1    0   0.0  0   0 

Total.........       25  201   8.0  0  48 
Opponent......       13  154  11.8  1     


KICK RETURNS         No  Yds   Avg TD Long
------------------------------------------
Tommy Warren         21   486 23.1  0  56 
Don Pederson         10   223 22.3  0  26 
Tom Bailey            1    17 17.0  0  17 
Ken Hart              1     4  4.0  0   4 

Total.........       33   730 22.1  0  56 
Opponent......       49   892 18.2  0     


                                            Fum
FUMBLE RETURNS       No  Yds   Avg TD Long  For
-----------------------------------------------
Doug Gurr             2    0   0.0  0   .    0
Floyd Ratliff         1    0   0.0  0   .    2
Phil Abraira          1    0   0.0  0   .    0
Billy Cox             1    0   0.0  0   .    0
Jack Fenwick          1    0   0.0  0   .    0
Chuck Elliott         1    0   0.0  0   .    0
Steve Gildea          1    0   0.0  0   .    0
Dale McCullers        1    0   0.0  0   .    0
Frank Vohun           1    0   0.0  0   .    0
Ron Wallace           1    0   0.0  0   .    0
Harvey Zion           1    0   0.0  0   .    0
Chuck Eason           0    0    .   0   .    1

Total.........       12        0.0  0        3
Opponent......        9        0.0  0     


                               |-------- PATs --------|
Name                 TD   FGs    Kick   Rush  Rcv Pass  DXP Saf Points
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ron Sellers          12   0-0     0-0    0-0   0   0-0   0   0    72
Grant Guthrie         0   8-19   31-32   0-0   0   0-0   0   0    55
Bill Gunter           6   0-0     0-0    0-0   0   0-0   0   0    36
Jim Tyson             4   0-0     0-0    0-0   0   0-0   0   0    24
Phil Abraira          3   0-0     0-0    0-0   0   0-0   0   0    18
Tom Bailey            3   0-0     0-0    0-0   0   0-0   0   0    18
Billy Cox             3   0-0     0-0    0-0   0   0-0   0   0    18
Gary Pajcic           2   0-0     0-0    0-0   0   0-0   0   0    12
Chip Glass            1   0-0     0-0    0-0   1   0-0   0   0     8
Bill Cappleman        1   0-0     0-0    0-0   0   1-3   0   0     6
Walt Sumner           1   0-0     0-0    0-0   0   0-0   0   0     6
John Pittman          1   0-0     0-0    0-0   0   0-0   0   0     6
Mike Gray             0   0-0     0-0    0-0   1   0-0   0   0     2
Tommy Warren          0   0-0     0-0    0-0   0   1-2   0   0     0
====================================================================
FSU                  37   8-19   31-32   0-0   2   2-5   0   0   281
Opponent             24   5-15   19-20   0-0   0   0-4   0   1   180
Touchdowns
R
C
P
I
FR
PR
KR
L
FK
Ron Sellers
.
12
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Bill Gunter
4
2
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Jim Tyson
.
4
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Phil Abraira
.
3
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Tom Bailey
2
1
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Billy Cox
.
3
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Gary Pajcic
.
2
2
.
.
.
.
.
.
Chip Glass
.
1
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Bill Cappleman
1
.
25
.
.
.
.
.
.
Walt Sumner
.
.
.
.
.
1
.
.
.
John Pittman
.
1
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Tommy Warren
.
.
2
.
.
.
.
.
.
Total
7
29
29
.
.
1
.
.
.
Opponents
13
10
10
1
.
.
.
.
.
R = Rushing
C = Catch
P = Pass
I = Interception
FR = Fumble Recovery/Return
PR = Punt Return/Blocked Punt
KR = Kickoff Return
L = Lateral
FK = Free Kick Return


TOTAL OFFENSE        G Plays Rush Pass Total Avg/G
--------------------------------------------------
Bill Cappleman      10  349   -68 2410  2342 234.2
Tom Bailey          10  116   570    0   570  57.0
Bill Gunter         10  136   465    0   465  46.5
Gary Pajcic          8   76    45  354   399  49.9
John Pittman         8   66   277    0   277  34.6
Tommy Warren        10   19    48   75   123  12.3
Brent Gilman         4   11    60    0    60  15.0
Billy Cox           10    6    45    0    45   4.5
Phil Abraira         8    1    23    0    23   2.9
Barry Wenhold        3    7    15    0    15   5.0
Rick Anderson        1    4     0    5     5   5.0
Terry Eagerton       1    1     4    0     4   4.0

Total.........      10  792  1484 2844  4328 432.8
Opponent......      10  688  1811 1392  3203 320.3


FIELD GOALS         FGM-FGA  Pct 01-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-99 Lg
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Grant Guthrie         8-19  .421  0- 0  5- 7  2- 5  1- 2  0- 5 40
FG SEQUENCE Grant Guthrie
Maryland
(26), 39, 26, 53
Florida
(21)
Texas A&M
(27), 55, (40)
Memphis State
50, (28), (30), 50
South Carolina
25, 50
Virginia Tech
37
Mississippi State
(36), (27)
North Carolina State
None
Wake Forest
32, 41
Houston
None
Louisiana State
None
() For made field goals


PUNTING             No  Yds   Avg Long  TB  FC I20 Blkd
-------------------------------------------------------
Bill Cheshire       54 2007  37.2  61                 

Total.........      54 2007  37.2  61                 
Opponent......      61 2303  37.8                     


ALL PURPOSE          G Rush   Rec   PR   KR   IR   FR  Tot Avg/G
----------------------------------------------------------------
Ron Sellers         10    0  1496    0    0    0    0 1496 149.6
Tom Bailey          10  570   209    0   17    0    0  796  79.6
Tommy Warren        10   48    56   57  486    0    0  647  64.7
Bill Gunter         10  465    87    0    0    0    0  552  55.2
Billy Cox           10   45   341    0    0    0    0  386  38.6
John Pittman         8  277    27    0    0    0    0  304  38.0
Don Pederson         6    0    68    0  223    0    0  291  48.5
Chip Glass           9    0   227    0    0    0    0  227  25.2
Phil Abraira         8   23   139    0    0    0    0  162  20.3
Jim Tyson            8    0   151    0    0    0    0  151  18.9
Walt Sumner         10    0     0  111    0   25    0  136  13.6
Gary Pajcic          8   45    43    0    0    0    0   88  11.0
Steve Gildea         4    0     0    0    0   79    0   79  19.8
Brent Gilman         4   60     0    0    0    0    0   60  15.0
John Crowe          10    0     0   24    0   16    0   40   4.0
Clint Burton         4    0     0    0    0   29    0   29   7.3
Joe Benson           9    0     0    0    0   24    0   24   2.7
John Pell            6    0     0   17    0    5    0   22   3.7
Barry Wenhold        3   15     0    0    0    0    0   15   5.0
Chuck Elliott        9    0     0    0    0   12    0   12   1.3
Hal Montgomery       1    0     0    0    0    6    0    6   6.0
Theron Bass          2    0     0    0    0    5    0    5   2.5
Terry Eagerton       1    4     0    0    0    0    0    4   4.0
Ken Hart             1    0     0    0    4    0    0    4   4.0
Danny Thomas              0     0   -2    0    0    0   -2
Bill Cappleman      10  -68     0    0    0    0    0  -68  -6.8

Total.........      10 1484  2844  207  730  201    0 5466 546.6
Opponent......      10 1811  1392  160  892  154    0 4409 440.9


                        |---------Tackles---------| |---Sacks---| |---Pass Def---| |-Fumbles-| Blkd
DEFENSIVE LEADERS   GP   UT   AT  Total   ForLoss     No - Yards  Int-Yds BrUp QBH Rcv-Yds  FF Kick Saf
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dale McCullers       9  102   61   163      .            .           .      .    .   1-  0   .   .   .
John Crowe          10   43   61   104      .            .          5- 16   .    .    .      .   .   .
Chuck Elliott        9   42   44    86      .            .          2- 12   .    .   1-  0   .   .   .
Chuck Eason          8   32   52    84      .            .          2-  0   .    .    .      1   .   .
Harvey Zion          9   40   39    79      .            .           .      .    .   1-  0   .   .   .
Frank Vohun          9   35   27    62      .            .           .      .    .   1-  0   .   .   .
Joe Benson           9   32   26    58      .            .          2- 24   .    .    .      .   .   .
Steve Gildea         4   34   23    57      .            .          2- 79   .    .   1-  0   .   .   .
Ron Wallace          7   28   24    52      .            .           .      .    .   1-  0   .   1   .
John Pell            6   16   31    47      .            .          1-  5   .    .    .      .   .   .
Walt Sumner         10   20   24    44      .            .          5- 25   .    .    .      .   3   .
Mike Bugar           3   23   18    41      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Doug Gurr            5   18   18    36      .            .           .      .    .   2-  0   .   .   .
Mike Page            5   18   18    36      .            .          1-  0   .    .    .      .   .   .
Floyd Ratliff        8   18   16    34      .            .           .      .    .   1-  0   2   .   .
Clint Burton         4   18   12    30      .            .          3- 29   .    .    .      .   .   .
Duke Johnston        2   16   12    28      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Robert McEachern     2   12   10    22      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Theron Bass          2    7   11    18      .            .          1-  5   .    .    .      .   .   .
Hal Montgomery       1    3    3     6      .            .          1-  6   .    .    .      .   .   .
Bobby Burt           1    3    3     6      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Barry Rice                4    2     6      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Randy Hall                3    1     4      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Beryl Rice                2    .     2      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Jack Fenwick        10    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .   1-  0   .   .   .
Billy Cox           10    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .   1-  0   .   .   .
Bill Cappleman      10    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Tom Bailey          10    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Bill Cheshire       10    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Bill Gunter         10    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Larry Pendleton     10    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Bill Rhodes         10    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Ron Sellers         10    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Stan Walker         10    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Tommy Warren        10    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Chip Glass           9    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Grant Guthrie        9    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Ted Mosley           9    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Phil Abraira         8    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .   1-  0   .   .   .
Gary Pajcic          8    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
John Pittman         8    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Jim Tyson            8    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Don Pederson         6    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Brent Gilman         4    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Barry Wenhold        3    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Terry Eagerton       1    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Mike Gray            1    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Bill Hughes          1    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Bill Lohse           1    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Rick Anderson        1    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Ken Hart             1    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Frank Loner          1    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals                  569  536  1105      .            .         25-201   .    .  12-  0   3   4   .


Game Participation
##  Player                       GP-GS  UMd     UF      TAMU    Mem     SC      VT      MsSt    NCS     Wake    Hou     LSU     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
19  Phil Abraira                  9- 1  xx      xx      xx                      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      O-SE  
11  Rick Anderson                 1- 0                                                          xx                       
26  Robert Ashmore                0- 0                                                                                   
30  Tom Bailey                   11- 9  xx      xx      O-FB    O-FB    O-FB    O-FB    O-FB    O-FB    O-FB    O-FB    O-FB  
    Don Bancroft                  0- 0                                                                                   
62  Theron Bass                   2- 1  xx                                                                      D-MLB    
47  Joe Benson                    9- 9  D-LLB   D-LLB   D-LLB   D-LLB   D-LLB   D-LLB           D-LLB   D-LLB   D-LLB    
85  Steve Beville                 0- 0                                                                                   
    Jon Bleier                    0- 0                                                                                   
    Jim Bracken                   0- 0                                                                                   
67  Mike Bugar                    3- 3                                                  D-LE    D-LE    D-LE             
    Randy Burden                  0- 0                                                                                   
54  Bobby Burt                    1- 1                                                  D-LLB                            
18  Clint Burton                  4- 4                                                  D-RS    D-RS    D-RS    D-LS     
14  Bill Cappleman               11- 9  xx      xx      O-QB    O-QB    O-QB    O-QB    O-QB    O-QB    O-QB    O-QB    O-QB  
40  Duane Carrell                 0- 0                                                                                   
53  Randy Cassady                 0- 0                                                                                   
32  Ed Chereshkoff                0- 0                                                                                   
42  Bill Cheshire                11- 0  xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx
20  Chris Corral                  0- 0                                                                                   
27  Billy Cox                    10-10  O-LE    O-LE    O-LE    O-LE    O-SE    O-LE    O-SE    O-LE    O-LE    O-LE     
41  John Crowe                   11-11  D-LS    D-LS    D-LS    D-LS    D-LS    D-LS    D-LS    D-LS    D-LS    D-RS    D-LS  
77  Jeff Curchin                  0- 0                                                                                   
14  George Davis                  0- 0                                                                                   
82  Rhett Dawson                  0- 0                                                                                   
    George Diaz                   0- 0                                                                                   
49  Terry Eagerton                1- 0                          xx                                                       
22  Chuck Eason                   9- 7  D-RS    D-RS    D-RS    D-RS    D-RS    D-RS                    xx      xx      D-RS  
61  Chuck Elliott                10-10  D-RLB   D-RLB   D-RLB   D-RLB   D-RLB   D-RLB           D-RLB   D-RLB   D-RLB   D-RLB 
76  Jack Fenwick                 11-11  O-LT    O-LT    O-LT    O-LT    O-LT    O-LT    O-LT    O-LT    O-LT    O-LT    O-LT  
82  Kent Gaydos                   0- 0                                                                                   
58  Steve Gildea                  4- 1          xx                      xx              D-RLB                   xx       
40  Brent Gilman                  5- 0                                          xx              xx      xx      xx      xx
84  Chip Glass                   10- 6  O-RE    O-RE    xx      xx      xx      O-RE            xx      O-RE    O-RE    O-TE  
35  Mike Gray                     1- 0                                          xx                                       
31  Bill Gunter                  11-11  O-LH    O-LH    O-LH    O-LH    O-LH    O-LH    O-LH    O-LH    O-LH    O-LH    O-HB  
80  Doug Gurr                     6- 4                          xx              xx              D-RE    D-RE    D-RE    D-RE  
33  Grant Guthrie                10- 0  xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx              xx      xx      xx
86  Randy Hall                    0- 0                                                                                   
    Harry Harley                  0- 0                                                                                   
66  Ken Hart                      1- 0                                                                          xx       
    George Henderson              0- 0                                                                                   
12  Phil Hiatt                    0- 0                                                                                   
    Charlie Huggins               0- 0                                                                                   
51  Bill Hughes                   1- 1                                                          O-C                      
68  Ken Hughes                    0- 0                                                                                   
    Steve Ivie                    0- 0                                                                                   
67  Ned Jaros                     0- 0                                                                                   
48  James Jarrett                 0- 0                                                                                   
    Steve Jernigan                0- 0                                                                                   
78  Wayne Johnson                 0- 0                                                                                   
73  Duke Johnston                 2- 2                                                  D-LT            D-LT             
    Richie Jones                  0- 0                                                                                   
28  John Lanahan                  0- 0                                                                                   
72  Randy Logan                   0- 0                                                                                   
56  Bill Lohse                    2- 1                                                          xx                      D-LLB 
59  Frank Loner                   2- 0                                                                          xx      xx
57  Ron Lowe                      0- 0                                                                                   
66  Craig MacKenzie               0- 0                                                                                   
50  Dale McCullers               10-10  D-MLB   D-MLB   D-MLB   D-MLB   D-MLB   D-MLB   D-MLB   D-MLB   D-MLB           D-MLB 
74  Robert McEachern              2- 1                                          xx      D-RT                             
27  Doug Mitchell                 0- 0                                                                                   
    Ronnie Montford               0- 0                                                                                   
63  George Montgomery             0- 0                                                                                   
43  Hal Montgomery                1- 0          xx                                                                       
55  Ted Mosley                   10-10  O-C     O-C     O-C     O-C     O-C     O-C     O-C             O-C     O-C     O-C   
46  Arthur Munroe                 0- 0                                                                                   
17  Mike Page                     6- 6  D-RC                                            D-RC    D-RC    D-RC    D-RC    D-RC  
16  Gary Pajcic                   8- 2  O-QB    O-QB                    xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx       
23  Don Pederson                  7- 0  xx      xx      xx                                      xx      xx      xx      xx
21  John Pell                     7- 5          D-RC    D-LH    D-RC    D-RC    D-RC    xx                              xx
68  Larry Pendleton              11-11  O-RG    O-RG    O-RG    O-RG    O-RG    O-RG    O-RG    O-RG    O-RG    O-RG    O-RG  
23  Chuck Pickens                 0- 0                                                                                   
44  John Pittman                  8- 2  O-FB    O-FB    xx      xx      xx      xx      xx                      xx       
85  Floyd Ratliff                 9- 8  D-LE    D-LE    D-LE    D-LE    D-LE    D-LE            xx              D-LE    D-LE  
75  Bill Rhodes                  11-11  O-RT    O-RT    O-RT    O-RT    O-RT    O-RT    O-RT    O-RT    O-RT    O-RT    O-RT  
60  Barry Rice                    0- 0                                                                                   
88  Beryl Rice                    0- 0                                                                                   
89  John Richardson               0- 0                                                                                   
87  Bill Rimby                    0- 0                                                                                   
29  Benny Rust                    0- 0                                                                                   
52  Mike Sammons                  0- 0                                                                                   
34  Ron Sellers                  11-11  O-FL    O-FL    O-FL    O-FL    O-FL    O-FL    O-FL    O-FL    O-FL    O-FL    O-FL  
69  Gary Semanchik                0- 0                                                                                   
70  Tony Sewell                   0- 0                                                                                   
55  Jay Stokes                    0- 0                                                                                   
65  Joe Strickler                 0- 0                                                                                   
24  Walt Sumner                  11-11  D-LC    D-LC    D-LC    D-LC    D-LC    D-LC    D-LC    D-LC    D-LC    D-LC    D-LC  
20  Danny Thomas                  0- 0                                                                                   
81  Jim Tyson                     9- 5  xx      xx      O-RE    O-RE    O-TE    xx      O-TE    O-RE                    xx
79  Frank Vohun                  10- 9  D-LT    D-LT    D-LT    D-LT    D-LT    D-LT            D-RT    xx      D-LT    D-LT  
64  Stan Walker                  11-11  O-LG    O-LG    O-LG    O-LG    O-LG    O-LG    O-LG    O-LG    O-LG    O-LG    O-LG  
83  Ron Wallace                   8- 7  D-RE    D-RE    D-RE    D-RE    D-RE    D-RE    D-RE                            xx
15  Tommy Warren                 11- 0  xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx
30  Barry Wenhold                 3- 0          xx              xx                              xx                       
17  Frank Whigham                 0- 0                                                                                   
69  Tom White                     0- 0                                                                                   
    Gary Yancey                   0- 0                                                                                   
41  Bill Yeldell                  0- 0                                                                                   
71  Harvey Zion                  10-10  D-RT    D-RT    D-RT    D-RT    D-RT    D-RT            D-LT    D-RT    D-RT    D-RT  

Florida State 24, Maryland 14

09/21/1968, College Park, Md.

Click here for program cover

From the Tallahassee Democrat, 9/22/1968, page 1C, by Bill McGrotha

COLLEGE PARK, MD - By the grace of Ron Sellers and some rather agonizing belt-tightening, Florida State's football team survived its opener with riled-up Maryland here Saturday afternoon, winning 24-14 after some nightmarish devlopments.

The Seminoles couldn't call this one their own until 1:47 remained in the game, when Bill Cappleman, in at quarterback for a shaken-up Gary Pajcic, culminated an 85-yard drive with a scoring sneak from the one.

Just a little before, Cappleman had appeared to be destined to come out of this one much of a goat.

With the Seminoles ahead 17-7 he had gone in for the first time and promptly threw an interception that defensive end Henry Gareis converted into a Maryland TD that brought the Terrapins to within 17-14 range.

The fairly close call was a combination of several things, including the fact that Maryland's losers of 14 straight games aren't this year all that bad a football team.

Bill Gunter, the 165-pound senior halfback, racked up a stunning 133 yards for the Tribe in 28 runs.

As Coach Bill Peterson, looking ahead a bit, strived hard to establish a running game in this one - with some success - the passing offense stuttered at times. It was awhile before Pajcic settled down from off target tossing to the kind of all-round quarterbacking that many anticipate.

But, in the end, Pajcic had completed 12 of 23 passes for 257 yards and the great - that's absolutely the right adjective - had caught five for a whopping 173. In so doing Sellers made one thing more obvious than ever: the FSU team, without him, is in trouble.

The outcome left Florida State unbeaten in nine successive starts while Maryland went down to its 14th straight defeat.

It was a hot afternoon, and the action that unfolded in Byrd Stadium before 33,600 sun-baked fans matched the temperature.

After a scoreless first quarter, FSU finally got into scoring range on a 40-yard pass, Pajcic to Sellers, at the 13, and Grant Guthrie booted a 26-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead.

Maryland retaliated so fast it was scary, moving on Alan Pastrana's passing down to the nine, where the quarterback hit Rick Carlson in the end zone for a TD and a 7-3 lead.

After Phil Abraira's recovery of a fumbled Maryland punt set FSU up on the Terps 19, a 6-yard pass, Pajcic to John Pittman, put the Tribe back in front 10-7.

Backed to its 17 late in the first half, FSU then looked of the old stylishly - Pajcic uncorked a long one to Sellers for an 83-yard payoff and a 17-7 lead.

But with the fourth quarter young it was 17-14 as FSU took over at its 15. Pajcic directed a running charge up to the 48 - at which point he left the game with 7:17 showing on the clock after getting hit hard on a run.

Cappleman took over, and guided the Tribe the rest of the way on the crucial march that, altogether, consumed more than eight minutes.

Overall, with Cappleman connecting on three of six passes, FSU gained 278 via air. Its 210 on the ground brought a net offense of 488 yards, contrasted with Maryland's 229, with 121 on the ground, 108 passing.

That first-play interception on Cappleman was primarily the result of a busted signal, with one of the Seminoles bumping Cappleman just as he threw.

Pajcic figures to be okay. Peterson said he could have gone back into the game later. But he'll get a thorough check-out over the weekend.

Pastrana, dogged all afternoon by sophomore end Ronnie Wallace, hit nine of 21 tosses. Maryland's running game was spurred by John King, 86 yards in 17 carries, and Billy Lovett, 59 in 12.

Maryland had some nifty punting from Gary Fries, who averaged 44 per on eight boots - and that was no insignificant factor in checking the Seminoles. The Terps had worked extensively on their kicking game, and it paid off.

Penalties hindered the Seminoles more than somewhat. The Seminoles were taxed 91 yards, Maryland 57. Maryland intercepted two Tribe passes. The Seminoles swiped two, also recovered two Terps fumbles while losing none themselves.


From the beginning there was apprehension in the air as Florida State squeezed out a 24-14 victory over Maryland here Saturday.

And it was throughout a fingernail-biting kind of thing for the sprinkling of Florida State fans in the crowd.

The Seminoles had won the toss, chose to receive. Then they chose to run, according to the game plan, after Tom Bailey returned the kickoff 16 yards to the 34. Two runs got nothing and Pajcic's pass toward Sellers was far too high. Bill Cheshire punted to Maryland's 31.

A holding penalty when Maryland punted back three plays later gave the Terps life at Florida State's 47. Three passes, the last one incomplete, netted just a couple of yards, and a punt rolled into the end zone.

Pajcic threw again too high. Fading far back he completed one the Gunter, but he was nailed for a 7-yard loss. Pajcic ran for 10, to the 23, before Cheshire punted giving Maryland a start at its 47 after a 9-yard runback.

Pastrana ran for 11, then soon hit Pearson for a 16-yard gain at the FSU 22. Two runs garnered just three yards, and Wallace sailed through to deck Pastrana back on the 29 on third down.

Carlson's 37-yard field goal attempt was short.

At last, the Seminoles started a move - on the ground. Gunter picked up five, to the 25. After John Pittman and Pajcic ran for a first down, Gunter carried four straight times - for four, eight, seven and six yards, all the way to a first down at Maryland's 44. A holding penalty soon put the Tribe back on its 41.

Gary Van Sickle, a defensive back, then blitzed and knocked Pajcic for a 15-yard loss, back to the 26.

A Pajcic pass, to Billy Cox, got 34, but Tommy Warren, in at halfback, overthrew on a following pass, and Cheshire punted into the end zone.

Maryland gained little, punted back, affording FSU a start at its 37.

On the first play of the second quarter, Pajcic faded, threw long, long to Sellers all the way down at the Maryland 13 - a 49-yard production.

Gunter got to the four in two runs, but was nailed by Van Sickler for a loss back to the 10 - third down. Guthrie booted a 26-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead.

Then Maryland struck.

Starting at its 35 following the kickoff, the Terps got to the 50 on Pastrana's toss to Pearson. Two runs gained to the FSU 39. Pastrana, apparently trapped, squirmed loose, hit Carlson at the 10, a 29-yarder. From the nine Pastrana again went to Carlson and found him for the TD, just behind John Crowe at the far border of the end zone. Carlson kicked the point for a 7-3 Maryland lead.

The Seminoles worked the ball to their 48 before bogging down. But, when Chesire punted, Wally Stalnaker, the Fort Myers boy, fumbled it, and Phil Abraira was there to cover the ball for Florida State at the Maryland 19.

Gunter whacked to the 10, then to the six. Pajcic rolled out, then threw to Pittman, who reached high and plucked it in the end zone for the TD. Guthrie's point kick made it 10-7 with 8:34 gone in the second period.

A pass-interference call on Walt Sumner assisted Maryland to its 37. Then, John King got loose around end on a 25-yard run to FSU's 38. It came to 4th-and-3 at the 31, and Maryland went for it, with Pastrana skipping to the 24. King rammed to the 17, and Billy Lovett to the 12 for another first down. But Pastrana, trying to pitch back when hit, fumbled the ball, and Harvey Zion claimed it for the Seminoles at the 16.

A delay penalty set the Tribe back on the 11, and the Seminoles had to punt out of that hole. A clip, on the punt return, put Maryland back on its 30.

Maryland soon punted back and FSU was in field position at the Terps' 48 following a short one, but an offsides call rubbed out that play and a following punt by Greg Fries was a 58-yarder to FSU's 28. A clipping call on the Seminoles put them on their 18.

On first down from there, Pajcic moved back, cut loose toward Sellers, on the run at midfield. The lanky flanker slowed a bit to gather it in on an over-the-shoulder catch, then cruised on down the sidelines - all the way, an 82-yard touchdown production.

Guthrie kicked the point for 17-7 with 1:03 left on the clock before intermission.

FSU attempted an onsides-kick recovery, but Maryland claimed it. The Terps got nowhere, punted again.

Pajcic got off a 28-yard run to midfield, threw passes to Sellers at the Terps 37, then the 23. With six seconds left Guthrie tried a 39-yard field goal. It was wide.

Maryland pushed to its 44 following the third-quarter kickoff. Frank Vohun stacked Pastrana for a 10-yard loss thereabouts, however, and Maryland punted.

A third-down fumble for a loss of nine blunted FSU's bid and Cheshire kicked. With some dandy running by King and Lovett, Maryland slashed to FSU's 42. Floyd Ratliff rocked Pastrana for a loss of seven to stop that push.

From its 20, Florida State moved to much frustration.

Gunter's 24-yard run lifted FSU to its 48. A pass-interference call on Bob Haley, as Pajcic threw long to Sellers, gave FSU a first down at the 25. Gunter zipped to the 20, and Pajcic got another first down with a run to the 12.

Pittman got just one on the draw. Warren's halfback pass was tipped by Chip Glass when it looked as though it would have gone into Abraira's hands for a touchdown. Next play Stalnacker intercepted Pajcic's pass in the end zone; brought it out to the nine.

A bit later a Maryland punt took a reverse bounce for a net of 20 yards and Florida State had the ball at its 47.

In came Bill Cappleman at quarterback for the first time. He got a rude reception. First play and Henry Gareis, a defensive end, intercepted and picked his way down the sidelines 54 yards to a touchdown.

Carlson's point kick narrowed FSU's lead to 17-14 with a couple of minutes left in the quarter.

With the kickoff Warren raced 36 yards to midfield, and a roughing call on Maryland gave FSU a start at the 35.

Gunter, in two runs, gained the 24. Pittman slammed to the 18, and Gunter to a first down at the 11. Two more runs got just two yards as the quarter ended.

A pass to Jim Tyson was broken up. Guthrie's 26-yard field goal was wide.

King's 15-yard run helped Maryland to its 40. Then Wallace grabbed Pastrana by his ankles just as he threw and the errant pass was intercepted by Walt Sumner who returned it to the Terps 40.

After two passes missed, Pajcic found Abraira for a first down at the 25. Gunter ripped to the 20 but a personal-foul call pushed FSU back to the 35. Van Sickle drove through to put Pajcic down for a loss of two.

Guthrie's 53-yard try for a field goal, on fourth down, was far short.

A 24-yard pass, Pastrana to Pearson, gained the 44. But the defense of Florida State allowed nothing more of note, and Fries punted to the Seminoles' 15.

Then there unfolded that thing of frantic beauty.

Ten minutes and 10 seconds showed on the clock. In 17 plays Florida State got itself a clinching TD, eating up 8:13 on the clock, scoring with 1:47 left.

Gunter started it, running three straight times, for 16 yards, Tom Bailey, in two runs, gained 10, to the 41.

Pajcic went wide to the 48 and a first down, but was hurt on the play. Back came Cappleman at quarterback.

First play for him this time brought a fumble on the exchange - but Bailey was alertly there to cover it. On third down Cappleman threw to Sellers at the Maryland 38 to keep things going.

Gunter got six and Cappleman threw to Jim Tyson who made a sparkling catch at the 20. Pittman slipped through for six, and Gunter for five and a first down at the nine.

Gunter got one before Cappleman swept to the one. Gunter got just inches on a whack off the left side. But on fourth down Cappleman sneaked over - it was close - for the touchdown. Guthrie added the point for 24-14.

Soon Thereon Bass intercepted a Pastrana throw at the 42, returned it to the 37 to provide FSU with a final shot as the clock showed 1:01.

A 24-yard pass, Cappleman to Don Pederson, set FSU up to the seven. But after Cappleman was tossed for a 14-yard loss, he couldn't connect on three final passes.

  1st 2nd 3rd 4th Total
Florida State
0
17
0
7
24
Maryland
0
7
7
0
14

1st   0- 0  Opp, 37, field goal failed, 6:49 
2nd   3- 0  Grant Guthrie, 26, field goal, 12:51
      3- 7  Opp, 9, pass (kick), 10:17
     10- 7  John Pittman, 6, pass from Gary Pajcic (Grant Guthrie, kick), 6:26 
     17- 7  Ron Sellers, 82, pass from Gary Pajcic (Grant Guthrie, kick), 1:03 
     17- 7  Grant Guthrie, 39, field goal failed, 0:06 
3rd  17-14  Opp, 54, interception return (kick), 2:42 
4th  17-14  Grant Guthrie, 26, field goal failed, 14:50
     17-14  Grant Guthrie, 53, field goal failed, 11:30
     24-14  Bill Cappleman, 1, run (Grant Guthrie, kick), 1:47 


TEAM STATISTICS
FSU OPP First downs 24 18 Rushes-yards 55-210 45-121 Passing 278 108 Att-Comp-Int 30-15-2 21-9-2 Total Yards 85-488 66-229 Punt Returns 2-17 5-8 Kickoff Returns 3-75 4-44 Interception Ret. 2-16 2-63 Fumble Returns 2-0 0-0 Punts 6-39.5 8-44.1 Fumbles-Lost 2-0 3-2 Penalties-Yds 8-91 3-57 Attendance 33,600 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS Rushing No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Bill Gunter 28 133 0 22 Gary Pajcic 10 39 0 28 John Pittman 8 22 0 6 Tom Bailey 5 22 0 6 Bill Cappleman 4 -6 1 7 --------------------------------------------- FSU 55 210 1 28 Opp 45 121 0 25 Receiving No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Ron Sellers 5 173 1 82t Billy Cox 3 44 0 33 Don Pederson 1 24 0 24 Phil Abraira 1 15 0 15 Jim Tyson 1 14 0 14 John Pittman 2 10 1 6t Chip Glass 1 5 0 5 Bill Gunter 1 -7 0 -7 --------------------------------------------- FSU 15 278 2 82t Opp 9 108 1 29 Passing C- A- I Yds TD Lng ----------------------------------------------- Gary Pajcic 12 22 1 227 2 82t Bill Cappleman 3 6 1 51 0 24 Tommy Warren 0 2 0 0 0 0 ----------------------------------------------- FSU 15 30 2 278 2 82t Opp 9 21 2 108 1 29 Punt Return No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Tommy Warren 1 12 0 12 Walt Sumner 1 5 0 5 --------------------------------------------- FSU 2 17 0 12 Opp 5 8 0 10 Kickoff Return No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Tommy Warren 2 58 0 36 Tom Bailey 1 17 0 17 --------------------------------------------- FSU 3 75 0 36 Opp 4 44 0 21 Punting No Yds Lng ---------------------------------------- Bill Cheshire 6 237 44 ---------------------------------------- FSU 6 237 44 Opp 8 353 58 |---------Tackles---------| |---Sacks---| |---Pass Def---| |-Fumbles-| Blkd DEFENSIVE STATISTICS UT AT Total ForLoss No - Yards Int-Yds BrUp QBH Rcv-Yds FF Kick Saf ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dale McCullers 9 9 18 . . . . . . . . . Walt Sumner . . . . . 1- 11 . . . . . . Theron Bass . . . . . 1- 5 . . . . . . Phil Abraira . . . . . . . . 1- 0 . . . Harvey Zion . . . . . . . . 1- 0 . . . ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FSU 9 9 18 . . 2- 16 . . 2- 0 . . . Opp . . . . . 2- 63 . . . . . . STARTERS
Pos  ##  OFFENSE
----------------------------------
QB   16  Gary Pajcic
LE   27  Billy Cox
LH   31  Bill Gunter
FL   34  Ron Sellers
FB   44  John Pittman
C    55  Ted Mosley
LG   64  Stan Walker
RG   68  Larry Pendleton
RT   75  Bill Rhodes
LT   76  Jack Fenwick
RE   84  Chip Glass
Pos  ##  DEFENSE
----------------------------------
RC   17  Mike Page
RS   22  Chuck Eason
LC   24  Walt Sumner
LS   41  John Crowe
LLB  47  Joe Benson
MLB  50  Dale McCullers
RLB  61  Chuck Elliott
RT   71  Harvey Zion
LT   79  Frank Vohun
RE   83  Ron Wallace
LE   85  Floyd Ratliff
PARTICIPANTS
##  NAME
-----------------------------
14  Bill Cappleman
15  Tommy Warren
19  Phil Abraira
23  Don Pederson
30  Tom Bailey
##  NAME
-----------------------------
33  Grant Guthrie
42  Bill Cheshire
62  Theron Bass
81  Jim Tyson

Florida 9, Florida State 3

09/28/1968, Tallahassee, Fla.

Click here for program cover

From the Tallahassee Democrat, 9/29/1968, page 1C, by Bill McGrotha

TALLAHASSEE, FL - Unable to score touchdowns on two occasions when it had first downs at Florida's 4-yard line, often unable to get the ball even close to Ron Sellers (or any other receivers), Florida State's football team was left disabled yesterday by tough-and-quick Gator defenders.

The score, on this hot September afternoon, was if you would believe, 9-3.

It wasn't much of a day for quarterbacks on either side. It wasn't much of a day for offense on either side.

But, in the last analysis, Larry Smith, 220 pounds of slashing power, was the difference.

The Florida fullback enabled Florida to capitalize on the breaks it got, while nothing enabled the Seminoles to cash in the ones they got.

Smith's number was called 24 times. Florida State's defense held him to a net of 68 yards, which is a good day's work for any team. Moreover, FSU defenders twice forced fumbles from Smith - though other UF backs covered them.

The right word for FSU's offense, on this day, may be pathetic. Give Florida defenders much of the credit.

As Florida State's 9-game unbeaten streak came to a stumbling halt, the Seminoles failed to score a touchdown for the first time since N.C. State checked them 3-0 in 1965.

A second-quarter clipping call, as Tommy Warren returned a Florida punt to near-midfield, was the turning point. The penalty knocked Florida State back to its 7 1/2. Three plays later FSU punted, was penalized for piling on, and Florida had the ball at FSU's 20.

On fourth down Florida kicked a field goal, a 30-yarder by Monticello's Jack Youngblood.

Pushed back to the three by UF defenders, FSU was in trouble again the next time it got the ball. A 25-yard punt was followed by an offsides against FSU, and a whole mess of pile-driving Smith runs. The sixth time he carrried in that series Smith scored from the three.

Walt Sumner blocked Youngblood's point-after try, and it looked as though that might prove significant. It didn't.

The first time Florida State got a first down on the four was just before the half. Pajcic's 34-yard pass to Tommy Warren put the Tribe at UF's 16, setting the stage. Three running plays from the four left FSU at the five. Thereupon, Grant Guthrie kicked a 21-yard feld goal 21 seconds before intermission.

The second first down at the four came early in the fourth quarter, with Bill Cappleman quarterbacking a push from the Florida 43 following a 14-yard Rentz punt.

Bill Gunter got to the one in just two runs, but on third down was nailed - by Dorsey - at the three. Cappleman's fourth-down pass to Chip Glass in the end zone was a bit too far.

Florida had extraordinary defensive work from its two tackles, Jim Hadley and Bill Dorsey, and its two cornerbacks, Ted Hager and Steve Tannen.

Sellers caught six passes but got only 50 yards out of them. Billy Cox caught four, for a mere 22 yards. Quarterback Gary Pajcic hit on 13 of 27 throws for 105, Cappleman on three of nine for 22.

FSU's total offense of 190 yards was one of the lowest sums in recent memory. Florida netted even less, just 162, with 129 running. The Gators, alternating Larry Rentz and Jack Eckdahl at quarterback, passed just 14 times, completed only four for just 33 yards. FSU intercepted two.

Neither team lost a fumble. FSU had none of 36 throws intercepted. The Seminoles were penalized 76 yards, Florida 62. FSU averaged 35.4 on 12 punts, Florida 33.6 on 11.

As FSU was checked with 63 yards rushing, Gunter's 31 in 17 tries was the Seminoles' best.

Before a Campbell Stadium sellout crowd of 45,256 - including scouts from the Sugar, Orange and Gator bowls plus at least a dozen pro teams - Florida showed a lot of guts from the beginning...For the second straight year, the Gators walked slowly through the goalposts, a mockery of FSU's tradition of running on the field between those posts. Last year the strategy backfired on Florida as the Seminoles won 21-16.

Both defensive units were extremely well prepared for the other's offense. Neither defensive unit deserved to lose.

The Seminoles had heroic defensive work from the likes of end Ron Wallace, backs John Crowe, Howell Montgomery and Walt Sumner, plus tackles Harvey Zion and Frank Vohun.

Smith was the difference.


Florida State and Florida lined up on the wrong side of the field at the start and 23 punts later the Gators had won 9-3 in a football game here Saturday that stayed all mixed up.

It was much defense from the beginning.

Florida had won the toss, chose to receive, and had a start at its 26 following the return. Two whacks by Tom Christian netted naught, but suddenly Larry Rentz, back to pass, wheeled out of the pocket, ran wide for an 18-yard pickup to the 45.

Seminole defenders stopped three runs, held at the 50, and Rentz punted 30 yards to the 20.

Cautious down close, FSU soon had to reply with a punt from the 21. Mark Ely got nine yards on the runback, to the UF 46.

Penalized for motion in the back field, the Gators couldn't cut out a first down as Ronnie Wallace persistenly dogged Rentz, twice tackling him in the series.

This time the Seminoles got a start at their 27 after the kick. John Pittman slipped wide for seven and Bill Gunter made it a first down at the 37. Gary Pajcic hit Ron Sellers for five, and soon Sellers caught an 8-yarder at the UF 46. Gunter got four, but Pajcic's "bomb" to Sellers was just beyond his reach at the two. Tom Bailey was stopped cold on a run. Bill Cheshire's punt trickled into the end zone.

Now Jackie Eckdahl came in at quarterback for Florida. His throw to Jim Yarbrough got 14 to the 34. But, on third-and-two at the 42, Florida got penalized for delay. A pass missed, and Rentz punted to FSU's 27.

The Seminoles got only three yards out of three passes, and Cheshire kicked to the Gator 34.

Rentz came back at quarterback as the second quarter started, but UF couldn't move. Rentz stuck his toe hard in the punt. It was a 54-yarder down to FSU's 15 - and a turning point.

Warren tucked in the ball, maneuvered to his right, then reversed to his left as tacklers converged, and was away on the return, all the way to midfield.

But a hankerchief had been thrown back on the 15, and Florida State, instead of sitting pretty near the 50, found itself in a hole - for clipping - at its 7 1/2.

The Seminoles, with the wind against them now, got only two yards in three plays. Cheshire's punt was hauled in at the 35.

Here again came a binding penalty, for piling-on. The Gators had a crack from the Florida State 20.

Smith fumbled, but an alert Eckdahl covered the ball for a 2-yard loss. Smith got only a yard, but Eckdahl passed to Christian at the 15.

Fourth down, and Jack Younblood, the sophomore tackle from nearby Monticello, entered to boot a 30-yard field goal. Florida led 3-0 with the second quarter still young.

Bob Coleman, a sophomore end who was put on UF's traveling squad just Thursday became a quick hero for UF at this point. Twice he got through to tackle Pajcic for losses, the first for 13 yards, the last for four.

From its 3, Florida State was obliged to punt.

It was a 25-yarder, into that wind, and UF now was in business, with the bit in its teeth, at the Seminoles' 28.

An offsides penalty promptly helped Florida to the 23.

Then Smith took over.

He rammed for three, then for two, four more, then five, and three more - cutting out a first down at the six. Christian got three. Then Smith, off right tackle, slammed through for six points.

Walt Sumner (note: after looking at the game film Steve Gildea is credited with the block) dashed through to block Youngblood's extra-point try, leaving it 9-0 with something over six minutes left in the half.

Florida State stood at its 21 after the kickoff. A Pajcic pass to Billy Cox picked up seven, and another to Cox gained a first down at the 37. But more passes failed, and Cheshire punted to Florida's 23.

A holding penalty pushed Florida to the 12. Rentz soon punted, and Tommy Warren returned it five yards to the 50.

On FSU's biggest play of the afternoon, offensively, Pajcic tossed to Warren for a 34-yard gain to Florida's 16.

Sellers caught a short one, four yards. Bailey rambled to a first down on the four.

But Gunter got just one on a run and, on a pitchout, Bailey got nothing. Then Gunter was stacked for a 2-yard loss.

Fourth down, 21 seconds left in the half, and Grant Guthrie booted a 21-yard field goal to cut it to 9-3. Nobody around would have bet a nickel on it staying that way.

Florida brought the kickoff back to its 32, had time for one no-gain running play before time ran out.

The Seminoles got in another penalty hole soon after receiving the second-half kick. Offensive pass-interference was called on Billy Cox as he battled Ted Hager for a "bomb" down at the UF 40. That set the Tribe back to its 13.

A pass to Chip Glass regained 14, but it came to last down. Steve Tannen returned the punt eight yards to the UF 45.

Smith threw his first pass of the game - and it was his first incompletion ever in college football as John Crowe broke it up. Smith had been 8-for-8 on passes. After Joe Benson batted down an Eckdahl throw, Crowe intercepted his next one - intended for Smith - and put the Seminoles in position at the FSU 42.

But here a busted play gave the Tribe a stumbling start. Mark Ely broke up, with bright defensive work, a throw to Sellers. Pajcic then hit Sellers at the 49, but it was punting time again and Cheshire's boot was brought back to UF's 29.

With Smith carrying four straight times, Florida reached its 47, and an offsides precipitated a first down at FSU's 48. FSU defenders bowed up once again at that point, and Rentz punted - and what a punt! It went out of bounds at the FSU one.

On second down at the four, Pajcic threw long to Sellers at midfield, and only a big defensive play by Tanner, who hung right in there with the whiz flanker, averted a catch and a most probable 96-yard TD production.

On the quarterback draw, Pajcic got FSU out of that big hole, sweeping to the 30. But Jim Hadley soon decked Pajcic for a loss of six and Cheshire punted. A clipping call set UF back on its 31.

Smith fumbled on the first play there, but Rentz covered it - and Florida State got taxed 15 for piling on, bringing a first down at the 43.

Three plays and Rentz punted - short to FSU's 24. Three more plays and Cheshire punted - short to UF's 42.

Again the defense gave FSU a bright opportunity, with Howell Montgomery's interception of Rentz' toss setting up the Seminoles at Florida's 49.

But FSU got no further than the 42. Cheshire's punt was a beaut, out at the six.

Christian sailed up the middle, and this one assuredly would have gone all the way but for Montgomery - the last man between him and the goal. As it was, the play netted 17 to the 23.

Then, as the fourth quarter unfolded, the Tribe got another big chance as Rentz punted for just 14 yards, to his 43.

In came Bill Cappleman at quarterback for the first time as the crowd cheered the move.

On third down he threw to Sellers for a gain of 15 at the 28. Gunter racked four, then seven.

Cappleman lost a yard, but a roughing call pushed Florida to the 8 1/2 and Gunter slammed out a first down on the four.

Gunter followed with a run to the two, then to the one...Two cracks, one yard.

Bill Dorsey broke through to bag Gunter for a 2-yard loss. On fourth down Cappleman's pass was just out of Glass' reach in the end zone.

Florida worked the ball up to the 11 before Rentz booted a 37-yarder to the Gator 48.

Pittman got just two, a pass missed, and Cappleman's throw to Pittman wasn't enough. From the 43 Cheshire punted to the 10.

With 6:36 left in the game, Florida got penalized to its six for holding. But Smith swept for nine to help Florida's cause some. Finally, however, UF was obliged to punt from the 15, and it was a 29-yarder up to Florida's 44.

Pajcic returned to quarterback. Gunter ran for two, Bailey for three. A pass missed. On fourth-and-five FSU went for it, with Pajcic completing a throw to Jim Tyson for nothing.

Florida took over at its 39 with 3:35 to go. Smith's running led to a first down at FSU's 48, but that was about the extent of that, and Rentz punted to the 17.

Cappleman overthrew Cox, then Sellers on a long one. Sellers caught a short one at the 20. Then Cox was overthrown on fourth down, and FSU presented the ball to Florida at the Seminole 20 with precisely one minute left.

A piling-on call aided UF to the 10. Smith fumbled, and defensive back John Pell claimed it for FSU - but the Seminoles were offsides on the play, and Florida was knocking at the four.

Smith got one yard, Christian two - to the one - and UF called timeout with two seconds remaining.

So Smith ran for the 24th and last time. He didn't make it.

The gun sounded, and Florida State left the field quietly.

  1st 2nd 3rd 4th Total
Florida
0
9
0
0
9
Florida State
0
3
0
0
3

2nd   0- 3  Opp, 30, field goal, 11:00
      0- 9  Opp, 3, run (kick blocked by Steve Gildea), 5:51 
      3- 9  Grant Guthrie, 21, field goal, 0:12 


TEAM STATISTICS
FSU OPP First downs 8 10 Rushes-yards 36-63 51-129 Passing 127 33 Att-Comp-Int 36-16-0 14-4-2 Total Yards 72-190 65-162 Punt Returns 0-0 6-43 Kickoff Returns 3-64 2-33 Interception Ret. 2-6 0-0 Fumble Returns 0-0 0-0 Punts 12-35.4 11-33.5 Fumbles-Lost 0-0 2-0 Penalties-Yds 8-76 7-62 Attendance 45,256 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS Rushing No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Bill Gunter 17 31 0 Tom Bailey 7 17 0 John Pittman 4 12 0 Bill Cappleman 1 2 0 Barry Wenhold 1 1 0 Gary Pajcic 6 0 0 --------------------------------------------- FSU 36 63 0 Opp 51 129 1 Receiving No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Ron Sellers 6 50 0 Tommy Warren 1 34 0 Billy Cox 4 22 0 Chip Glass 1 14 0 Phil Abraira 1 5 0 John Pittman 2 2 0 Jim Tyson 1 0 0 --------------------------------------------- FSU 16 127 0 Opp 4 33 0 Passing C- A- I Yds TD Lng ----------------------------------------------- Gary Pajcic 13 27 0 105 0 Bill Cappleman 3 9 0 22 0 ----------------------------------------------- FSU 16 36 0 127 0 Opp 4 14 2 33 0 Punt Return No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------- FSU 0 0 0 Opp 6 43 0 Kickoff Return No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Don Pederson 3 64 0 --------------------------------------------- FSU 3 64 0 Opp 2 33 0 Punting No Yds Lng ---------------------------------------- Bill Cheshire 12 425 ---------------------------------------- FSU 12 425 Opp 11 369 |---------Tackles---------| |---Sacks---| |---Pass Def---| |-Fumbles-| Blkd DEFENSIVE STATISTICS UT AT Total ForLoss No - Yards Int-Yds BrUp QBH Rcv-Yds FF Kick Saf ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dale McCullers 18 8 26 . . . . . . 1 . . John Crowe 5 8 13 . . 1- 0 . . . . . . Steve Gildea 6 3 9 . . . . . . . 1 . Hal Montgomery . . . . . 1- 6 . . . . . . ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FSU 29 19 48 . . 2- 6 . . . 1 1 . Opp . . . . . . . . . . . . STARTERS
Pos  ##  OFFENSE
----------------------------------
QB   16  Gary Pajcic
LE   27  Billy Cox
LH   31  Bill Gunter
FL   34  Ron Sellers
FB   44  John Pittman
C    55  Ted Mosley
LG   64  Stan Walker
RG   68  Larry Pendleton
RT   75  Bill Rhodes
LT   76  Jack Fenwick
RE   84  Chip Glass
Pos  ##  DEFENSE
----------------------------------
RC   21  John Pell
RS   22  Chuck Eason
LC   24  Walt Sumner
LS   41  John Crowe
LLB  47  Joe Benson
MLB  50  Dale McCullers
RLB  61  Chuck Elliott
RT   71  Harvey Zion
LT   79  Frank Vohun
RE   83  Ron Wallace
LE   85  Floyd Ratliff
PARTICIPANTS
##  NAME
-----------------------------
14  Bill Cappleman
15  Tommy Warren
19  Phil Abraira
23  Don Pederson
26  Barry Wenhold
30  Tom Bailey
##  NAME
-----------------------------
33  Grant Guthrie
42  Bill Cheshire
43  Hal Montgomery
58  Steve Gildea
81  Jim Tyson

Florida State 20, Texas A&M 14

10/05/1968, Tallahassee, Fla.

Click here for program cover

From the Tallahassee Democrat, 10/6/1968, page 1C, by Bill McGrotha

TALLAHASSEE, FL - With Bill Cappleman a brilliant quarterback every step of the frantic way, Florida State's comeback kids knifed out a 20-14 decision over Texas A&M in a cliff-hanger of a football game here Saturday night.

Minus All-American flanker Ron Sellers most of the evening, Cappleman went to an assortment of receivers, threw touchdown passes of seven and 14 yards to Jim Tyson and Billy Cox.

Sellers was sidelined early with a hurt back, souvenir of a helmet struck on a hard tackle, but came later to play a bit. He caught just three passes for 59 yards.

Not until the last minute could Florida State breathe easy.

With A&M at the Seminoles 25, second down, Walt Sumner intercepted one of Edd Hargett's desperation tosses. The clock showed just 46 seconds left.

Most of the scoring was packed into five pulsating minutes of the second quarter.

Making his first-ever start for the Seminoles, Cappleman, a junior, had directed an 80-yard scoring push the first time the Seminoles got their hands on the football, capping it with a 7-yard toss to Tyson.

A&M tied it 7-7 on Dave Elmendorf scoring from 20 with seven minutes gone in the second quarter. Recovery of a Seminole fumble at the FSU 46 had set it up.

Less than two minutes later, following an FSU punt, A&M moved 62 yards in three plays, Elmendorf scoring from 15 yards out, to take a 14-7 lead.

Florida State retaliated, immediately, with a 71-yard push culminated by Grant Guthrie's 26-yard field goal, making it 14-10.

Then, little more than three minutes before the half, FSU went ahead to stay, 17-14, following recovery of an A&M fumble at the Aggies' 34. A 21-yard Cappleman pass to Don Pederson preceded a 14-yard payoff toss to Cox.

The Seminoles moved 79 yards to a field goal early in the fourth quarter. Sellers pulled in a 32-yard pass from Cappleman. Guthrie, booting into a strong wind, cashed a 40-yarder for three points.

Cappleman hit on 15 of 32 passes for 208 yards, had two intercepted. Hargett, dogged all evening by FSU defenders, managed just six completions in 24 tries, had four stolen by the Seminoles.

A&M unleashed a rugged running attack that plagued the Seminoles throughout. Elmendorf netted 129 yards on 17 carries, Larry Stegent 122 on 21.

The Seminoles showed some offensive versitility, too, as they out-gained the Aggies overall, 416 to 350. Sophomore Tom Bailey ran 12 times for 90 yards, senior Bill Gunter 24 for 70.

The Seminoles, who rest next week with an open date, now stand 2-1 in the young season, A&M 1-2.

For Coach Peterson and the vast majority of 35,494 fans the outcome was considerable saive for last week's galling 9-3 loss to Florida.

Getting splendid protection from the offensive line for his passes, Cappleman put them in the hands of nine different receivers. Sellers, who should be 100 percent again after the open date, was the only one who pulled in more than two.

The Seminoles operated in the second half without defensive end Floyd Ratliff, who injured a leg.

A&M was penalized just 15 yards, FSU 49.

The Aggies had abundant opportunity.

Three times in the first half they started drives after getting the ball in FSU territory. Stegent's fine kick returns gained good field position all evening. The Aggies punted not at all in the first half. Steve O'Neal, the nation's top punter, stuck his toe in the ball three times after intermission, for a piddling 28.7 average.

Once again, linebacker Dale McCullers spurred the defensive unit - but a sparkling job by the secondary was most conspicious. John Crowe intercepted two of the four FSU stole.


Four interceptions - highlighted by Walt Sumner's clinching close-down steal in the last minutes - put the spurs to Texas A&M's football team here Saturday night as Florida State pulled out a 20-14 triumph.

Edd Hargett, the talented A&M quarterback, had thrown TD passes in 10 straight games. He threw none Saturday, completed just six of 24 as FSU defenders rode herd on him all evening long.

Florida State was in trouble at the start. After winning the toss, and choosing to receive, the Aggies opened up with Bob Long returning the kickoff from the end zone to the Aggies' 45.

On second down Larry Stegent sprinted, straight up the middle, for 25 to FSU's 30. But two runs got just four yards, and Edd Hargett's pass was broken up by John Crowe, who almost intercepted. A fourth-down try for a field goal from 43-yards range by Bobby Riggs was short.

Quarterback Bill Cappleman didn't fiddle around. He promptly uncorked a bomb to Ron Sellers streaking downfield, but the flanker couldn't quite catch up with the ball. Cappleman then fired to Don Pederson, 18 yards to the 38. Third down, needing 12, and Cappleman pitched to Sellers to keep things going at the Aggiess' 48.

Tom Bailey swept for eight, and Bill Gunter got a first down at the 37. On a pitchout, Bailey sailed for 20 to the 17.

Bailey whacked for five more. Gunter got four. On fourth down, needing one, the Seminoles shrugged off a field-goal attempt - and Cappleman sneaked for the first down at the seven.

Cappleman immediately found Jim Tyson all alone in the end zone, an easy toss right over the middle, for the touchdown.

Grant Guthrie added the point for 7-0.

Starting at its 35 after the kick, A&M moved again. Dave Elmdorf fumbled on a run but guard Allan Hanson recovered the rolling ball for the Aggies, and it turned out a 9-yard gain to the A&M 48.

Next play, Edd Hargett passed to Stegent, who fumbled when Chuck Eason racked him. But again an Aggie was there to recover, Tom Buckman at the 50.

But Frank Vohun nailed Hargett for a short loss, and his next throw - a bomb - was intercepted by Eason at the nine.

Gunter and Bailey led the Tribe to its 23, but the movement bogged there. Bill Cheshire punted to A&M's 35, and the Aggies got the ball at FSU's 48 after a piling-on penalty.

Four runs, including a fourth-and-inches sneak by Hargett, got a first down at the 37. Hargett passed to Stegent at the 24. But a run and two passes got only a yard. Bobby Riggs' 39-yard try for a field goal missed, and it looked as though FSU's Walt Sumner deflected it.

Then the two swapped interceptions.

First Bill Hobbs stole a Cappleman toss at the FSU 44. Three plays later, after Hargett had thrown to Elmendorf for 42, John Crowe swiped a Hargett bullet at the two, got back to the nine.

An offsides call against the Aggies on a punt kept FSU moving, up to its 41. But Gunter fumbled when hit hard, and Ivan Jones claimed the ball for A&M at FSU's 46.

Hargett passed to Bob Long for 11. Elmendorf, loose on the option up the middle, knocked off 15 to the 20. After Stegent gained naught, Elmendorph cut sharply to his right and raced into the end zone. Riggs capped the 20-yard TD run with an extra point that tied it 7-7 with 8:04 remaining in the second quarter.

The Seminoles couldn't cut it after the kickoff, and Cheshire punted to A&M's 38.

On second down, Stegent went wide and, on a dazzling run, eluding tacklers right and left, knocked off 47 yards to FSU's 15. Once more on that option Elmendorf hit the middle and scored rather easily. Riggs' point made it 14-7 with 6:38 remaining in the half.

Bailey's 16-yard run lifted FSU to its 45. Cappleman kept and gained the Aggies' 47. Bailey picked up four more, then caught a Cappleman pass for 11 to the 32. John Pittman, on a sweep, danced for 16 and a first down on the 16.

Pittman, in two more runs, gained the 10, and on fourth down, Guthrie narrowed the score to 14-10 with a 26-yard field goal.

John Richardson's kickoff went awry, off the side of his foot, and A&M got a crack from its 42.

Then Floyd Ratliff hit Hargett as he pitched out to Stegent, precipitating a fumble on an errant toss, and Ron Wallace recovered the ball for Florida State at the Aggies' 34.

Third down at the 28, and Cappleman nailed Pederson with a pass at the seven. But Cappleman got nailed for a loss of seven, back on the 14.

Third down again, and Cappleman passed to Cox over the middle, just inside the end zone, for six points.

When Guthrie kicked the point for a 17-14 FSU lead the clock showed 3:08.

Stegent was almost away on the kick retuen, wheeling up to his 41. Harvey Zion decked Hargett for a loss of five, but on third down Stegent, on the draw, gained a first down at FSU's 43. After Elmendorf gained eight, the Seminoles broke up two passes. Bob Long tried a 51-yard field goal. No good.

A penalty and a loss by Cappleman pushed FSU back to its two for a fourth-down punt with seven seconds left. But Stegent got nothing on the punt runback as time ran out in the half.

Cappleman passes had the Seminoles on the move some more soon after they got the seond half kickoff.

One to Sellers got 12, to the FSU 39, and another to Billy Cox netted 15 to A&M's 46. But the Aggies called a halt there. With a brisk wind to his back, the ball at A&M's 44, Guthrie tried a long, long field goal - and then another from five yards closer after a penalty. Neither shot was good.

Stegent, on a pitch out, got 17, and the Aggies pushed on to a first down at their 47. Eason caught Stegent for a loss of three, and Dale McCullers, blitzing, pulled Hargett down for minus four.

That forced A&M's first punt of the night. It was a poor one, 25 yards to FSU's 30.

Gunter, on a quick burst, raced for 16, and Bailey swept for nine to the A&M 45. Cappleman hit Gunter with successive passes, for 16 and 13 yards, for a first down at the 15.

Bailey pounded to the nine, Gunter to the five. But, on two sneaks, Cappleman was inches short of the first down. A&M had held.

On third down Steve O'Neal went back to punt, got a high snap. The ball traveled just 16 yards to the A&M 23.

But Tommy Maxwell intercepted Cappleman's first-down pass at the eight, ending that.

Elmendorf's 17-yard run got the Aggies to the 31, but soon O'Neal punted, a 45-yarder to FSU's 21.

On the first play of the last quarter Cappleman found Sellers with a pass that struck off 32 yards to A&M's 40.

After a penalty cost five, Cappleman hit Chip Glass with a 21-yarder at the 24.

Gunter reached the 23 but two passes missed. Guthrie came in, kicking into the wind, and was true on a 40-yard field goal, making it 20-14.

On two runs that bagged 24 yards Elmendorf reached the Aggies' 48, and Stegent struck for 13 to FSU's 39.

FSU defenders checked the push at the 35. On fourth down Long attempted a 52-yard field goal. No good.

The Seminoles couldn't operate from the 20, and Cheshire soon punted to the Aggies 41.

Four runs, one on fourth-and-one, got a first down at FSU's 48. Pass interference, called on Sumner, got a first down at the 36. Hargett, on a rollout, swept to the 16. But Stegent got nailed by Wallace and McCullers for a loss of four on a pitchout.

Next play Wallace hit Hargett as he threw, and John Crowe intercepted at the six, with 5:13 left.

A third down pass, Cappleman to Tyson, kept FSU going at the 30.

On another third-down play Gunter swept to midfield, but holding was called on the Seminoles and the sticks were moved back to the 21.

With 2:21 to go Cheshire got off a 25-yard punt to A&M's 46.

Barney Harris snared a Hargett pass at FSU's 44, and Stegent soon grabbed one at the 25.

Hargett threw one far over a receiver's head. Then Sumner picked off his next toss at the five, maneuvering up to the 10. The clock showed 46 seconds.

Cappleman fell down twice on the football, yielding two yards. A&M got penalized five for an illegal defensive maneuver and time ran out on a wild one.

  1st 2nd 3rd 4th Total
Texas A&M
0
14
0
0
14
Florida State
7
10
0
3
20

1st   0- 0  Opp, 43, field goal failed
      7- 0  Jim Tyson, 6, pass from Bill Cappleman (Grant Guthrie, kick), 7:47 
2nd   7- 0  Opp, 39, field goal blocked by Walt Sumner
      7- 7  Opp, 20, run (kick), 8:04 
      7-14  Opp, 15, run (kick), 6:38 
     10-14  Grant Guthrie, 27, field goal, 4:35 
     17-14  Billy Cox, 14, pass from Bill Cappleman (Grant Guthrie, kick), 3:08 
     17-14  Opp, 52, field goal failed, 1:01 
3rd  17-14  Grant Guthrie, 55, field goal failed
4th  20-14  Grant Guthrie, 40, field goal, 12:41
     20-14  Opp, 52, field goal failed, 10:11


TEAM STATISTICS
FSU OPP First downs 23 21 Rushes-yards 55-208 48-279 Passing 208 61 Att-Comp-Int 33-15-2 24-6-4 Total Yards 88-416 72-340 Punt Returns 1-1 1-2 Kickoff Returns 3-59 4-122 Interception Ret. 4-21 2-2 Fumble Returns 1-0 1-0 Punts 5-33.4 3-28.7 Fumbles-Lost 1-1 2-1 Penalties-Yds 5-49 3-15 Attendance 35,494 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS Rushing No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Tom Bailey 12 90 0 Bill Gunter 24 70 0 John Pittman 7 36 0 Bill Cappleman 12 12 0 --------------------------------------------- FSU 55 208 0 Opp 48 279 2 Receiving No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Ron Sellers 3 59 0 Don Pederson 2 39 0 Billy Cox 2 29 1 Bill Gunter 2 29 0 Jim Tyson 2 19 1 Chip Glass 1 17 0 Tom Bailey 1 11 0 Phil Abraira 1 6 0 John Pittman 1 -1 0 --------------------------------------------- FSU 15 208 2 Opp 6 61 0 Passing C- A- I Yds TD Lng ----------------------------------------------- Bill Cappleman 15 32 2 208 2 Tommy Warren 0 1 0 0 0 ----------------------------------------------- FSU 15 33 2 208 2 Opp 6 24 4 61 0 Punt Return No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Walt Sumner 1 1 0 --------------------------------------------- FSU 1 1 0 Opp 1 2 0 Kickoff Return No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Don Pederson 2 36 0 Tommy Warren 1 23 0 --------------------------------------------- FSU 3 59 0 Opp 4 122 0 Punting No Yds Lng ---------------------------------------- Bill Cheshire 5 167 ---------------------------------------- FSU 5 167 Opp 3 86 |---------Tackles---------| |---Sacks---| |---Pass Def---| |-Fumbles-| Blkd DEFENSIVE STATISTICS UT AT Total ForLoss No - Yards Int-Yds BrUp QBH Rcv-Yds FF Kick Saf ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dale McCullers 20 9 29 . . . . . . 1 . . John Crowe . . . . . 2- 16 . . . . . . Chuck Eason . . . . . 1- 0 . . . 1 . . Walt Sumner . . . . . 1- 5 . . . . 1 . Ron Wallace . . . . . . . . 1- 0 . 1 . Floyd Ratliff . . . . . . . . . 1 . . ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FSU 20 9 29 . . 4- 21 . . 1- 0 3 2 . Opp . . . . . 2- 2 . . 1- 0 . . . STARTERS
Pos  ##  OFFENSE
----------------------------------
QB   14  Bill Cappleman
LE   27  Billy Cox
FB   30  Tom Bailey
LH   31  Bill Gunter
FL   34  Ron Sellers
C    55  Ted Mosley
LG   64  Stan Walker
RG   68  Larry Pendleton
RT   75  Bill Rhodes
LT   76  Jack Fenwick
RE   81  Jim Tyson
Pos  ##  DEFENSE
----------------------------------
LH   21  John Pell
RS   22  Chuck Eason
LC   24  Walt Sumner
LS   41  John Crowe
LLB  47  Joe Benson
MLB  50  Dale McCullers
RLB  61  Chuck Elliott
RT   71  Harvey Zion
LT   79  Frank Vohun
RE   83  Ron Wallace
LE   85  Floyd Ratliff
PARTICIPANTS
##  NAME
-----------------------------
15  Tommy Warren
19  Phil Abraira
23  Don Pederson
33  Grant Guthrie
##  NAME
-----------------------------
42  Bill Cheshire
44  John Pittman
84  Chip Glass

Florida State 20, Memphis State 10

10/19/1968, Tallahassee, Fla.

Click here for program cover

From the Tallahassee Democrat, 10/20/1968, page 1C, by Bill McGrotha

TALLAHASSEE, FL - Name of Florida State's game is still "get the ball to Ron Sellers"...The gifted All-American flanker caught seven of the first eight passes Bill Cappleman completed here Saturday night, accounted for both of the Seminoles' touchdowns on plays of five and 38 yards, and caught 13, all told, as rough, ready Memphis State fell 20-10.

Sellers amassed 218 yards, with Cappleman on the throwing end, quarterbacking all the way.

The Tigers, who had swiped 10 passes in their previous two games, stole none of Cappleman's shots as he completed 18 of 34 for 279 yards.

Ahead 3-0 early on Grant Guthrie's 28-yard field goal, the Seminoles fell behind 7-3, then got back up 10-7 on Seller's first TD catch, got tied 10-10, went ahead for good in the third quarter on Sellers' 38-yard grab. Guthrie wrapped up the scoring with a 30-yard field goal.

Memphis, surprisingly, put a small dent in the Seminoles' No. 1-ranked pass defense, mainly by virtue of two completions - one for 52 yards, another for 35.

Overall, the Tigers managed to connect on just six of 12 throws, however, for 119 yards. Walt Sumner intercepted one.

Memphis sprung a dangerous running game, led by 220 pound fullback Ray Jamieson's 17 rushes for 92 yards. The Tigers also put a severe crimp in the Seminoles' running game, with the Seminoles netting just 103 yards, led by Tom Bailey's 59 in 17 carries.

The Seminoles, now 3-1 for the season, had 382 yards of offense, contrasted with Memphis' 274.

Memphis travelled 54 yards for its TD. A 21-yard kickoff return, following FSU's field goal, preceded Rick Thurow's 35-yard toss to Prentice Riley, and Jamieson's 18-yard romp to the one. Thurow scored from the one.

Riley caught all six passes that Memphis completed.

The Tigers marched 77 yards, from the second-half kickoff, to a tying field goal, which Pete Weeks hit from 25-yards range.

Florida State, which had paraded 83 yards for its first TD, got its second immediately after the tying Memphis 3-pointer, negotiating 65 yards in quick fashion.

Hurricane Gladys had provided only a big bluff in these parts, and this one was played in clear, pleasant weather before 30,182.

The Seminoles, taxed 49 yards in penalties to Memphis' 75, got big kicking from Bill Cheshire, who punted five times for a 43.6 average.

Memphis simply could maintain little offensive consistency against the Seminoles' aggressive Dale McCullers-led defense. The Tigers had a defensive leader of their own in monster-man Bill McRight, who frequently was in the right place.

In the last analysis, the Tigers simply could not handle a healty Ron Sellers, who pushed his 4-game catching record to 27 for an even 500 yards.


Bill Cappleman threw 34 passes Saturday night, and Ron Sellers caught 13 of them as Florida State topped Memphis State 20-10 in Campbell Stadium.

It was a frustrating night for the Tigers' aggressive defense, which had intercepted 11 passes in four previous games.

Memphis stole none Saturday night.

It started, like, boom!

FSU won the toss, chose to receive.

Tommy Warren tucked in the kickoff on his six, soon cut towards the sidelines - and sped 56 yards to the Memphis 38.

Bill Cappleman promptly cut loose with a pass to Bill Cox down on the 16, and the split end, with two defenders on him, couldn't quite reach the too-long toss. Cox was stretched out prone for a couple of minutes after monster-man Bill McRight hit him, and was helped off the field.

Two more Cappleman shots misfired, and Bill Cheshire punted neatly, to the Memphis two.

Three Tiger runs got seven yards. Durwood Gordon punted to the 45, and Walt Sumner wheeled it back to the 31.

But Bill Gunter got just two on a run, then was pulled down for a 4-yard loss by tackle Luis Fernandez. Cappleman's pass bounced off Chip Glass' chest at the 15.

Grant Guthrie tried a 50-yard field goal...short.

Three runs, sandwiched around an illegal-receiver-downfield penalty, had the Tigers on their 18 on fourth down. Gordon punted 43 yards, and Warren returned it four, to the FSU 43.

Bailey got just two, and Sellers dropped a medium-range pass. Then Cappleman dropped a bomb, and Sellers hung onto that one - very well indeed - at the 17, a 38-yard gainer.

Gunter got two. A pass missed. Cappleman, hemmed up, ran for five to the 12. Fourth down, and Guthrie kicked a 28-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead.

Memphis was sitting comfortably after Larry Byrd returned the kickoff 21 yards to his 46. First play, Rick Thurow fired a pass in the flats to wingman Preston Riley, and he raced away to FSU's 19 before Walt Sumner nabbed him. Promptly, on the draw, Ray Jamieson cut to his left and dug to the one before he was caught by John Pell. On third down, Thurow sneaked over for the score from half-yard range. Pete Weeks converted for 7-3.

A 10-yard pass to Sellers got the Seminoles to their 44 shortly after the kick return. More passes didn't do the job, and Cheshire kicked to the Memphis 21. Three plays, and Memphis kicked back, to FSU's 43.

Bailey, cutting on a power sweep, swept to the Memphis 42, a gain of 15. Bailey got five more on a similar play. But Memphis allowed nothing else, and Cheshire's punt rolled into the end zone.

Tribe defenders checked Memphis at the 41, forcing a punt that provided a new start at the FSU 21. A 14-yard pass to Sellers gained the 35. But the Memphis pass-rush allowed no more completions. Cheshire punted - a whopping 61-yarder that rolled into the end zone.

Three plays, to the 29, and the Tigers replied with another punt, a 54-yarder to FSU's 17.

Third down at the 21, and Sellers caught a Cappleman shot over the middle to keep things going at the 34. Bailey caught a pass for nine. On a key third-down play, Gunter squirmed for an extra yard when tackled and barely got the first down at the 44.

Sellers then caught one at the Memphis 44, and a personal-foul assessment on the play moved the sticks to the Tiger 26.

Barry Wenhold banged for four, and Bailey for three, to the 19. Bailey powered to the 10 - but illegal procedure nullified it. Back on the 23, Cappleman pitched to Sellers at the nine.

Gunter slipped through to the five, and a face-mask grab made it a first down at the 2 1/2. Bailey got a yard. Then Cappleman dropped back, maneuvered, waited - and finally reared back and threw over the middle to Sellers who made a diving end-zone catch for the touchdown. Guthrie's point kick put FSU in front 10-3 with 2:31 left in the half.

Memphis was content to run out the clock, risking no passes as it worked the ball up to its 40 as time expired in the first half.

The Tigers had cut out only four first downs, hit just two of three passes at this point - but they had made a big movement when it counted. Cappleman had completed eight of 20 throws for 117 yards - and Sellers had caught seven of them for 108!

FSU defensive end Doug Gurr was hurt on the kickoff as Memphis started a quick march from its 23.

Thurow, on the dead run, passed to Riley for 14 at the 38, then turned Jamieson loose on the draw, to the 49. Seemingly trapped, Thurow spun up the middle for 12 to FSU's 39.

Another short pass to Riley on the sidelines soon netted the 28. Two runs, one by Thurow for seven, got a first down at the 16.

But Jamieson, on the draw again, got just a yard as Ronnie Wallace nailed him. A pass was ruled trapped at the one. Thurow got decked on the 19, but a foul was called on Tribe tacklers, bringing fourth down at the nine.

Weeks kicked a 25-yard field goal to tie it 10-10.

Warren brought the Memphis kickoff from his eight to the 34. Two big Bailey runs led to the 45. Then McRight blitzed, socked Cappleman for a 10-yard loss.

Cappleman picked himself up and found Glass with a 9-yarder.

On the next one, Cappleman fired hard to Sellers. The ball sailed through his hands - but Glass was present for a sensational diving catch at the Memphis 38.

Next play Cappleman found Sellers slanting in at the 15, put one in his hands, and he cruised in for the TD.

Guthrie's point kick made it 17-10 with much time still left in the third quarter.

A clipping penalty set Memphis back on its 22 following a good kick return.

Danny Pierce suddenly unleashed a bomb to Riley, who grabbed it for a 52-yard pickup to FSU's 26.

Two more passes failed, and a Wallace-led blitz brought Pierce down on the 34. A 50-yard attempt for a field goal by Weeks was short.

A holding penalty rubbed out a 14-yard Sellers catch at the FSU 46, stymying FSU's next bid. Cheshire got off a 50-yard punt, pushing Memphis to its 24.

Pierce soon tore away on a 29-yard run to the Tiger 48, but two plays later Sumner intercepted Thurow's running pass, putting FSU in business at its 44.

Bailey caught a Cappleman pass for 11, and a foul placed FSU at the Memphis 30. But Bailey fumbled on the following play, and Alex Dees claimed the ball for Memphis at the 29.

FSU's defense reared up, and Memphis soon punted, providing a new Seminole start at the FSU 40. Bailey ran for 11, to the Memphis 47, on the last play of the quarter.

Bailey got four more, and John Pittman seven to the 36. Pittman probed on to the 29. After a five yard penalty, Sellers grabbed a pass for a first down at the 20.

Pittman got four, and then, after a pass missed, three more. Fourth down, and Guthrie booted a 30-yard field goal for 20-10 with 11:44 remaining in the final period.

A clipping call on the kick runback pushed Memphis to its 13. The Tigers probed to their 25, but no further.

FSU started on its 40 after a punt. Third down at the 38, and Sellers grabbed a 25-yard Cappleman toss at the Memphis 37. Memphis brought a halt at its 33, however. Guthrie missed a 50-yard attempt for a 3-pointer.

A pass-interference call, on third down, helped Memphis to its 35. Jamieson got away for 17 to FSU's 48. But Larry Byrd soon fumbled, and Harvey Zion claimed it for the Seminoles at the 46.

Cappleman hit Sellers at the Memphis 45, and Terry Eagerton got a first down at the 40. Cappleman was decked, on a blitz, back at the 45. Cappleman threw to Sellers once more, for a catch at the 32.

Three seconds left, and Cox on a tricky reverse, sailed to the Memphis 15 before he was cut down. A quite brief fistic flareup followed, polishing off a rough-rough football game.

  1st 2nd 3rd 4th Total
Memphis State
7
0
3
0
10
Florida State
3
7
7
3
20

1st   0- 0  Grant Guthrie, 50, field goal failed
      3- 0  Grant Guthrie, 28, field goal, 7:14 
      3- 7  Opp, 1, run (kick), 4:55 
2nd  10- 7  Ron Sellers, 4, pass from Bill Cappleman (Grant Guthrie, kick), 2:31 
3rd  10-10  Opp, 25, field goal, 10:26
     17-10  Ron Sellers, 38, pass from Bill Cappleman (Grant Guthrie, kick), 7:00 
     17-10  Opp, 50, field goal failed
4th  20-10  Grant Guthrie, 30, field goal, 11:44
     20-10  Grant Guthrie, 50, field goal failed


TEAM STATISTICS
FSU OPP First downs 21 14 Rushes-yards 39-103 47-155 Passing 279 119 Att-Comp-Int 34-18-0 12-6-1 Total Yards 73-382 59-274 Punt Returns 4-13 1-4 Kickoff Returns 3-100 5-86 Interception Ret. 1-4 0-0 Fumble Returns 1-0 1-0 Punts 5-43.6 7-38.9 Fumbles-Lost 1-1 3-1 Penalties-Yds 5-49 7-75 Attendance 30,182 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS Rushing No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Tom Bailey 17 59 0 John Pittman 7 21 0 Billy Cox 1 18 0 Bill Gunter 8 5 0 Terry Eagerton 1 4 0 Barry Wenhold 1 4 0 Bill Cappleman 4 -8 0 --------------------------------------------- FSU 39 103 0 Opp 47 155 1 Receiving No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Ron Sellers 13 218 2 Chip Glass 2 27 0 Tom Bailey 2 20 0 Billy Cox 1 14 0 --------------------------------------------- FSU 18 279 2 Passing C- A- I Yds TD Lng ----------------------------------------------- Bill Cappleman 18 34 0 279 2 ----------------------------------------------- FSU 18 34 0 279 2 Opp 6 12 1 119 0 Punt Return No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Walt Sumner 3 9 0 Tommy Warren 1 4 0 --------------------------------------------- FSU 4 13 0 Opp 1 4 0 Kickoff Return No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Tommy Warren 3 100 0 56 --------------------------------------------- FSU 3 100 0 56 Opp 5 86 0 Punting No Yds Lng ---------------------------------------- Bill Cheshire 5 218 ---------------------------------------- FSU 5 218 Opp 7 272 |---------Tackles---------| |---Sacks---| |---Pass Def---| |-Fumbles-| Blkd DEFENSIVE STATISTICS UT AT Total ForLoss No - Yards Int-Yds BrUp QBH Rcv-Yds FF Kick Saf ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Walt Sumner . . . . . 1- 4 . . . . . . Harvey Zion . . . . . . . . 1- 0 . . . ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FSU 0 0 0 . . 1- 4 . . 1- 0 . . . Opp . . . . . . . . 1- 0 . . . STARTERS
Pos  ##  OFFENSE
----------------------------------
QB   14  Bill Cappleman
LE   27  Billy Cox
FB   30  Tom Bailey
LH   31  Bill Gunter
FL   34  Ron Sellers
C    55  Ted Mosley
LG   64  Stan Walker
RG   68  Larry Pendleton
RT   75  Bill Rhodes
LT   76  Jack Fenwick
RE   81  Jim Tyson
Pos  ##  DEFENSE
----------------------------------
RC   21  John Pell
RS   22  Chuck Eason
LC   24  Walt Sumner
LS   41  John Crowe
LLB  47  Joe Benson
MLB  50  Dale McCullers
RLB  61  Chuck Elliott
RT   71  Harvey Zion
LT   79  Frank Vohun
RE   83  Ron Wallace
LE   85  Floyd Ratliff
PARTICIPANTS
##  NAME
-----------------------------
15  Tommy Warren
26  Barry Wenhold
33  Grant Guthrie
42  Bill Cheshire
##  NAME
-----------------------------
44  John Pittman
49  Terry Eagerton
80  Doug Gurr
84  Chip Glass

Florida State 35, South Carolina 28

10/26/1968, Columbia, S.C.

Click here for program cover

From the Tallahassee Democrat, 10/27/1968, page 1C, by Bill McGrotha

COLUMBIA, SC - Ron Sellers, the incomparable, caught 16 passes for 248 yards, both school records, and scored three touchdowns as Florida State finally muzzled South Carolina 35-28 in an incredible, pass happy football game here Saturday night.

Despite the considerable heroics of Sellers and quarterback Bill Cappleman, who was in on every play for FSU's third straight game, the Seminoles' fourth victory in five starts might not have been possible without the timely contribution of sophomore Steve Gildea.

With Carolina leading 28-21 in the third quarter and standing with a first down at FSU's 25, Gildea stole a Tommy Suggs pass and raced 48 yards to Carolina's 33. The Seminoles quickly capitalized for a tying TD.

Then, with 50 seconds left in the game, and Carolina in FSU's territory, Gildea swiped another Suggs pass to kill battling Carolina's last hopes on this homecoming evening.

The Seminoles, who went into this one ranked second nationally in pass defense, were chewed up and spat out by the 5-9, 172-pound Suggs, a sophomore scrambler whose rollout tosses FSU found nearly unstoppable.

Here was the scoring sequence as a capacity 42,038 fans stood on their feet much of the way during this fair, chilly night:

(1) Carolina marched from the opening kickoff to a touchdown with Suggs scoring from 5-yards range.

(2) Sellers caught a 19-yard scoring toss from Cappleman.

(3) Tom Bailey plunged over from the two after John Pittman paved it with a 24-yard scamper.

(4) Suggs passed to Eddie Bolton for a TD on a 50-yard pass.

(5) Bill Gunter scored on a 42-yard pass from Cappleman.

(6) Suggs tossed a 7-yard payoff pass to Johnny Gregory, making it a 21-21 halftime tie.

(7) Ben Galloway, the game's leading runner with 68 yards in 16 carries, scored from two yards out after a drive sparked by Suggs' running and passing.

(8) Sellers caught a 20-yard scoring pass from Cappleman.

(9) Sellers grabbed a 16-yard pass from Cappleman, making the score a final 35-28 with 10:15 left in the game.

Suggs completed 24 of 37 passes for 324 yards - the most passing yardage ever against FSU - and Cappleman connected on 25 of 42 for a fantastic 437 yards, which was a school record pass-yardage sum for FSU. Cappleman, who lost six yards running, also set a school single game record for total offense, 431 yards.

Overall FSU rolled up 568 yards, another school mark. Carolina, now 1-4 for the year, amassed 484.

The game nearly got out of the hands of harrassed officials. There were a number of disputed calls, and some general confusion among the officials themselves.

FSU's winning TD came after a puzzling 80-yard push that saw four penalties called. It was apparently fourth-and-33 at FSU's 16 when Bill Cheshire was roughed as he punted. Then the officials, after stepping off the penalty, ruled it third down at the 30. From that point, Cappleman passed the Seminoles to a decisive TD.

FSU was penalized nine times for 69 yards. Carolina four times for 44. Each team lost one fumble. FSU intercepted three passes, Carolina just one.

Gunter led FSU's running game, which accounted for 131 yards, with 60 in 15 carries.

In the last analysis it as Suggs, with his unbelievable scrambling, that left FSU defenders confused and in the wrong place when he threw or ran. Suggs was thrown for 18 yards in losses but he had a net of 46.

Time after time Suggs went to fullback Galloway - who hadn't caught a single pass in five previous games this year Galloway caught 11 in this one, for 106 yards, while the Seminoles keyed on flanker Fred Zigler, who pulled in four for 53.


Carolina had a most energetic start on this fair chilly evening.

Starting at its 25, after receiving the game-opening kick, the Gamecocks pushed Florida State around like the Seminoles were supposed to move them out, negotiating 75 yards to a touchdown in nine plays.

Slashing off tackle on the first play, Ben Galloway got 16. Two plays later, on an identical run, Galloway got 14 to FSU's 41. On third down at the 35, Tommy Suggs rolled out, threw to Galloway on the sidelines - his first catch of the season - and the fullback rambled for 26 yards and a first down at the nine.

It came to third down at the five, and Suggs, on the rollout, swept into the end zone standing up. Billy Dupre kicked the point for 7-0.

And here came the Seminoles, pitching and catching.

First play after the kickoff runback, and Bill Cappleman tossed to Chip Glass for a 23-yard pick up after Cappleman was decked for minus 11, he tossed a screen pass to Tom Bailey, who sailed to Carolina's 41.

Then Cappleman nailed Ron Sellers with one at the 27. After Bill Gunter lost a yard running, he gained 21 via a pass, pulling down a Cappleman shot at the seven.

It came to frustration there. Bailey got just a yard, and Cappleman lost three. FSU fans thought Sellers' tumbling catch in the end zone a touchdown. But an official waved his arms, a bit late, ruling he had trapped the ball. Grant Guthrie's fourth-down attempt for a 25-yard field goal was wide.

The Gamecocks couldn't move from their 20, and punted. FSU started at its 36 and marched to a 7-7 tie.

Cappleman threw 13 yards to Sellers, then found Sellers for 10 more. Gunter, on the sweep, dug for 17 to Carolina's 24. An interference call brought a first down at the 18. On third down at the 19, Cappleman threw over the middle to Sellers at the goal line for an easy payoff. Guthrie's point kick tied it.

A Suggs pass collaboration picked up 16 and put Carolina in business at FSU's 49. But the movement bogged, and Billy Parker's punt was weak, 19 yards to the 27.

Gunter struck for five yards, then for 10 on a sweep as the second quarter opened. Sellers caught a 14-yarder at the Carolina 44. Another pass-interference ruling placed FSU at the 26.

John Pittman, on an off-tackle run, cut suddenly and dashed for 24 yards to the two. Next play Bailey leaped over defenders and crashed into the end zone. Guthrie's point kick gave FSU a 14-7 lead.

FSU kicked off, and the runback was to the Carolina 28. But the Seminoles were ruled offsides and Carolina elected to take another kick. Bailey tucked in this boot and raced 31 yards to the 50.

Promptly, Suggs rolled out and passed long to split end Eddie Bolton, who had whipped his coverage near the sideline. He raced in for a touchdown, and Dupre's kick tied it again 14-14.

Tommy Warren returned the kickoff to the 36. Sellers soon caught 10 and 13-yard passses to propell FSU to the Carolina 42. Thereupon, Cappleman found Gunter zipping down the sideline behind defenders and hit him with a strike and a 42-yard play payoff.

Guthrie's point made it 21-14.

Back came Carolina on the next series.

A Suggs pass to Fred Ziegler got 19 to FSU's 43. Johnny Gregory caught a 10-yarder, then a 19-yarder at FSU's 14.

On fourth down at the seven, Carolina spurned a field-goal try. Suggs passed to Gregory who made the catch just as he went out of bounds a yard or so across the goal. An official, who was right there, ruled it good. DuPre's toe was true again and it was 21-21 with plenty of time still left in the quarter.

With Sellers tucking in a 23-yarder, FSU vaulted quickly to Carolina's 40. But Pittman fumbled as he reached the 30 on a run, and the ball bounced to the 22, where George McCarthy recovered for the Gamecocks.

Mixing up its attack, Carolina charged to FSU's 40, where fans' yells to go for it on fourth-and-one were ignored. A punt rolled into the end zone.

Catches of 17 and 20 yards by Sellers, after a loss of 15 by Cappleman, had FSU at its 42, where a roughing call on the Gamecocks provided a lift to Carolina's 43 with 1:05 remaining in the half.

But Cappleman was soon pushed back to the 50 and a fourth down pass missed. Carolina took over but Chuck Elliott short-circuited a desperation pass with an interception. Eight seconds remained. Cappleman ran a couple of times before time expired.

Sellers at this point had caught 10 passes for 151 yards.

FSU led in first downs, 18 to 11, had 250 yards passing on 14 completions in 22 throws, and had not had to punt. Carolina hit on 10 of 14 throws for 175 yards.

But the no-punting situation for FSU didn't last long.

Warren was stopped, rather abruptly, on the kickoff runback of the third quarter at the 20. Bailey, on the draw, got five, then picked up 13 off tackle.

Gunter rammed to the 43. Passes failed at that point, and Bill Cheshire entered the game, punting to Carolina's 24.

A short pass to Zigler netted to the 35. Then Suggs, on the rollout, turned on the speed and rambled 33 yards to FSU's 33 before he was halted.

On third down at the 30, Suggs faded far, then farther as defenders blitzed, but he evaded the chargers and on a play you wouldn't believe suddenly threw deep to Galloway who whipped to FSU's 11 on the pass.

Next play Suggs tossed to Rudy Holloman at the three, and a penalty put the Gamecocks at the two. Galloway rammed across from there. Dupre's point brought things to 28-21.

Bailey, on the screen, got 16 to FSU's 34. After a loss of four, Glass caught an 18-yard toss at the 48. Sellers soon pulled in a 12-yarder at Carolina's 39. Cappleman, trapped, ran to the 32.

Two passes, including a halfback shot by Gary Pajcic missed, and Guthrie tried a 50-yard field goal. The kick was short.

Suggs running and passing quickly gained to the 50.

And Suggs tossed to Galloway at the FSU 38, then Ziegler at the 25.

On first down at the 25, Suggs threw again - and FSU sophomore linebacker Steve Gildea intercepted, skipping 48 yards down the sidelines to FSU's 33.

Gunter swept all the way to the 20. After a pass to the right missed, Cappleman turned to his left, found Sellers on the sidelines. Sellers pulled in the pass, squirmed, cut and danced into the end zone. Guthrie kicked the point for 28-28 with 2:34 left in the third quarter.

Suggs passed to Galloway for eight, then ran for 18, to FSU's 48. On third down, however, Ronnie Wallace got to Suggs, nailed him for a loss of six. Parker's punt rolled into the end zone.

Cappleman passed to Billy Cox at the 41. Then two completions to midfield were rubbed out by penalties - one for holding, one for illegal procedure.

Then, on an incomplete pass, an official said an illegal receiver was downfield. FSU found itself at its 16, third down and 35 to go.

After another pass missed, Cheshire was roughed as he punted. There followed one heckuva mix-up. After stepping off the penalty to the 30, officials finally ruled third-and-20 for FSU, instead of fourth-and-20.

So...Cappleman passed to Cox at the 50, and the officials said it was first down. So...after Gunter got naught, Cappleman threw to Sellers for 28 at the 22.

Bailey smashed for six. Then Cappleman hit Sellers near the sideline, and he converted the toss into a 16-yard touchdown play. Guthrie kicked another point for 35-28 with 10:15 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Carolina got to midfield with the help of a pass-interference ruling. Then Harvey Zion got to Suggs, racking him for a loss of nine, and Carolina soon punted to FSU's 13.

Sellers caught his 15th pass, a 5-yarder, and then his 16th, a 29-yarder to FSU's 47. More passes fell incomplete. Cheshire punted. On the runback Tyler Hellums fumbled the ball, and tackle Jack Fenwick covered it for FSU at the Carolina 21.

Third down at the 18, and Cappleman's pass was deflected, then intercepted by Hellums, who fumbled again, with Roy Don Reeves recovering for Carolina at the three with 5:12 left.

Suggs couldn't pass out of that hole. Parker punted out of bounds at the Carolina 38. FSU soon got penalized to its own 49 for holding. From the Carolina 46, Cheshire punted, and the Seminoles downed it on the five with 2:50 showing on the clock.

Short passes to Galloway gained the 17. Third down there, and Suggs, chased back to his goal line, threw as he was tackled, and Holloman converted it into a 23-yard gain to the 40. Then Suggs hit Ziegler at FSU's 41.

With 50 seconds left Gildea popped up with his second big interception, and wheeled to the Carolina 3.

The Seminoles were happy to run out the clock.

  1st 2nd 3rd 4th Total
Florida State
7
14
7
7
35
South Carolina
7
14
7
0
28

1st   0- 7  Opp, 5, run (kick), 10:34
      0- 7  Grant Guthrie, 25, field goal failed
      7- 7  Ron Sellers, 19, pass from Bill Cappleman (Grant Guthrie, kick), 2:24 
2nd  14- 7  Tom Bailey, 2, run (Grant Guthrie, kick), 13:23
     14-14  Opp, 50, pass (kick), 12:59
     21-14  Bill Gunter, 42, pass from Bill Cappleman (Grant Guthrie, kick), 10:41
     21-21  Opp, 7, pass (kick), 6:45 
3rd  21-28  Opp, 2, run (kick), 10:38
     21-28  Grant Guthrie, 50, field goal failed
     28-28  Ron Sellers, 20, pass from Bill Cappleman (Grant Guthrie, kick), 2:34 
4th  35-28  Ron Sellers, 16, pass from Bill Cappleman (Grant Guthrie, kick), 10:15


TEAM STATISTICS
FSU OPP First downs 28 25 Rushes-yards 37-131 38-160 Passing 437 324 Att-Comp-Int 43-25-1 37-24-3 Total Yards 80-568 75-484 Punt Returns 2-13 2-10 Kickoff Returns 5-98 5-71 Interception Ret. 3-87 1-2 Fumble Returns 1-0 1-0 Punts 3-37.3 6-38.2 Fumbles-Lost 1-1 2-1 Penalties-Yds 9-69 4-44 Attendance 42,038 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS Rushing No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Bill Gunter 15 60 0 16 John Pittman 4 48 0 24 Tom Bailey 7 29 1 13 Billy Cox 1 0 0 0 Bill Cappleman 10 -6 0 7 --------------------------------------------- FSU 37 131 1 24 Opp 38 160 2 32 Receiving No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Ron Sellers 16 259 3 29 Bill Gunter 2 62 1 42t Chip Glass 2 40 0 22 Billy Cox 2 40 0 21 Tom Bailey 2 31 0 16 John Pittman 1 5 0 5 --------------------------------------------- FSU 25 437 4 42t Opp 24 324 2 50t Passing C- A- I Yds TD Lng ----------------------------------------------- Bill Cappleman 25 42 1 437 4 42t Gary Pajcic 0 1 0 0 0 0 ----------------------------------------------- FSU 25 43 1 437 4 42t Opp 24 37 3 324 2 50t Punt Return No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Tommy Warren 2 13 0 9 --------------------------------------------- FSU 2 13 0 9 Opp 2 10 0 9 Kickoff Return No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Tommy Warren 5 98 0 28 --------------------------------------------- FSU 5 98 0 28 Opp 5 71 0 31 Punting No Yds Lng ---------------------------------------- Bill Cheshire 3 112 41 ---------------------------------------- FSU 3 112 41 Opp 6 229 51 |---------Tackles---------| |---Sacks---| |---Pass Def---| |-Fumbles-| Blkd DEFENSIVE STATISTICS UT AT Total ForLoss No - Yards Int-Yds BrUp QBH Rcv-Yds FF Kick Saf ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chuck Elliott 11 10 21 . . 1- 8 . . . . . . Dale McCullers 8 3 11 . . . . . . . . . Steve Gildea . . . . . 2- 79 . . . . . . Jack Fenwick . . . . . . . . 1- 0 . . . ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FSU 19 13 32 . . 3- 87 . . 1- 0 . . . Opp . . . . . 1- 2 . . 1- 0 . . . STARTERS
Pos  ##  OFFENSE
----------------------------------
QB   14  Bill Cappleman
SE   27  Billy Cox
FB   30  Tom Bailey
LH   31  Bill Gunter
FL   34  Ron Sellers
C    55  Ted Mosley
LG   64  Stan Walker
RG   68  Larry Pendleton
RT   75  Bill Rhodes
LT   76  Jack Fenwick
TE   81  Jim Tyson
Pos  ##  DEFENSE
----------------------------------
RC   21  John Pell
RS   22  Chuck Eason
LC   24  Walt Sumner
LS   41  John Crowe
LLB  47  Joe Benson
MLB  50  Dale McCullers
RLB  61  Chuck Elliott
RT   71  Harvey Zion
LT   79  Frank Vohun
RE   83  Ron Wallace
LE   85  Floyd Ratliff
PARTICIPANTS
##  NAME
-----------------------------
15  Tommy Warren
16  Gary Pajcic
33  Grant Guthrie
42  Bill Cheshire
##  NAME
-----------------------------
44  John Pittman
58  Steve Gildea
84  Chip Glass

Virginia Tech 40, Florida State 22

11/02/1968, Tallahassee, Fla.

Click here for program cover

From the Tallahassee Democrat, 11/3/1968, page 1C, by Bill McGrotha

TALLAHASSEE, FL - Under a cool, black November sky, Virginia Tech rode again, cuffing Florida State's football team around just about every way there is to cuff somebody around, and shooting the Seminoles out of the saddle 40-22 here Saturday night.

Virginia Tech intercepted six passes, and fullback Ken Edwards intercepted no telling how many would-be defenders.

A 6-1, 202-pounder and transplanted linebacker, Edwards sprinted and rammed for 197 yards in 17 carries. All the Seminoles will vouch that he does indeed do the 100 in 10-flat as billed.

Whatever this happening was, it certainly was no fluke.

Making the most of three first-half interceptions, the Gobblers, en route to their fourth victory in seven starts, led 31-7 at intermission.

Tech defenders hovered around the Seminoles' whiz receiver Ron Sellers like a bunch of doting mothers. Nevertheless, they chastised him severely the first three times he caught passes, drawing 15-yard penalties for roughing on each occasion. Sellers caught just four, for 56 yards.

Quarterback Bill Cappleman, who generally had plenty of time to throw, often found all of his receivers covered. When he was on target, he also often found receivers dropping the ball.

For the most part, the Seminoles could only suffer this one out and contemplate the prospects of a 4-2 record with Mississippi State, Wake Forest, N.C. State and Houston left.

Here's how the scoring went:

(1) Tech marched 80 yards and scored the first time it got the ball on a 32-yard field goal by Jack Simscak, a tremendous kicker in all departments this evening.

(2) Terry Smoot got a TD from three yards out after Tech's first interception set the Gobblers up at FSU's 15.

(3) Cappleman tossed a 34-yard payoff strike to tight end Jim Tyson, the Seminole' most effective receiver in this one.

(4) Quarterback Al Kincaid passed 14 yards to Edwards after a second interception provided Tech a start at FSU's 28.

(5) Edwards broke on an 88-yard scoring run just after the third interception.

(6) George Constantinides burst up the middle on a 10-yard scoring run just after Florida State fumbled away the football trying a tricky lateral on a kickoff runback.

(7) Simscak kicked a 26-yard field goal after interception No. 4.

(8) Tyson pulled in a 5-yard scoring pass from Cappleman after the Seminoles marched 63 yards on the heels of a recovered Tech fumble.

(9) Kincaid bootlegged 12 yards and scored the first fourth-quarter points FSU has yielded this season. That followed interception No. 5.

(10) Gary Pajcic pulled in a 25-yard scoring pass from Tommy Warren, who gave FSU a lift with his late-game scampering in his first service at quarterback.

The Gobblers ran up a staggering 382 yards on the ground, passed for just 53 as Kincaid hit on seven of 15 throws.

Tech's 435 yards of total offense topped FSU's 407, with 265 coming in the air as Cappleman completed just 18 of 45 for 240, and Warren one of four for 25. Tyson grabbed six throws for 112.

Tech's aggressiveness cost 120 yards in penalties, while FSU was taxed with 52.

Ironically, FSU was obliged to punt only twice. Simscak averaged 47 yards on five boots as Tech kept the Seminoles backed up most of the way.


Six interceptions, one fumble recovery - and Virginia Tech scored points every time except the last time.

That was the sum of it as the Gobblers cut down Florida State 40-22 before 31,000-plus fans Saturday night in Campbell Stadium.

Only after the last interception, in the games waning moments with the final tally already on the board, did Tech fail to take scoring advantage of those FSU errors.

From the beginning few things went right for the Seminoles.

Florida State, after receiving the game-opening kick and strting at its 28 quickly drove to the Tech 22.

Bill Cappleman opened with a 15-yard pass to Tom Bailey. Bill Gunter picked up six to the FSU 49, and on the next play a flag dropped as Tech defenders tried to stop Ron Sellers by the simple expedient of holding him as Cappleman threw his way. The 15-yard penalty helped the Tribe to Tech's 36.

Gunter got four and Bailey swept for 10 to the 22. But John Pittman picked up just a yard and a half, a pass missed, and Bailey was stopped short.

On fourth down Grant Guthrie's 36-yard field goal attempt was wide.

Tech took over, and immediatley sent Ken Edwards crashing off tackle for 13. Two plays later Chuck Elliott appeared to intercept Al Kincaid's low pass - but an official ruled it had touched the ground before the linebacker grabbed it.

Kincaid then turned Edwards loose on a draw play, for 24 yards to FSU's 43. On another third-down play Edwards took off again on the draw, for 13 to the 30. Three more runs brought a first down at the 15.

Three plays lost a yard as Kincaid's first pass completion, to Smoot, resulted in a 2-yard setback. Fourth down, and Jack Simscak kicked a 32-yard field goal for a 3-0 Tech lead.

It was soon 10-0.

Cappleman overthrew Billy Cox, and Ron Davidson intercepted for Tech, danced 23 yards to FSU's 15.

George Constantinides soon bucked for seven, to the seven, and Edwards made it a first down at the three. Next play Smoot powered off the left side for six points. Simscak's point-after boot brought it to 10-0.

Moving from its 20, Florida State rallied smartly.

Sellers' first pass catch, his only one of the first half, was a 15-yard pickup to the 35. Three runs by Baiiley, plus a short pass to Pittman, gained Tech's 48. A bit later Cappleman's 11-yard toss to Jim Tyson gained the 35.

On the first play of the second quarter Cappleman again went to Tyson, found him wide open at the 10, and it was a 34-yard touchdown payoff. Guthrie's point kick narrowed it to 10-7.

Two illegal-procedure penalties, in succession, helped hinder the Gobblers on their next series. Simscak boomed a 56-yard punt that Walt Sumner returned for 10, to FSU's 30.

Whereupon, two plays later, Mike Widger found a Cappleman pass sailing right into his arms, and Tech was in business at FSU's 28 after the interception.

Kincaid's 10-yard run brought a first down at the 14. Then Kincaid rolled out, threw to Edwards for an easy touchdown. He caught the ball just short of the goal line, and went in standing up. Simscak's point kick made it 17-7 with 11:24 left in the half.

A Cappleman pass to Cox got 17, and a personal foul on the play lifted the Seminoles to Tech's 45. Gunter and Bailey led on to the 34.

Then Cappleman, seemingly trapped for a loss, got loose and threw long to Sellers near the goal. The loss was a bit short and Lenny Smith intercepted at the 12.

That started things moving from the ridiculous to the incredible.

Edwards, on a slant off tackle, was suddenly clear and thundering 88 yards to a touchdown. Simscak added another point for 24-7. Edwards' run for 88 matched a record against FSU. Miami's Mike Vacchio negotiated the same distance from scrimmage in 1951.

On the kickoff Tommy Warren lateraled back to Gary Pajcic, who dropped the ball. John Ivanac recovered the fumble for Tech on the 10.

More lightning...Constantinides promptly shot up the middle for a touchdown. Another Simscak point made it 31-7.

Constantly booming kickoffs into the end zone, Simscak powered another in for no return. The Seminoles couldn't move from the 20 as Cappleman, unable to find an open receiver, got tossed for a 13-yard loss. He made it up with a 19-yard toss to Tyson, but it came to fourth down and Bill Cheshire punted to Tech's 34.

Simscak soon replied with a 56-yard punt to FSU's eight. Tyson caught another Cappleman pass, at the 24. Phil Abraira was open, for an apparent TD, as Cappleman went for the bomb, but the pass was a little long. After Cappleman lost seven, Cheshire punted to Tech's 37.

Two passes, Kincaid to Edwards, quickly got the Virginians to FSU's 31. There the Seminoles stood firm. Two more passes missed and, on third down, tackle Bob McEachern racked Kincaid for a loss of seven.

Simscak tried a 55-yard field goal. Amazingly, in view of the way things were going, he didn't make it.

With less than a minute left FSU worked the ball to midfield before the clock brought a halt. A reverse, with flanker Phil Abraira carrying, had gained 23 yards.

Tech's offensive line continued brushing aside FSU defenders as the third quarter opened.

The Gobblers started at their 18. On third down Smoot popped off tackle for 29 yards to FSU's 43. More Smoot runs cut out a first down at the 32, then the 22.

It came to third down at the 27, and as Kincaid, rushed hard, faded deep and threw, an official ruled interference by FSU's John Pell on Donny Cupp at the 11. It was the first penalty called on FSU.

But the Gobblers got no further than the three, and Simscak's field-goal try there missed.

The Virginians had, however, consumed almost half of the quarter on that push.

Then, lo, Widger intercepted another Cappleman pass, at the 23.

FSU defenders allowed no penetration beyond the 19 in three plays. Simscak then kicked a 36-yard field goal for 34-7.

Less than six minutes remained in the quarter as Warren returned the kickoff 31 yards to the 31.

Cappleman fired a 27-yard pass to Tyson at Tech's 42.

Then Sellers pulled in his second reception, an 8-yarder, and again came a personal-foul call as the Gobblers tackled him. That placed FSU at the 20.

On third down, after two previous incompletions, Abraira dropped a throw as he fell across the goal line. Then Cox dropped one on similar play.

Tech again took over. Constantinides' running pushed Tech to midfield. A roughing-the-passer call soon had Tech at FSU's 27. On third down Constantinides fumbled as he tried for the yardage on the draw, and Doug Gurr claimed the ball for FSU at the 27.

Cappleman kept, got 11. But he lost eight on the next play as the third quarter ran out.

Sellers caught his third, a 20-yarder at the 50. Once again Tech roughed him on the tackle, and FSU had the ball at Tech's 35 after the penalty.

Cox caught one at the 23. Two plays later Cox, on the end-around, swept for 18 to the five. Second down there, and Cappleman hit Tyson in the end zone with a TD pass. Guthrie's point kick cut it to 34-14 with 13:18 to go.

The Tribe held Tech at its 30 on the next series, and Sumner returned a punt 15 yards to FSU's 39.

Cappleman ran for nine, but Smith stole his next pass, setting Tech up at its 42.

A personal-foul call against FSU soon had the Gobblers at FSU's 38. Edwards, dropping off tacklers like flies, dug for 19 to the 19.

Fourth down at the 12, and Tech shrugged off a field-goal try. Kincaid turned briefly to his left, then wheeled to the right as the offensive flow went the other way, and bootlegged into the end zone for six points. A passing try for two points was broken up, leaving it 40-14 with 7:09 left.

It was the first time this season FSU had yielded any points in the last quarter.

The kickoff return provided a start at FSU's 39. On third down, a bomb toss to Sellers resulted in an interference penalty that placed FSU at Tech's 26. After three throws missed, Cappleman, on fourth down, found Sellers at the 14 to keep things going. Two more misses, then Cappleman got caught for a loss of 10, back to the 24. Another miss, and Tech go the ball again.

After a Tech punt, and a runback to FSU's 40, Warren saw his first action at quarterback.

On fourth down at the 42, Warren broke on a dazzling run to Tech's 37 with 2:36 left.

A 7-yard bootleg by Warren got a first down at the 25.

Then Warren, scrambling with great cool, danced over to the sidelines, then turned and threw to Gary Pajcic deep in the end zone for a touchdown. After FSU was penalized five for taking too much time, Warren tossed to Mike Gray for two points, making it 40-22, with 2:10 showing.

An onside kick was futile and Tech had a crack from the FSU 49.

The Gobblers punted to FSU's 10 with 46 seconds remaining.

After Brent Gilman rambled to the 32 on the draw, Nick Del Viscio intercepted a Warren pass at midfield.

And that was all, plus more than enough.

  1st 2nd 3rd 4th Total
Virginia Tech
10
21
3
6
40
Florida State
0
7
0
15
22

1st   0- 0  Grant Guthrie, 37, field goal failed
      0- 3  Opp, 32, field goal, 6:09 
      0-10  Opp, 3, run (kick), 3:44 
2nd   7-10  Jim Tyson, 34, pass from Bill Cappleman (Grant Guthrie, kick), 14:56
      7-17  Opp, 14, pass (kick), 11:24
      7-24  Opp, 88, run (kick), 7:51 
      7-31  Opp, 10, run (kick), 7:39 
      7-31  Opp, 55, field goal failed
3rd   7-31  Opp, 20, field goal failed
      7-34  Opp, 36, field goal, 5:46 
4th  14-34  Jim Tyson, 5, pass from Bill Cappleman (Grant Guthrie, kick), 13:18
     14-40  Opp, 12, run (pass failed), 7:09 
     22-40  Gary Pajcic, 25, pass from Tommy Warren (Mike Gray, pass from Tommy Warren), 2:10 


TEAM STATISTICS
FSU OPP First downs 28 22 Rushes-yards 29-142 65-382 Passing 265 53 Att-Comp-Int 49-19-6 15-7-0 Total Yards 78-407 80-435 Punt Returns 5-56 2--10 Kickoff Returns 5-105 3-35 Interception Ret. 0-0 6-53 Fumble Returns 1-0 1-0 Punts 2-37.0 5-47.0 Fumbles-Lost 1-1 1-1 Penalties-Yds 4-52 9-120 Attendance 31,342 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS Rushing No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Tom Bailey 9 41 0 Tommy Warren 3 29 0 Brent Gilman 2 28 0 Phil Abraira 1 23 0 Billy Cox 1 18 0 Bill Gunter 4 17 0 John Pittman 1 2 0 Bill Cappleman 8 -16 0 --------------------------------------------- FSU 29 142 0 Opp 65 382 4 88t Receiving No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Jim Tyson 6 112 2 Ron Sellers 4 56 0 Billy Cox 3 35 0 Tom Bailey 4 31 0 Gary Pajcic 1 25 1 Greg Pittman 1 6 0 --------------------------------------------- FSU 19 265 3 Opp 7 53 1 Passing C- A- I Yds TD Lng ----------------------------------------------- Bill Cappleman 18 45 5 240 2 Tommy Warren 1 4 1 25 1 ----------------------------------------------- FSU 19 49 6 265 3 Opp 7 15 0 53 1 Punt Return No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Walt Sumner 2 24 0 John Pell 2 17 0 John Crowe 1 15 0 --------------------------------------------- FSU 5 56 0 Opp 2 -10 0 Kickoff Return No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Tommy Warren 5 105 0 --------------------------------------------- FSU 5 105 0 Opp 3 35 0 Punting No Yds Lng ---------------------------------------- Bill Cheshire 2 74 ---------------------------------------- FSU 2 74 Opp 5 235 |---------Tackles---------| |---Sacks---| |---Pass Def---| |-Fumbles-| Blkd DEFENSIVE STATISTICS UT AT Total ForLoss No - Yards Int-Yds BrUp QBH Rcv-Yds FF Kick Saf ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Doug Gurr . . . . . . . . 1- 0 . . . ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FSU 0 0 0 . . . . . 1- 0 . . . Opp . . . . . 6- 53 . . 1- 0 . . . STARTERS
Pos  ##  OFFENSE
----------------------------------
QB   14  Bill Cappleman
LE   27  Billy Cox
FB   30  Tom Bailey
LH   31  Bill Gunter
FL   34  Ron Sellers
C    55  Ted Mosley
LG   64  Stan Walker
RG   68  Larry Pendleton
RT   75  Bill Rhodes
LT   76  Jack Fenwick
RE   84  Chip Glass
Pos  ##  DEFENSE
----------------------------------
RC   21  John Pell
RS   22  Chuck Eason
LC   24  Walt Sumner
LS   41  John Crowe
LLB  47  Joe Benson
MLB  50  Dale McCullers
RLB  61  Chuck Elliott
RT   71  Harvey Zion
LT   79  Frank Vohun
RE   83  Ron Wallace
LE   85  Floyd Ratliff
PARTICIPANTS
##  NAME
-----------------------------
15  Tommy Warren
16  Gary Pajcic
19  Phil Abraira
33  Grant Guthrie
35  Mike Gray
40  Brent Gilman
##  NAME
-----------------------------
42  Bill Cheshire
44  John Pittman
74  Robert McEachern
80  Doug Gurr
81  Jim Tyson

Florida State 27, Mississippi State 14

11/09/1968, Starkville, Miss.

Click here for program cover

From the Tallahassee Democrat, 11/10/1968, page 1C, by Bill McGrotha

STARKVILLE, MS - Ahead 17-0 early, Florida State ended up scrambling for a 27-14 football victory over a desperate, battling Mississippi State team here on a cold, wet Saturday afternoon.

Five interceptions by the Seminoles were not an inconsiderable key to the revival of their bowl hopes.

Now 5-2 with N.C. State, Wake Forest and Houston remaining, the Seminoles had some notably anxious moments in the second quarter when Mississippi State, following a pair of rather weak FSU kicks, scored a pair of quick TD's to pull within 17-12 range at intermission.

Bill Cappleman, machine-like with his passes, threw for all three of the Seminoles' touchdowns. Florida State got six additional points on field-goal kicks of 27 and 36 yards by Grant Guthrie.

Jim Tyson caught a 6-yard toss for FSU's first TD. Tom Bailey got the second on a 14-yard play, and Billy Cox the third via a 32-yard bomb.

Cappleman connected on 20 of 30 passes for 285 yards, had just one intercepted - and that after the final score was on the board.

Ron Sellers, still the Seminoles' most effective weapon, grabbed eight throws for 149 yards. That boosted his season catches to 55, his career total to 181, which ties him for second on college football's all-time individual list, making him even with Phil Odle of Brigham Young. His career yardage total, now at 3,064, leaves him just 280 short of the national record for receiving yardage held by Tulsa's Howard Twilley.

Florida State got a big running effort from Tom Bailey, who picked up 80 yards in 15 carries. He also caught six Cappleman passes for 78.

Tommy Pharr, the Mississippi State scrambler, was a stunningly effective quarterback when he stuck with the short-passing game and running. Throwing long got him into trouble. John Crowe intercepted two tosses, John Pell, Walt Sumner and Clint Burton one each.

Crowe held a hot defensive hand all afternoon. In addition to the two interceptions, he recovered a fumble that followed Sumner's interception, and deflected what looked like a perfect touchdown pass just before it reached the hands of David Smith.

Pharr hit on 29 of 38 throws for 277 yards, with fullback Bobby Gossett taking in 11 for 96, and Andy Rhoades seven for 42. Split end Sammy Milner, ahead of Sellers in total receptions going in, caught just three for 61 yards. His season catches now number 53.

Milner caught a 4-yard pass for one TD, and Gossett a 5-yarder for another. Twice Mississippi State failed, going for two on extra-point attempts, but the Bulldogs picked up a safety late in the fourth quarter when tackle Hugh Adams pulled down Cappleman in the end zone.

Just 17,000 fans turned out at Scott Field to see the Bulldogs remain winless, with a 28-28 tie with Texas Tech the biggest bright spot after eight games. It was a cold, nasty day. No rain fell during the game but the field was soaked from overnight downpours.

The sun did show it's face, for the first time all day, late in the game.


Florida State's defense threw zeros at Mississippi State in three of four quarters here Saturday afternoon as the Seminoles, leaning heavily on their passing game, triumphed 27-14.

All of Mississippi State's points - save a last-quarter safety scored on the offense - came in a few minutes of the second period.

Though FSU yielded 277 yards to Tommy Pharr's passes, the Mississippians managed just 67 running.

Overall FSU had an offensive edge, 384 yards to 344.

Mississippi State got the first turn with the football, winning the toss, chosing to receive, and starting at its 25 after the kick return. Three plays got just four yards, and Conn Canales' punt was a rather weak one, 31 yards to FSU's 40.

On a tricky draw play, Tom Bailey spun up the middle, cut wide and picked up 15 to the Bulldogs' 45. John Pittman cracked to the 36 and Bailey got a first down at the 31. On third down Bill Cappleman fired to Ron Sellers, 12 yards to the 18.

Soon a 9-yard toss to Sellers gained a first down on the five. But Pittman lost a yard, and a delay penalty then moved the Tribe back to the 11. Cappleman threw to Sellers - but he was beyond the far boundary of the end zone when he caught it. No good.

On fourth down Grant Guthrie kicked a 36-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead.

David Smith tucked in the kickoff at this eight and, on a reverse, dealt the ball to Tommy Pharr, who was suddenly loose for a 43-yard runback to FSU's 49.

Pharr passed to Terry Smithart at the 36, but running didn't get it, as Pharr switched to the ground game on four plays. The Bulldogs finally yielded the ball to FSU at the 28 after a fourth-down run failed.

Held to nothing on two plays, the Seminoles got 30 on one as Cappleman threw over the middle to Bailey, who romped on to the Bulldogs' 42.

Hit by a short penalty, Cappleman got to the 35 with a throw to Sellers, then hit him at the 17 for the first down. Bailey rammed to the 10. Pittman, in two carries reached the six, from where Cappleman cooly threw to Jim Tyson for six points. Guthrie's kick brought it to 10-0.

Set back to the 14 soon after the kick return by a holding penalty, Mississippi State was in more trouble when Pharr uncorked a bomb. John Crowe intercepted for the Seminoles at the FSU 46. But the Tribe couldn't get any further than the Bulldogs' 48. Bill Cheshire's punt was a neat one, to the 13 just as the quarter ended.

On third down Walt Sumner picked off a Pharr pass, fumbled when hit hard, but John Crowe was there to cover the ball for FSU at the 19.

Third down at the 14 and Cappleman passed to Bailey, who crashed in for a TD. Guthrie added another point for 17-0.

Hereabouts things changed, and fast.

FSU's kickoff was short, and it was returned 11 yards to the Bulldog 39.

Smith ran for nine, and Pharr passed to fullback Bobby Gossett for eight, to the FSU 44. Smith went wide for 12 more, and Gosset caught a 10-yard pass at the 22.

Two plays later Gossett grabbed another, 13 yards and first down at the eight. On third down at the five Pharr passed to Gossett for the TD. A passing try for two points missed, leaving it 17-6.

FSU couldn't move and Cheshire's punt was weak, 27 yards to Mississippi State's 47.

Again the home team cashed in, Pharr started it with a short pass to Smithard, then sent Gossett pounding for a first down at FSU's 40. A 9-yard toss to Andy Rhoades soon gained to the 24, then another to the same receiver picked up 10 to the 14. Gossett caught a 12-yarder at the two. After Pharr lost a couple he passed to Sammy Milner for a touchdown.

Another passing try for two points fell incomplete. Things stood 17-12 with 4:09 remaining in the half.

After a start at the 20, a 12-yard pass to Phil Abraira, coupled with a penalty, lifted FSU to its 44. But the attack bogged at the Bulldog 48, and Cheshire punted to the 19.

With 26 seconds to go Pharr threw to Milner at the FSU 39. But Smith's halfback toss was intercepted by Clint Burton, who skipped to the Bulldog 40 on the last play of the half.

Remembering something about throwing the ball to Sellers, the Seminoles marched 77 yards to a 20-12 lead after the second-half kickoff.

Sellers caught one for 14 at the 37, then another for seven. Bailey, in two carries, got 16 to the Bulldogs' 41.

Then Sellers pulled in an 18-yarder at the 24, and Bailey caught one at the 13. But it came to fourth down at the nine, and Guthrie booted a 27-yard field goal.

Buddy Newsome squirmed away for 28 yards on the kick return, up to the Bulldogs 43. But Mike Bugar, on third down, nailed Pharr for a loss of six, forcing a punt, 38 yards to FSU's 20.

With Pittman running strongly, FSU probed to its 42, where Cappleman was ruled a bit short trying to sneak for the first down. Cheshire punted to Mississippi State's 30.

Pharr's running lifted the Bulldogs to their 45. Then he threw to Smith at the FSU 46, and a personal-foul call on the tackle pushed the Bulldogs to the 32.

Rhodes led on to a first down at the 21. Then Crowe plucked Pharr's pass in the end zone, and downed the ball following the interception.

From the 20, two Bailey pass receptions spurred FSU to its 42, where Mississippi State stiffened. Cheshire's punt was a peach that Phil Abraira downed at the two, a 56-yarder.

From the six, the Bulldogs punted back - short, 26 yards to the 32 just after the fourth quarter opened.

Cappleman, promptly threw the bomb, and Billy Cox made a bright tumbling catch in the end zone for six points. Guthrie's kick made it 27-12.

Soon it was punting time for Mississippi State again, from midfield, with FSU getting the ball at its 19. Cappleman collaborated on a 61-yard bomb to Sellers, who was flagged down by a desperation ankle tackle at the Bulldog 20. But a blitz caught Pittman for a 10-yard loss on a sweep. Two plays later Cappleman's pass was intercepted near the goal by Al Morrell who ran it 34 yards to his 39.

The Bulldogs probed to FSU's 38, where a fourth down plunge by Gossett was a couple inches short of a first down. FSU took over.

With Bailey carrying three straight times for 19 yards, FSU pushed to Mississippi State's 40, where a personal foul call gained the 25. A short pass to Pittman cut out a first down at the 14. But Cappleman soon was decked for a loss of 10, at the 22.

Fourth and 17, 2:24 to go, and FSU faked a field goal, with Cappleman raising up to throw to Pittman in the end zone. Mississippi State defenders broke it up.

A pass to Milner for 28 got Mississippi State to the 50. Smith pulled in a throw at the 41, Smithart grabbed another at the 29, and Gossett tucked one in at the nine.

Then John Pell intercepted a Pharr throw at the goal with 1:01 remaining, running up to the five.

Third down, still at the five, and Cappleman faded into the end zone to try to pass out of the hole. Tackle Hugh Adams nailed him for a safety. Making it 27-14 with 40 seconds left.

Pharr taking the ball from Smith on a reverse, sailed with FSU's free kick 39 yards to FSU's 28.

Then Pharr threw to Smith, who fumbled as he was hit at the 19, with Chuck Elliott recovering the bobble with 22 seconds to go.

With Tommy Warren doing his only quarterbacking of the evening, the Seminoles ran a time or two, to no avail and let it go at that.

  1st 2nd 3rd 4th Total
Florida State
10
7
3
7
27
Mississippi State
0
12
0
2
14

1st   3- 0  Grant Guthrie, 36, field goal, 8:30 
     10- 0  Jim Tyson, 6, pass from Bill Cappleman (Grant Guthrie, kick), 1:45 
2nd  17- 0  Tom Bailey, 14, pass from Bill Cappleman (Grant Guthrie, kick), 12:44
     17- 6  Opp, 5, pass (pass failed), 8:55 
     17-12  Opp, 4, pass (pass failed), 4:09 
3rd  20-12  Grant Guthrie, 27, field goal, 11:20
4th  27-12  Billy Cox, 32, pass from Bill Cappleman (Grant Guthrie, kick), 13:12
     27-14  Opp, safety, 0:40 
            Note: Bill Cappleman was tackled in the end zone.           


TEAM STATISTICS
FSU OPP First downs 21 20 Rushes-yards 47-99 31-67 Passing 285 277 Att-Comp-Int 30-20-1 39-29-5 Total Yards 77-384 70-344 Punt Returns 1-9 2-41 Kickoff Returns 2-32 6-137 Interception Ret. 5-31 1-34 Fumble Returns 1-0 0-0 Punts 6-37.2 4-34.3 Fumbles-Lost 1-0 1-1 Penalties-Yds 4-40 4-40 Attendance 17,000 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS Rushing No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Tom Bailey 15 80 0 John Pittman 18 41 0 Bill Gunter 4 6 0 Billy Cox 1 2 0 Tommy Warren 1 -4 0 Gary Pajcic 2 -6 0 Bill Cappleman 6 -20 0 --------------------------------------------- FSU 47 99 0 Opp 31 67 0 Receiving No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Ron Sellers 8 149 0 Tom Bailey 6 78 1 Billy Cox 2 36 1 Phil Abraira 2 11 0 Jim Tyson 1 6 1 John Pittman 1 5 0 --------------------------------------------- FSU 20 285 3 Opp 29 277 2 Passing C- A- I Yds TD Lng ----------------------------------------------- Bill Cappleman 20 30 1 285 3 ----------------------------------------------- FSU 20 30 1 285 3 Opp 29 39 5 277 2 Punt Return No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Tommy Warren 1 9 0 --------------------------------------------- FSU 1 9 0 Opp 2 41 0 39 Kickoff Return No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Tommy Warren 2 32 0 --------------------------------------------- FSU 2 32 0 Opp 6 137 0 Punting No Yds Lng ---------------------------------------- Bill Cheshire 6 223 ---------------------------------------- FSU 6 223 Opp 4 137 |---------Tackles---------| |---Sacks---| |---Pass Def---| |-Fumbles-| Blkd DEFENSIVE STATISTICS UT AT Total ForLoss No - Yards Int-Yds BrUp QBH Rcv-Yds FF Kick Saf ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- John Crowe . . . . . 2- 0 . . . . . . Walt Sumner . . . . . 1- 5 . . . . . . Clint Burton . . . . . 1- 21 . . . . . . John Pell . . . . . 1- 5 . . . . . . Chuck Elliott . . . . . . . . 1- 0 . . . ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FSU 0 0 0 . . 5- 31 . . 1- 0 . . . Opp . . . . . 1- 34 . . . . . 1 STARTERS
Pos  ##  OFFENSE
----------------------------------
QB   14  Bill Cappleman
SE   27  Billy Cox
FB   30  Tom Bailey
LH   31  Bill Gunter
FL   34  Ron Sellers
C    55  Ted Mosley
LG   64  Stan Walker
RG   68  Larry Pendleton
RT   75  Bill Rhodes
LT   76  Jack Fenwick
TE   81  Jim Tyson
Pos  ##  DEFENSE
----------------------------------
RC   17  Mike Page
RS   18  Clint Burton
LC   24  Walt Sumner
LS   41  John Crowe
MLB  50  Dale McCullers
LLB  54  Bobby Burt
RLB  58  Steve Gildea
LE   67  Mike Bugar
LT   73  Duke Johnston
RT   74  Robert McEachern
RE   83  Ron Wallace
PARTICIPANTS
##  NAME
-----------------------------
15  Tommy Warren
16  Gary Pajcic
19  Phil Abraira
21  John Pell
##  NAME
-----------------------------
33  Grant Guthrie
42  Bill Cheshire
44  John Pittman

Florida State 48, North Carolina State 7

11/16/1968, Raleigh, N.C.

Click here for program cover

From the Tallahassee Democrat, 11/17/1968, page 1B, by Bill McGrotha

RALEIGH, NC - North Carolina State really stopped Ron Sellers. Except for one play. But that one was enough to break the back of the Wolfpack as Florida State, spurred by a hopped-up defense, exploded for a 48-7 football triumph here Saturday afternoon.

It was 14-7 early in the third quarter. Florida State was at its 39, third down and 10.

Well covered all of this dark, gray afternoon, Sellers got loose for his first catch of the game. Faking tacklers left and right, he turned it into a 35-yard gain.

At that point, N.C. State had to feel somebody somewhere was trying to tell it something. The Wolfpack, for all practical purposes, was through for the season.

Florida State moved to a quick touchdown from there, added two more in the third quarter for a 35-7 lead.

Sellers was held to just three receptions for 57 yards.

The Seminoles had approached this one in a grim, rather unhappy mood. Spurning chance-taking on a wet field in the first half, they stuck with their running game - and with that aroused defense.

That defense was primarily responsible for an early 14-0 lead.

Walt Sumner, among the Seminoles nursing slight injuries before the game (he had a hip-pointer), started it. He blocked Gerald Warren's 46-yard try for a field goal, picked up the ball and streaked 58 yards for the first touchdown.

A bit later Floyd Ratliff pounced on an N.C. State fumble at the Wolfpack 49. With Tom Bailey, rapidly developing into one of the best running backs FSU has known, leading the charge, FSU probed to the 13, where Bill Cappleman hit Phil Abraira with a 13-yard pass for a 14-0 lead.

N.C. State soon retaliated, scoring on a 10-yard toss, Jack Klebe to Jimmy Lisk.

After Sellers' catch helped open the door Florida State scored, in rapid succession, on:

(1) Bill Gunter's 11-yard run, (2) Cappleman's 1-yard pass to Gunter after Chuck Elliott recovered an N.C. State fumble at the Wolfpack 41, (3) Gunter's 1-yard run after Billy Cox covered a fumbled N.C. State punt at the two, (4) Cappleman's 37-yard bomb to Albraira, (5) Tommy Warren's 18-yard toss to Gary Pajcic.

It was the most points ever scored on an Earle Edwards-coached N.C. State team - and that, sports fans, covers 15 years.

A disappointed crowd of 26,800 watched as N.C. State closed its season at 6-4, and Florida State sent its bowl stock skyrocketing with a 6-2 accrediting.

Rain fell steadily for about two hours before the game but stopped about kickoff time, and the sun actually peeked briefly from the clouds in the last half.

Held to 22 yards passing in the first half, Florida State ended with 227 as Cappleman hit on 13 of 22 for 174, Warren on four of four for 50. With Bailey charging for 74 in 12 carries, FSU got 123 on the ground. N.C. State got 140 running, with Charlie Bowers leading on 63 yards in 16 carries. The Wolfpack netted just 79 passing, completing nine of 22 throws.

Almost all of N.C. State's yardage came in the first half. After intermission the Wolfpack managed just three passing yards, 34 running.

Clint Burton played another big game in the FSU secondary, intercepting two passes. FSU stole four N.C. State throws with Elliott and Joe Benson getting the other two. The Tribe also covered three N.C. State fumbles.


Determined to stop N.C. State's strong running game - one that had already racked more yardage than any team in school history - Florida State shuffled its defensive deck here Saturday. It seemed a significant factor in the Seminole's stunning 48-7 success.

Playing four linebackers part of the time, with sophomore Bill Loshe the extra one, Florida State held the Wolfpack to just 34 ground yards in the last half, and a total of 140.

The defense picked off four N.C. State passes, recovered three fumbles. FSU, meanwhile, lost just one fumble (on an attempted lateral after a pass reception), had no throws intercepted.

N.C. State had the first turn with the football on this damp dark afternoon winning the toss and electing to receive. FSU kept the kickoff low avoiding Bob Hall's runback threat and the Wolfpack had a crack from its 38 after a 12-yard return.

Quarterback Jack Klebe kept some, dealt to Charley Bowers some, passed once for six yards in a steady movement to a first down on FSU's 42.

Thereabouts the defense called a halt, forcing a punt with the ball at the 38. It was a 20-yarder to the 18.

Cautiously FSU ran the ball three times, up to the 25. Bill Cheshire punting after a low snap, got off a 26-yarder to N.C. State's 49.

Hall's 14-yard scamper was the key in a quick push to FSU's 33. Three more plays got just four yards, however, and Gerald Warren entered for a 46-yard attempt at a field goal.

Streaking in from the left side Walt Sumner blocked the ball on his chest then chased it, picked it up on the run and raced 58 yards to a touchdown as Klebe futilely tried to catch him.

Grant Guthrie kicked a point for 7-0.

Hall returned the kickoff 21 yards to the 30. Klebe and Hall led on to the Wolfpack 47 where Bowers fumbled and Floyd Ratliff pounced on it for Florida State at the N.C. State 49.

After Bill Cappleman lost two, Tom Bailey took off on a 13-yard romp to the Wolfpack 38. Cappleman completed his first pass, a 2-yarder to Bill Gunter. Then Bailey got five and Gunter three for a first down at the 28.

Brent Gilman got to the 20 in two runs. On the last play of the quarter, gambling mildly one fourth and one at the 19, the Seminoles sent Bailey jumping over the middle for a first down at the 17.

Bailey pounded to the 13. On third down Cappleman found Phil Abraira alone at the two, hit him with an easy touchdown toss. Guthrie's point kick brought it to 14-0 in the first minute of the second quarter.

N.C. State got nothing on its next series and punted 40 yards to FSU's 24. The Seminoles pushed to their 41 but no further. Cheshire punted to the Wolfpack 24.

A pass interference call aided the home team to the 36 and Klebe passed to Hall at the 50. On the keeper Klebe got loose to the FSU 33 and a pass to Settle Dockery soon wrought a first down at the 20.

Hall dropped what might have been a TD pass in the end zone. He also might have been out of bounds had he held on. On third down Mike Bugar deflected a Klebe throw and linebacker Joe Benson intercepted at the five, ran it up to the 15.

Bailey's running brought a first down at the 26 but that was it. Cheshire was called to punt again. It was a 37-yarder to N.C. State's 39.

In eight plays the Wolfpack scored.

Big play was a halfback pass, Hall to end Wayne Lewis, 17 yards to FSU's 36. On fourth and four at the 30 Klebe passed 20 yards to Jimmy Lisk at the 10.

Next play Klebe fired one right over the middle to an all-alone Lisk for a touchdown. Warren's point kick narrowed it to 14-7 with 1:18 left in the half.

There was some frantic action in that brief period before intermission.

FSU had a start at its 29 after the kick runback. On second down Cappleman passed to Abraira at the 35, who tried to lateral off. The ball went astray and Gary Yount recovered for the Wolfpack at the FSU 36.

Klebe threw to Hall, who was open at the 15. He might have had a touchdown had he held onto the ball.

Once more Klebe threw, and Clint Burton intercepted at the 28, ran it back to the 36.

Cappleman dropped back, with 11 seconds showing on the clock, looked for Ron Sellers, who was covered, and finally the quarterback was socked for an 8-yard loss as the clock ran out.

At this point Cappleman had tied just seven passes, completed four, for a mere 22 yards. N.C. State, with 106 on the ground, led in yardage, 182 to 89.

The third quarter started ominously for Florida State. After the kick return the Seminoles started at their 25. A holding penalty quickly knocked them back to the 12.

On third down Bailey cut wide on a draw play, knocked off 22 yards to the 34. But Gilman was held for naught in a buck attempt for a first down, and Cheshire punted 33 yards to the Wolfpack 33, with a short runback giving the Wolfpack a crack from its 46.

Bowers promptly shot for 16 yards to FSU's 38. After Hall led to another first down at the 26, Bowers, going wide, fumbled when hit, and Dale McCullers grabbed the football for Florida State at the 29.

On third down, needing eight, Cappleman found no receiver open, ran out of a trap, and made a first down, by two inches, at the 39.

It came to third down again, 10 to go, and on perhaps the biggest play of the game, Cappleman finally found Sellers with a pass. Slipping away from tacklers on a dazzling run, Sellers maneuvered for 35 yards to N.C. State's 26.

Cappleman fired again, and Bailey rammed to the 11 for a 15-yard pickup. Immediately, Gunter, on a slant off right guard behind big blocks by Larry Pendleton and Glass, zipped through for 11 and the touchdown. Guthrie's third point kick made it 21-7.

After a kick runback to the 35, Klebe came out passing. It was a mistake. Chuck Elliott picked off his first toss at the Wolfpack 41.

Good defensive work broke up a bomb to Sellers at the one. But Billy Cox pulled in a Cappleman toss at the 23.

And then, Cappleman, once more unable to find anyone open, took off - on an unusual run to say the least - and scampered somehow 20 yards to the three.

Third down at the one, and Cappleman flipped a wide pass to Billy Gunter in the end zone for the TD. Guthrie brought it to 28-7 with 7:09 still remaining in the third quarter.

N.C. State couldn't move after the kickoff, and Yount punted a 56-yarder that Tommy Warren returned 11 yards to the 37.

Passes to Abraira and Sellers netted the 50, and another to Abraira the 38. But Cappleman was socked for a 17-yard loss by Pete Sowirka on third down.

Cheshire punted, Yount fumbled it, and Cox covered the ball for FSU at the two.

Gunter cracked to the one, then scored on a whack at the middle. Guthrie swung his toe and it was 35-7 with the third quarter not quite over.

A defense that remained aroused, backed up the Wolfpack to its 15, forcing a punt, and FSU got a shot from the N.C. State 45.

After Cappleman lost 10, he passed to Sellers for 18, to the N.C. State 37.

Abruptly, Abraira was loose on a sprint up the middle and Cappleman struck him with the bomb for a 37-yard TD payoff. Guthrie's toe pushed things to 42-7.

Another N.C. State punt, coupled with a roughing call after a fair-catch signal, gave FSU another opportunity at its 49 as Tommy Warren moved in as quarterback for FSU.

Two key pass grabs, Warren to Glass, for 12 and 10 yards, soon had the Tribe at the 13. After an offsides penalty moved the Seminoles back, Warren drew the defense to the left as he maneuvered, then threw to Gary Pajcic, so alone at the two that he simply strolled into the end zone, an 18-yard payoff. Warren tried to pass for two points. No good. It was 48-7 with 8:12 to go.

N.C. State couldn't move at all against FSU reserves. Rick Anderson got his first action at quarterback. Pajcic tried a halfback pass, a bomb aimed at Don Pederson, but a defender was there to break it up.

FSU punted. Soon Burton intercepted a bomb on FSU's 10. N.C. State got fair field position after a punt to the 50. The Wolfpack did nothing with that chance, punted to FSU's 12.

It was a pretty even game the rest of the way.

  1st 2nd 3rd 4th Total
Florida State
7
7
21
13
48
North Carolina State
0
7
0
0
7

1st   0- 0  Opp, 46, field goal blocked by Walt Sumner
      7- 0  Walt Sumner, 58, punt return/blocked punt (Grant Guthrie, kick), 6:17 
2nd  14- 0  Phil Abraira, 14, pass from Bill Cappleman (Grant Guthrie, kick), 14:14
     14- 7  Opp, 10, pass (kick), 1:10 
3rd  21- 7  Bill Gunter, 11, run (Grant Guthrie, kick), 9:23 
     28- 7  Bill Gunter, 1, pass from Bill Cappleman (Grant Guthrie, kick), 7:09 
     35- 7  Bill Gunter, 1, run (Grant Guthrie, kick), 0:40 
4th  42- 7  Phil Abraira, 37, pass from Bill Cappleman (Grant Guthrie, kick), 12:47
     48- 7  Gary Pajcic, 18, pass from Tommy Warren (Tommy Warren, pass failed), 8:12 


TEAM STATISTICS
FSU OPP First downs 18 14 Rushes-yards 43-123 44-140 Passing 227 79 Att-Comp-Int 31-18-0 22-9-4 Total Yards 74-350 66-219 Punt Returns 4-75 6-20 Kickoff Returns 2-47 7-120 Interception Ret. 4-17 0-0 Fumble Returns 3-0 1-0 Punts 8-35.4 7-38.6 Fumbles-Lost 1-1 5-3 Penalties-Yds 5-46 2-20 Attendance 26,800 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS Rushing No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Tom Bailey 12 74 0 22 Bill Gunter 9 29 2 11 Brent Gilman 5 15 0 7 Barry Wenhold 5 10 0 4 Billy Cox 1 5 0 5 Gary Pajcic 2 1 0 2 Bill Cappleman 9 -11 0 20 --------------------------------------------- FSU 43 123 2 22 Opp 44 140 0 15 Receiving No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Phil Abraira 5 77 2 37t Ron Sellers 3 58 0 35 Chip Glass 3 32 0 13 Gary Pajcic 1 18 1 18t Billy Cox 1 18 0 18 Tom Bailey 2 16 0 15 Don Pederson 1 5 0 5 Bill Gunter 2 3 1 2 --------------------------------------------- FSU 18 227 4 37t Opp 9 79 1 20 Passing C- A- I Yds TD Lng ----------------------------------------------- Bill Cappleman 13 22 0 172 3 37t Tommy Warren 4 4 0 50 1 18t Rick Anderson 1 4 0 5 0 5 Gary Pajcic 0 1 0 0 0 0 ----------------------------------------------- FSU 18 31 0 227 4 37t Opp 9 22 4 79 1 20 Punt Return No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Walt Sumner 1 58 1 58t Tommy Warren 2 19 0 Danny Thomas 1 -2 0 -2 --------------------------------------------- FSU 4 75 1 58t Opp 6 20 0 14 Kickoff Return No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Don Pederson 2 47 0 --------------------------------------------- FSU 2 47 0 Opp 7 120 0 22 Punting No Yds Lng ---------------------------------------- Bill Cheshire 8 283 40 ---------------------------------------- FSU 8 283 40 Opp 7 270 56 |---------Tackles---------| |---Sacks---| |---Pass Def---| |-Fumbles-| Blkd DEFENSIVE STATISTICS UT AT Total ForLoss No - Yards Int-Yds BrUp QBH Rcv-Yds FF Kick Saf ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Joe Benson . . . . . 1- 5 . . . . . . Clint Burton . . . . . 2- 8 . . . . . . Chuck Elliott . . . . . 1- 4 . . . . . . Walt Sumner . . . . . . . . . . 1 . Floyd Ratliff . . . . . . . . 1- 0 . . . Dale McCullers . . . . . . . . 1- 0 . . . Billy Cox . . . . . . . . 1- 0 . . . ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FSU 0 0 0 . . 4- 17 . . 3- 0 . 1 . Opp . . . . . . . . 1- 0 . . . STARTERS
Pos  ##  OFFENSE
----------------------------------
QB   14  Bill Cappleman
LE   27  Billy Cox
FB   30  Tom Bailey
LH   31  Bill Gunter
FL   34  Ron Sellers
C    51  Bill Hughes
LG   64  Stan Walker
RG   68  Larry Pendleton
RT   75  Bill Rhodes
LT   76  Jack Fenwick
RE   81  Jim Tyson
Pos  ##  DEFENSE
----------------------------------
RC   17  Mike Page
RS   18  Clint Burton
LC   24  Walt Sumner
LS   41  John Crowe
LLB  47  Joe Benson
MLB  50  Dale McCullers
RLB  61  Chuck Elliott
LE   67  Mike Bugar
LT   71  Harvey Zion
RT   79  Frank Vohun
RE   80  Doug Gurr
PARTICIPANTS
##  NAME
-----------------------------
11  Rick Anderson
15  Tommy Warren
16  Gary Pajcic
19  Phil Abraira
23  Don Pederson
26  Barry Wenhold
##  NAME
-----------------------------
40  Brent Gilman
42  Bill Cheshire
56  Bill Lohse
84  Chip Glass
85  Floyd Ratliff

Florida State 42, Wake Forest 24

11/23/1968, Tallahassee, Fla.

Click here for program cover

From the Tallahassee Democrat, 11/24/1968, page 1C, by Bill McGrotha

TALLAHASSEE, FL, - Note to the Football Writers Association of America...get lost!

Ron Sellers, who wasn't selected when FWAA representatives assembled recently to pick an All-American team that will be announced later, saved his incredible best for his last Campbell Stadium appearance as Florida State came from behind in the third quarter to put down Wake Forest 42-24 here on a sunny Saturday afternoon.

The senior super star caught 14 passes for 260 yards and five touchdowns, in so doing broke a national record for yards gained on receptions, and scattered an assortment of school records left and right.

Quarterback Bill Cappleman completed 22 of 33 throws for 365 yards, shattered a few records himself.

The pattern of the game was almost as unbelievable as Sellers' working of wonders.

Ahead 14-0, then behind 24-14, Florida State scored 21 points in just over 7 1/2 minutes of playing time in the third quarter.

But a homecoming crowd of 35,108 - and notably two Peach Bowl representatives - didn't breathe really easy until the Seminoles put it absolutely out of reach with a final TD late in the fourth quarter.

The outcome affirmed the Peach Bowl's judgement in choosing the Seminoles to play LSU in their first annual game on December 30, giving FSU a 7-2 record with Houston in Jacksonville next Friday night still to go.

Florida State stacked a school-record 622 yards running and passing, with 258 coming on the ground as sophomore fullback Tom Bailey underscored his brilliant potential with 105 in just 12 carries.

The scoring in sequence:

(1) Sellers' 26-yard TD pass from Cappleman, (2) Sellers' 5-yard TD pass from Cappleman, (3) Jimmy Johnson's 7-yard TD pass from Freddie Summers, (4) Gary Winrow's 8-yard TD pass from Summers, (5) Tom Deacon's 32-yard field goal that gave Wake Forest a 17-14 halftime lead, (6) Ron Jurewicz' 28-yard TD pass from Summers, (7) Sellers' 48-yard TD pass from Cappleman that started the Seminoles on the road back, (8) Bill Gunter's 3-yard TD run, (9) Sellers' 28-yard TD pass from Cappleman, (10) Sellers' 30-yard TD pass from Cappleman.

It wasn't much of a day for defense. Still, Wake Forest was limited to 291 yards, with 179 of it running. The Deacons failed in their effort to control the football, as the Seminoles ran or passed 83 times to Wake's 67.

Fumbles hurt FSU mightily. The Seminoles, who had lost just five fumbles in eight previous games, yielded four in this one. But FSU defenders balanced the books somewhat by intercepting four Summers passes.

Summers hit on just seven of 21 passes for 112 yards - but the ones he did complete were big. The Seminoles limited the quarterback, a 9.8 runner in the 100-yard dash, to just 19 net yards rushing. As the Deacons closed their season with a 2-7-1 chart, Summers set a school record for total offense with 2,103 yards.

Billy Cox and Chip Glass each caught four passes, most of them key ones in the clutch. Gunter ran 17 times for 79 yards.

But the day belonged pretty much to Sellers. Somebody told him they thought this was his best game.

"It was," Sellers agreed spontaneously, "It was."


Bill Cappleman passed for a fantastic 365 yards, and Ron Sellers caught for a fantastic 260 as Florida State put on its biggest offensive show in history in quelling bothersome Wake Forest 42-24 here Saturday afternoon.

The Seminoles amassed a staggering 622 yards, with 258 running and 364 passing (one completion, by Gary Pajcic, resulted in a yard loss).

But it wasn't all that easy.

Wake Forest had excellent field position the first two times it got the football.

After winning the pre-game coin toss, Wake Forest stood at the Florida State 49 following a 40-yard kickoff runback by Fred Angerman.

Chopping short runs, including a 4th-and-one gamble at the 40, led to a first down at the 37. But a fumbled handoff soon cost the Deacons three yards, precipitating a punt that rolled into the end zone.

From the 20 the Seminoles negotiated the route in nine plays.

Two runs gained little, but Bill Cappleman nailed Ron Sellers with a third-down pass for 19 yards. Tom Bailey plundered for 10, then for five, and Bill Gunter knocked off seven to the Wake Forest 37. Gunter carried twice more, for seven to the Wake Forest 37. Gunter carried twice more, for 11, to the 26.

On first down there Cappleman nailed Sellers, coming across, with a perfect strike at the five and the star zipped into the end zone for six points. Grant Guthrie kicked his 51st straight extra point for 7-0.

Whereupon Lee Clymer sailed 30 yards with the ensuing kickoff, up to the Deacons 44.

The running of Fred Summers, Buz Leavitt and Clymer soon brought a first down at FSU's 42. Tribe defenders called a halt at the 32. Following a delay penalty, the Deacons went for a 56-yard field goal. It was short, and John Crowe ran it back to the nine.

And in seven plays the Seminoles moved 91 yards to a payoff.

Two runs gained but four and Cappleman pitched to Chip Glass for a first down at the 30. Gunter rambled for 13 more, then for seven to the 50.

On a sweep, Bailey cut back to the inside, straightened out and raced 45 yards to the five. Promptly Cappleman, noting one defender covering Sellers, threw a TD pass to Ron. Guthrie brought it to 14-0.

It looked for all the world as though that had come too easy as strange things started to happen.

An exchange of punts gave Wake the ball at its 22 just before the first quarter closed.

On third down pass, Summers found Rick White with a 20-yard pass. Again on third down, Summers hit White with another 20-yarder, at FSU's 32. Then Don Kobos caught a 12-yarder at the 20. On third down at the 15 Clymer ripped to the seven. Summer then put a toss in the hands of fullback Jimmy Johnson, wide open in the end zone. Tom Deacon kicked a point for 14-7.

On a 15-yard pass to Glass and Bailey's 9-yard run, FSU pushed to a first down at the Wake 48. But Dick Bozoian moved in front of Phil Abraira as Cappleman tried to hit him with a bomb, and intercepted at the seven.

Soon Digit Laughridge punted out of the hole, 47 yards to FSU's 38. The Seminoles got to the Deacons 46 on a Gunter run and a short pass to Sellers, but bogged there and Bill Cheshire punted to the 12.

Summers' running spurred Wake to its 34. Then Sumner intercepted it, but fumbled and Gary Winrow recovered for Wake at FSU's 25.

Clymer's 13-yard run brought a first down on the 11. Third down again after two plays gained naught, and Summers hit Winrow in the end zone for the TD. Deacon's point kick tied it 14-14.

A clipping penalty, on a Bailey run, backed FSU to its 12. Cheshire punted 32 yards to the FSU 44.

Leavitt got loose on a romp to the 32. Summers hit White with a pass at the 16. Summers' first-down pass there was intercepted with 1:02 left in the half by Mike Page, who stole it from the hands of intended receiver Don Kobos in the end zone.

But Cappleman fumbled when hit hard at the 20 and Bozoian recovered for Wake at the 15.

With 50 seconds left the Deacons, on a debatable decision, went for a field goal, made it, a 32-yard boot, by Deacon that wrought a 17-14 lead.

The Seminoles took over at their 28 with 43 seconds to go - and almost made it. Sellers caught one at the 45, then another at Wake's 42, a third at the 32. Twelve seconds to go and Billy Cox pulled in a throw at the 15, stepped out of bounds.

Five seconds now. In came Guthrie for a field-goal attempt from an angle. His boot was wide.

At intermission Sellers had pulled in seven for 101 yards.

Things were not quick to change.

FSU began at its 26 following the third-quarter kickoff. A Sellers catch gained the 32. But Gunter fumbled and Roman Wszelaki recovered for the Deacons at FSU's 39.

Doug Gurr and Harvey Zion caught Summers with a pass rush, decking him for a loss of eight.

On a pitch out Clymer raced to the 28. On second down there, Summers threw to Ron Jurewic in the end zone for an easy TD. Deacon's point after had the Seminoles trailing 24-14.

Quickly the Seminoles retaliated with a 76-yard scoring production.

A 12-yard catch by Sellers, a 12-yard run by Gunter gained the FSU 49.

Second down on the Wake 48, and Cappleman hit Sellers at about the 35. With some dandy dipsy-doodling, Sellers converted the grab into an all-the-way run. Guthrie swung his toe and narrowed things to 24-21.

Frank Vohun racked Summers for a 6-yard setback on the next series, forcing a punt to FSU's 34. In 10 plays FSU went ahead for good.

Gunter started it with a 9-yard run. Sellers pulled in a pass for 22 at the Wake 35.

An 8-yard grab by Glass brought a first down at the 21, and a 9-yard run by Cappleman another at the 11. John Pittman slashed to the three. Gunter, going wide, carried two defenders with him as he scored. Guthrie kicked for 28-24.

Then linebacker Joe Benson stole a Summers pass and maneuvered 19 yards to set up the Seminoles at Wake's 40.

Pittman, in two runs, reached the 28. Cappleman promptly repeated his act with Sellers, a 28-yard TD pass on which Sellers became the all-time national champion in yardage gained on receptions.

When Guthrie toed one accurately home the Seminoles had scored 21 points in seven minutes and 36 seconds and the score was 35-24.

Early in the fourth quarter the Tribe was off on another big movement. An 11-yard Bailey run, a 22-yard throw to Billy Cox to the Wake 28, and a 9-yard toss to Cox spurred a first down at the Deacon 12.

But Cappleman had the ball wrestled away from him on a run to the six, and Wake recovered at the eight.

FSU defenders allowed nothing, and Laughride punted a 36-yarder to the Wake 44. A Bailey run gained the 30, but it came to fourth down at the 24 where Guthrie missed on a 41-yard attempt for three points.

A Chuck Eason interception at the FSU 44 paved the Seminoles' final TD.

Pittman and Brent Gilman sparked a running push to the 40. Cox caught a pass at the 30. Then Sellers went streaking down the sidelines into the end zone and snared Cappleman's bomb. Guthrie added a final point for 42-24 with 4:38 remaining.

A 22-yard run by Tom Gavin had Wake in position at FSU's 46, but the Seminoles held.

Tommy Warren came in at quarterback, stuck to the ground until the last play when he tried to hit Gary Pajcic with a bomb that was defused by a deflection.

  1st 2nd 3rd 4th Total
Wake Forest
0
17
7
0
24
Florida State
14
0
21
7
42

1st   7- 0  Ron Sellers, 26, pass from Bill Cappleman (Grant Guthrie, kick), 7:41 
      7- 0  Opp, 56, field goal failed
     14- 0  Ron Sellers, 5, pass from Bill Cappleman (Grant Guthrie, kick), 2:33 
2nd  14- 7  Opp, 7, pass (kick), 10:55
     14-14  Opp, 9, pass (kick), 2:20 
     14-17  Opp, 30, field goal, 0:50 
     14-17  Grant Guthrie, 32, field goal failed, 0:00 
3rd  14-24  Opp, 28, pass (kick), 13:01
     21-24  Ron Sellers, 48, pass from Bill Cappleman (Grant Guthrie, kick)
     28-24  Bill Gunter, 3, run (Grant Guthrie, kick), 4:56 
     35-24  Ron Sellers, 28, pass from Bill Cappleman (Grant Guthrie, kick), 3:05 
4th  35-24  Grant Guthrie, 41, field goal failed
     42-24  Ron Sellers, 30, pass from Bill Cappleman (Grant Guthrie, kick), 4:38 


TEAM STATISTICS
FSU OPP First downs 33 16 Rushes-yards 48-258 46-179 Passing 364 112 Att-Comp-Int 35-23-1 21-7-4 Total Yards 83-622 67-291 Punt Returns 1-9 1-4 Kickoff Returns 4-101 6-114 Interception Ret. 4-19 1-0 Fumble Returns 0-0 4-0 Punts 3-35.7 6-41.3 Fumbles-Lost 4-4 2-0 Penalties-Yds 1-9 2-20 Attendance 35,108 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS Rushing No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Tom Bailey 12 105 0 Bill Gunter 17 79 1 John Pittman 7 31 0 Tommy Warren 3 23 0 Gary Pajcic 2 11 0 Brent Gilman 2 7 0 Bill Cappleman 5 2 0 --------------------------------------------- FSU 48 258 1 Opp 46 179 0 Receiving No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Ron Sellers 14 260 5 48t Billy Cox 4 57 0 Chip Glass 4 48 0 Tommy Warren 1 -1 0 -1 --------------------------------------------- FSU 23 364 5 48t Opp 7 112 3 28t Passing C- A- I Yds TD Lng ----------------------------------------------- Bill Cappleman 22 33 1 365 5 48t Tommy Warren 0 1 0 0 0 0 Gary Pajcic 1 1 0 -1 0 -1 ----------------------------------------------- FSU 23 35 1 364 5 48t Opp 7 21 4 112 3 28t Punt Return No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- John Crowe 1 9 0 9 --------------------------------------------- FSU 1 9 0 9 Opp 1 4 0 4 Kickoff Return No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Don Pederson 2 51 0 Tommy Warren 2 50 0 --------------------------------------------- FSU 4 101 0 Opp 6 114 0 Punting No Yds Lng ---------------------------------------- Bill Cheshire 3 107 ---------------------------------------- FSU 3 107 Opp 6 248 |---------Tackles---------| |---Sacks---| |---Pass Def---| |-Fumbles-| Blkd DEFENSIVE STATISTICS UT AT Total ForLoss No - Yards Int-Yds BrUp QBH Rcv-Yds FF Kick Saf ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Joe Benson . . . . . 1- 19 . . . . . . Chuck Eason . . . . . 1- 0 . . . . . . Mike Page . . . . . 1- 0 . . . . . . Walt Sumner . . . . . 1- 0 . . . . . . ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FSU 0 0 0 . . 4- 19 . . . . . . Opp . . . . . 1- 0 . . 4- 0 . . . STARTERS
Pos  ##  OFFENSE
----------------------------------
QB   14  Bill Cappleman
LE   27  Billy Cox
FB   30  Tom Bailey
LH   31  Bill Gunter
FL   34  Ron Sellers
C    55  Ted Mosley
LG   64  Stan Walker
RG   68  Larry Pendleton
RT   75  Bill Rhodes
LT   76  Jack Fenwick
RE   84  Chip Glass
Pos  ##  DEFENSE
----------------------------------
RC   17  Mike Page
RS   18  Clint Burton
LC   24  Walt Sumner
LS   41  John Crowe
LLB  47  Joe Benson
MLB  50  Dale McCullers
RLB  61  Chuck Elliott
LE   67  Mike Bugar
RT   71  Harvey Zion
LT   73  Duke Johnston
RE   80  Doug Gurr
PARTICIPANTS
##  NAME
-----------------------------
15  Tommy Warren
16  Gary Pajcic
19  Phil Abraira
22  Chuck Eason
23  Don Pederson
##  NAME
-----------------------------
33  Grant Guthrie
40  Brent Gilman
42  Bill Cheshire
79  Frank Vohun

Florida State 40, Houston 20

11/29/1968, Jacksonville, Fla.

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From the Tallahassee Democrat, 11/30/1968, page 11, by Bill McGrotha

JACKSONVILLE, FL - Oh, brother, was there ever a way Bill Cappleman, whose coolness would make a cucumber turn greener with envy, became a super quarterback here Friday night - if that he already was not - and spurred Florida State's football team to an amazing 40-20 conquest over Awesome Houston.

Wheeling and dealing with the run as well as the pass, Cappleman & Company were in front 25-0 at halftime.

If they had played all night, there was no way Houston would have ever caught up.

Going to All-American Ron Sellers time and again in clutch situations, Cappleman threw 35 times, completed 25 for 351 yards and four touchdowns, he had none intercepted.

Sellers pulled in 14 for 214 yards and one touchdown, a superb 63-yard payoff.

Both Cappleman and Sellers scattered more records hither and yon, but their total accounting will have to wait for another day. Among other things, Cappleman became the single-season yardage-maker in Southeastern football history, topping Frankie Sinkwich of Georgia and Steve Spurrier of Florida.

As 39,400 palpitating fans looked on in the Gator Bowl on this warmish, sticky November evening, Florida State went ahead to stay the first time it got the football, with Cappleman passing 24 yards to Phil Abraira for the first touchdown.

In the second quarter, FSU got touchdowns on Bill Gunter's 1-yard smash, Chip Glass' 6-yard catch of a Cappleman pass, and on Tom Bailey's 1-yard dive.

Houston unchained its lightning briefly in the third quarter, cutting FSU's lead to 25-7 on Paul Gipson's 6-yard run.

But before Houston got another turn with the ball the Seminoles pushed things to 32-7. In no mind to fool around under those circumstances, Cappleman tossed to Sellers for that 63-yard payoff.

Well, Houston retaliated on Gipson's 55-yard run, making it 32-14 with about five minutes and a whole quarter to go.

After holding the Cougars in a magnificient goal-line stand - they had three cracks from the 1-yard line - Florida State got a final touchdown on Cappleman's 46-yard throw to Billy Cox.

Houston scored a meaningless 6-pointer in the final minute, Ted Heiskell making it over from a yard out.

The nation's No. 1 offensive team, which came in averaging well over 500 yards per game, racked 425 yards, with just 199 of it on the ground. Meanwhile, the Seminoles, going against a defense ranked in the top five nationally, amassed 523 yards, with 374 passing, 147 running. It was the Seminoles' first-ever victory over the bothersome Texans. Houston, ranked No. 11 nationally, was left with a 6-2-2 record while the Seminoles bolstered their Peach Bowl credentials to 8-2.

Houston got just 112 yards in the first half as Florida State sprung an aggressive, gambling defense. In other words, most of the Cougars' offensive doings came after the hay was in the barn. Tackle Frank Vohun and defensive back Chuck Eason appeared to be the leaders of that superb defensive effort.

Gipson, running 29 times, netted 164 yards but got stopped when it counted most time after time. Houston called on No. 2 quarterback Rusty Clark in the last half, and he completed 14 of 20 passes for 226 yards.

Elmo Wright, the Cougars hotshot receiver, grabbed seven for 118 yards.

While Houston got no interceptions, neither did FSU. The Seminoles did recover three Houston fumbles, while losing one themselves.

John Pittman, with some late bright running, emerged as FSU's top ground-gainer, 64 yards in 10 carries. Workhorse Tom Bailey carried 20 times for 53 yards.

Glass was a clutch receiver on this night grabbing four for 44 yards. Bailey also nabbed four for 22.

Sellers got 12 of his 14 catches in the first half. Florida State was penalized 73 yards, Houston just 43. Each side punted four times. FSU averaged 40.3, Houston just 26.

The Seminoles' plan was to control the ball and they succeeded brilliantly, getting off 82 plays to the Cougars' 68.


Early in the week when the betting line came out, from Las Vegas or wherever, Houston was a 7-point favorite to beat Florida State on Friday night.

But by Thursday so much money had been wagered on Houston that the gamblers had upped the odds in favor of the Cougars to 13.

Almost never does the points spread vary more than two or three points from the time it opens until it closes. It did this time. There were rumors that some bookmakers were taking no more Houston money, but if anyone wanted to wager on FSU they could have all the action they wanted.

So Houston was not the only one that, in the vernacular of the betting fraternity, "took a bath" on Friday night as the Seminoles turned the startled Cougars every way but loose in winning 40-20 in Jacksonville's Gator Bowl.

Bill Cappleman, probably right now college football's best quarterback, completed 25 of 34 passes for 351 yards and four touchdowns, had none intercepted. Ron Sellers, the incomparable, caught 14 for 214 yards, one TD.

Incredibly, it wasn't really close.

Florida State started, like, boom.

The Seminoles won the pre-game toss, chose to receive. Don Pederson set up FSU at its 30 with a 26-yard runback.

Bill Cappleman opened with a screen pass to Chip Glass, who, behind a covey of blockers, raced to the FSU 49. Tom Bailey hit the left side for eight, and Bill Gunter squirmed for eight more and a first down at the Houston 35. Bailey slammed to the 31, Gunter to the 28, and Cappleman threw a short pass to Phil Abraira for a first down at the 24.

Gunter dug to the 21.

Cappleman faded, looked to his right, waited, then saw Abraira cutting across to his left, and hit him with a strike at the four. The receiver danced on into the end zone for the touchdown.

After kicking 56 consecutive extra points, just six short of the national collegiate record, Grant Guthrie missed one, leaving it 6-0.

Houston began at its 31 following the kick runback. Ken Bailey dashed for six on the first play, but Chuck Eason blitzed and knocked Paul Gipson for a 3-yard loss. Then Gipson got just four, and a punt was forced. It was a short one, 26 yards to FSU's 37.

FSU got pushed back to its 32 on an offsides. On third down, Cappleman nailed Ron Sellers for the first time, at the 50. A short one to Sellers got five more, but Bailey was stacked for minus-6 on a blitz. Soon Bill Cheshire punted neatly, 35 yards to the 11.

On third down at the 11, Gipson took a pitch out and skipped to a first down at the 23. But three more runs came up two yards short. Houston punted to FSU's 32.

And here came the Seminoles again. Gunter ran for eight, but got just a half-yard on his second bid. Cappleman kept, pushed to the 43 and a first down. After Gunter got a couple, Cappleman tossed to Sellers at the Houston 44.

Two runs got just four yards. Cappleman went to Sellers again, on the first play of the second quarter, for 13 yards and a first down at the Houston 27.

A delay penalty cost FSU five. Then Cappleman put one into the mitts of Sellers down deep, and he was dragged down at the one.

Promptly, Gunter slammed into the end zone with room to spare, his momentum carrying him three yards inside.

FSU lined up in a 2-point bid. Cappleman, pressed hard, finally threw, and it was intercepted in the end zone, just in front of an FSU receiver, by Johnny Peacock. It stayed 12-0.

The Cougars got to their 29 on the kick runback. They chopped out a first down at the 41, but a fumble lost eight. They couldn't make it up. Offsides on one punt to FSU's 21, the Cougars kicked again and FSU got the second one at its 40.

But the Seminoles got nothing out of that as Bailey was stopped short on a run, and two passes missed. Cheshire punted to the 21.

Houston cranked out a first down at the 31, then Bailey kept and dashed to the 50. Two plays later, Gipson fumbled after discovering no room at all up the middle, and soph linebacker Steve Gildea claimed the ball for FSU at the Seminoles' 46.

They unfolded a scintilating drive, and inches were big in it. A pass to Sellers gained the Houston 43. Two Bailey runs, coupled with a short pass to Sellers, reached the 33 and netted a first down by inches. Two more short passes to Sellers, one incomplete throw, and it came to fourth-and-two. The Tribe gambled, and Cappleman tossed to Bailey for a first down at the 23, again by inches.

A 10-yard toss to Sellers at the 13 brought still another first down by the narrowest of margins.

Bailey slammed to the 10, and John Pittman whacked to the six. On third down, Cappleman pitched to Glass in the end zone for the touchdown.

Once more a passing try for two points went awry, and the score stood 18-0 with 2:31 left in the half.

A 19-yard sweep by Gipson attained the 50 for Houston. But on third down there, with Rusty Clark in for Bailey at quarterback, a pitchout went astray and tackle Frank Vohun cuddled up to the ball as fellow Seminoles pounded on and around him. The recovery gave FSU a crack from the Houston 47 with 1:12 showing on the clock.

Cappleman fired to Sellers at the 33. Bailey took in a screen and sailed 14 yards to the 19 with 37 seconds left. Cappleman passed to Sellers at the 11. Twenty-nine seconds now. Glass on a superb catch, pulled in one at the one.

Twenty-one seconds to go. Bailey dived over the middle for the touchdown, and it wasn't close. Guthrie swung his toe for a point and it was 25-0.

On the last play of the half, Elmo Wright gathered in a pass and zipped to FSU's 30 before time ran out.

At intermission, FSU had a 17-to-6 margin in first downs. Cappleman had completed 20 of 26 passes for 222 yards, and Sellers had caught 12 for 137. Houston had thrown just four times, completed one for 25 yards. The Cougars led in rushing 87-to-45.

Frank Loner's second-half kickoff was a poor one off the side of his foot and Houston got good field position at its 38.

Clark threw to Paul Daulong at the 47, but FSU defenders tossed runners for short losses the next two times. Houston punted. Walt Sumner gathered it inside the 10 and zigged and zipped up to his 40 before a last tackler snared him by the ankle. But a clip was called on the play, and FSU was set back to its 10.

Bailey got three, but another clip set FSU back to the five. Bailey got five, to the 10, but Cappleman, trying to throw, was nabbed on the one.

From deep in the end zone on fourth down, Cheshire boomed a spectacular punt up to the FSU 46. Mike Simpson returned it well, 14 yards to the 32.

In three plays Houston scored. Clark passed to Wright at the 14. Gipson ripped to the six, then scored, standing up, on his next run. A point kick narrowed it to 25-7.

Quickly the Seminoles rebounded.

After Tommy Warren returned the kickoff 20 yards to the 35, Bailey picked up two. Thereupon, Cappleman hit Sellers streaking down the sidelines with a toss at about the 25, and the flanker sped on to a touchdown. Guthrie's boot made it 32-7.

A Clark pass to Calvin Achey for 24 yards gained FSU's 42. But a fumble lost one, and Frank Vohun racked Gipson for a setback of three more. Then Vohun struck again, decking Clark for a loss of six. Mike Parrott's punt was a dud, 11 yards to FSU's 40.

FSU got to the 50, but no further. Cheshire lofted a 43-yard punt to the seven.

Houston moved all the way. Clark passed to Earl Thomas for 18, then to Wright for 20 at the Houston 45. Suddenly, on an option, Gipson was away and running on a 55-yard scamper to a touchdown. A point kick cut FSU's lead to 32-14.

The Cougars tried an onside kick but Chip Glass got it for FSU at the Seminoles' 46.

Four runs by Bailey, including a fourth-and-one gamble, brought a first down at the 44. Cappleman soon passed to Sellers at the 29. But Cappleman then got decked for a loss of 13, and a clipping call on the play knocked FSU back to its 46. Houston put on another big rush, nailed Cappleman again, back to the 34, precipitating a fumble that John Thornburg claimed for the Cougars at the FSU 32.

Runs of 14 and 12 yards by Gipson brought a first down at FSU's six. Carlos Bell immediately blasted to the one.

Clark twice tried to sneak over. First time he got to the 1-foot line. Second time he got nothing as the last quarter started. Then, on fourth down, he dealt the ball to Gipson on a sweep. Floyd Ratliff tore through and hit him, causing a rolling fumble that Doug Gurr recovered for the Seminoles on the 12.

On the ground throughout, Florida State drove to Houston's 1-yard line.

Bailey and Pittman led to the 32. A personal foul assisted to the 41. Pittman and Bailey spurred the running to the 41. Then, on a trap play, Pittman cut back and tore 36 yards to Houston's five. Pittman rammed to the two, then the one, got nothing on a third carry. Brent Gilman came in and he, too, was stopped short.

A 23-yard toss, Clark to Achley, got Houston out of the hole. Wright caught one for 17. Gipson ran for 10. Three more short pass completions led to the 25. But FSU held there, taking over at the 26 finally.

Gilman swept for 10, and Gunter for 11 to the FSU 47. Bailey caught a short pass at the Houston 47.

Then Cappleman whipped a long one to Billy Cox, all alone about the 15, and he raced in for the touchdown.

Cappleman, taking plenty of time, threw a soft pass to Glass, behind defenders in the end zone, and the 2-pointer made it 40-14 with 2:55 left in the game.

Houston then drove 75 yards for its last touchdown. Clark passed to Wright for 20, to Achley for 10 in a move to FSU's 37. Pass interference gave Houston the ball at FSU's 22. Gipson got nine, and Clark passed to Wright at the three. Ted Heiskell, carrying twice, scored from the one. A passing try for two was incomplete, leaving it 40-20 with a minute left.

A Gary Pajcic pass to Warren for 23 yards got FSU to Houston's 22 with 16 seconds left, but FSU shrugged off a field-goal try, put Billy Cox at quarterback instead, and he kept for two yards as the incredible football game ended.

  1st 2nd 3rd 4th Total
Houston
0
0
14
6
20
Florida State
6
19
7
8
40

1st   6- 0  Phil Abraira, 21, pass from Bill Cappleman (Grant Guthrie, kick failed), 11:16
2nd  12- 0  Bill Gunter, 1, run (Bill Cappleman, pass intercepted), 13:34
     18- 0  Chip Glass, 6, pass from Bill Cappleman (Bill Cappleman, pass failed), 2:31 
     25- 0  Tom Bailey, 1, run (Grant Guthrie, kick), 0:20 
3rd  25- 7  Opp, 6, run (kick), 10:49
     32- 7  Ron Sellers, 62, pass from Bill Cappleman (Grant Guthrie, kick), 10:02
     32-14  Opp, 55, run (kick), 4:58 
4th  40-14  Billy Cox, 46, pass from Bill Cappleman (Chip Glass, pass from Bill Cappleman), 2:55 
     40-20  Opp, 1, run (pass failed), 1:00 


TEAM STATISTICS
FSU OPP First downs 29 22 Rushes-yards 47-147 47-199 Passing 374 226 Att-Comp-Int 35-26-0 21-14-0 Total Yards 82-521 68-425 Punt Returns 1-14 1-14 Kickoff Returns 3-49 6-49 Interception Ret. 0-0 0-0 Fumble Returns 3-0 1-0 Punts 4-40.3 4-26.0 Fumbles-Lost 1-1 6-3 Penalties-Yds 6-73 3-43 Attendance 39,400 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS Rushing No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Greg Pittman 10 64 0 Tom Bailey 20 53 1 Bill Gunter 10 35 1 Brent Gilman 2 10 0 Billy Cox 1 2 0 2 Gary Pajcic 1 0 0 0 Bill Cappleman 3 -17 0 --------------------------------------------- FSU 47 147 2 2 Opp 47 199 3 55t Receiving No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Ron Sellers 14 214 1 62t Billy Cox 1 46 1 46t Chip Glass 4 44 1 Phil Abraira 2 25 1 21t Tommy Warren 1 23 0 23 Tom Bailey 4 22 0 --------------------------------------------- FSU 26 374 4 62t Opp 14 226 0 Passing C- A- I Yds TD Lng ----------------------------------------------- Bill Cappleman 25 34 0 351 4 62t Gary Pajcic 1 1 0 23 0 23 ----------------------------------------------- FSU 26 35 0 374 4 62t Opp 14 21 0 226 0 Punt Return No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Walt Sumner 1 14 0 14 --------------------------------------------- FSU 1 14 0 14 Opp 1 14 0 14 Kickoff Return No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Don Pederson 1 25 0 25 Tommy Warren 1 20 0 20 Ken Hart 1 4 0 4 --------------------------------------------- FSU 3 49 0 25 Opp 6 49 0 Punting No Yds Lng ---------------------------------------- Bill Cheshire 4 161 ---------------------------------------- FSU 4 161 Opp 4 104 |---------Tackles---------| |---Sacks---| |---Pass Def---| |-Fumbles-| Blkd DEFENSIVE STATISTICS UT AT Total ForLoss No - Yards Int-Yds BrUp QBH Rcv-Yds FF Kick Saf ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Steve Gildea . . . . . . . . 1- 0 . . . Frank Vohun . . . . . . . . 1- 0 . . . Doug Gurr . . . . . . . . 1- 0 . . . ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FSU 0 0 0 . . . . . 3- 0 . . . Opp . . . . . . . . 1- 0 . . . STARTERS
Pos  ##  OFFENSE
----------------------------------
QB   14  Bill Cappleman
LE   27  Billy Cox
FB   30  Tom Bailey
LH   31  Bill Gunter
FL   34  Ron Sellers
C    55  Ted Mosley
LG   64  Stan Walker
RG   68  Larry Pendleton
RT   75  Bill Rhodes
LT   76  Jack Fenwick
RE   84  Chip Glass
Pos  ##  DEFENSE
----------------------------------
RC   17  Mike Page
LS   18  Clint Burton
LC   24  Walt Sumner
RS   41  John Crowe
LLB  47  Joe Benson
RLB  61  Chuck Elliott
MLB  62  Theron Bass
RT   71  Harvey Zion
LT   79  Frank Vohun
RE   80  Doug Gurr
LE   85  Floyd Ratliff
PARTICIPANTS
##  NAME
-----------------------------
15  Tommy Warren
16  Gary Pajcic
19  Phil Abraira
22  Chuck Eason
23  Don Pederson
33  Grant Guthrie
##  NAME
-----------------------------
40  Brent Gilman
42  Bill Cheshire
44  John Pittman
58  Steve Gildea
59  Frank Loner
66  Ken Hart

Louisiana State 31, Florida State 27

12/30/1968, Atlanta, Ga.

Click here for program cover

From the Tallahassee Democrat, 12/31/1968, page 11, by Bill McGrotha

ATLANTA, GA, - Ahead 13-0 early despite an unusual avalanche of penalties, Florida State's football team got put down late in the first annual Peach Bowl by a Louisiana State football team that simply wouldn't quit.

The score was 31-27 in a long and thoroughly uncomfortable game played in pneumonia-type weather. Cold rain fell on Grant Field steadily for more than half the action.

Though Florida State uncorked some considerable heroics in the fourth quarter, coming from 24-13 arrears to lead 27-24 with only 6:15 to play, the fact was that in the end Louisiana State had simply out-offensed and out-defensed the Seminoles.

Limited to one pass reception in the first half and apparently off of his normal spectacular form, Ron Sellers was at his All-American best in leading the Seminoles' magnificent though futile last-quarter rally.

He ended with eight receptions for 76 yards and the final two FSU touchdowns. Quarterback Bill Cappleman, bothered all night long by LSU's aggressive blitzing, hit on 21 of 41 throws for 221 yards and three touchdowns.

LSU's Mike Hillman, meanwhile, connected on 16 of 29 passes for 229 yards, two TD's, and Tommy Morel caught six for 103.

With 151 yards running, LSU had a 384 to 313 margin in total ofense.

With 35,545 fans on hand - an estimated 38,000 had bought tickets with many failing to show because of the weather - Florida State jumped to a ridiculously easy lead. LSU fumbled the kickoff, FSU recovered it, and the Seminoles' Tom Bailey swept 36 yards on the first play from scrimmage to put the Tribe in front.

Early in the second quarter Cappleman threw 1 yard to Bill Gunter for a 13-0 FSU lead.

With the scoreboard clock on the blink in that second quarter, LSU rallied. When the Seminoles punted out of a hole Craig Burns scored on a 39-yard punt return. A bit later, after the Seminoles punted out of another hole, LSU went 35 yards to a 32-yard field goal by Mark Lumpkin, making it 13-10 at halftime.

The Tigers marched 51 yards to score the first time they got the ball in the third quarter, Hillman passed 11 yards to Bob Hamlett for the touchdown.

On its last series of the quarter LSU whipped 45 yards, on the heels of a weak (22 yards) Seminole punt, with Hillman throwing 11 yards to Bill Stober for the touchdown.

Then came the Seminoles' brilliant comeback.

Cappleman directed a 72-yard march in 13 plays, capped by his two-yard payoff pass to Sellers. Then, after another LSU fumble on a kickoff was claimed by the Tribe, the Seminoles went 37 yards - much more counting yardage losses, mainly by penalty, that set them back to their 38 - and regained the lead on Cappleman's four-yard pitch to Sellers.

Then, with 6:15 left in the game, LSU came on with its decisive push, 61 yards in nine plays, climaxed by Maurice LeBlanc's three-yard scoring smash with 2:39 remaining.

The Seminoles were socked with 90 yards in penalties, LSU with 70, but 75 of those yards stepped off against Florida State came in the first half when the Tribe appeared to have an excellent chance of "putting this one away."

Four lost fumbles marred LSU's offensive showing somewhat. The Seminoles lost none. Each side had one pass intercepted.


An all-time record for a post-season football game may have been set in the Peach Bowl's first try.

As Louisiana State nudged Florida State here Monday night in the inaugural Peach Bowl, more than three hours elapsed from start to finish. Most games don't last 2 1/2 hours.

The Tigers scored 24 consecutive points, a span covering the second and third quarter. FSU sandwiched 13 and 14 points around that streak, but LSU had the last word with a payoff touchdown with 2:39 left in the game.

Louisiana State had come on the field looking like Florida State, white jerseys and gold pants. Florida State, with deep garnet jerseys and helmets plus gold pants, looked like something the Seminoles had never looked like before.

The kickoff came a bit over 10 minutes late, with the Tigers receiving after winning the coin toss despite being outnumbered for that ceremony, 24 seniors to 18.

Frank Loner stuck his foot to the ball, and it was a low grounder that skidded just behind the Tigers' 36.

Glenn Smith, on the return, fumbled and John Crowe recovered the ball for the Seminoles at the 36.

First play and Bill Cappleman dealt to Tom Bailey, who headed off right tackle, slowed as he saw no hole, then cut outside and turned it on - an all-the-way run. Grant Guthrie added he point for a quick 7-0 lead.

The Tigers began at their 33 after a 16-yard return on Loner's second kickoff. On third down Mike Hillman passed to Bob Hamlet for 11. Roughing on the play cost FSU 15, setting up the Tigers at the Seminoles' 34. Hillman soon passed to Tommy Morel at the 22. But on third down, the ball at the 23, Bill Loshe intercepted Hillman's low pass at the 13.

Three plays got FSU three yards, as Ron Sellers dropped the first pass thrown him, a high one. Bill Cheshire punted to LSU's 46.

A late tackle on a short gainer cost Florida State 15 more yards. Ken Newfield's five-yard run coupled with Morel's 13-yard catch of a Hillman pass, lifted the Tigers to FSU's 22. Newfield on a wide slant, romped to a first down on the 10 but Newfield fumbled on the pitch back and Dale McCulers claimed the ball for the Seminoles at the 15.

Once again Florida State couldn't get out of the hole. Cheshire punted to LSU's 44.

Maurice LeBlanc set sail off the left side for 20 yards to FSU's 36, but fumbled when tackled, and Mike Page grabbed the ball for the Seminoles.

Cappleman's 15-yard pass to Don Pederson got the Tribe to midfield. The Seminoles bogged there. Cheshire punted to the 11, but it was rubbed out by a holding penalty. His second boot was returned nine yards to the 38, but that one was cancelled by a personal foul the Tigers commited. His third try ended with LSU bidding from its 16.

LSU worked the ball to its 34, finally had to punt. Late in the first quarter the Seminoles started anew from their 25.

Cappleman, back to pass, kept and ran behind an array of blockers 28 yards to LSU's 41. Phil Abraira caught a 17-yard pass at the 24. Bill Gunter got three to the 21.

Then Cappleman faded, found Gunter all alone at the five, hit him with a pass, and the little half back bulled over an on-rushing defender as he bounced into the end zone. Guthrie's point kick was much wide, leaving it 13-0 in the early moments of the second quarter.

LSU went three plays and a punt. The Seminoles followed suite. The Tigers did it once more, with the Tribe getting the ball at the 20. That was when trouble started.

Cappleman got rapped for a loss of six, to the 14, and a double reverse resulted in Pederson's losing seven to the seven. A pass missed.

Cheshire punted. Craig Burns pulled it in at the FSU 39, evaded a couple of tacklers, cut left, then right and skipped to a touchdown, untouched. Mark Lumpkin kicked a point, cutting it to 13-7.

Sellers at last caught a pass, a 19-yarder to the FSU 46, but a 20-yard holding penalty stymied the Tribe. Then Cappleman lost 12 to the 24, delay cost five more and Cappleman was decked for seven more. From the 12 Cheshire punted to the 50.

Hillman passed to Newfield for 22 to the 28. LeBlanc, in two runs gained the 16. But Frank Vohun tossed LeBlanc for a two-yard loss and, after an eight-yard pass gain. Crowe racked Jim West for minus four. That brought on a 32 yard field goal try by Lumpkin.

The kick was true, making it 13-10.

FSU began again at its 20. Gunter runs of seven and 13 yards led to the 45.

But when Cappleman threw Bill Thompson intercepted at the Tigers' 42.

Bill Stober caught passes for 18 and 20 yards to pave a first down at FSU's 20. But it came to fourth down at the 11, and a delay penalty put LSU farther back for a 34-yard field goal attempt by Lumpkin. The boot veered off to the left.

FSU had time for a single quarterback sneak by Cappleman before intermission came.

Brent Gilman brought the second half kickoff 16 yards to the 29 for the Seminoles, but soon Cappleman was on his back, a 12-yard loss at the 18. Cheshire's punt gave LSU a crack from its 49.

The Tigers made good.

Hillman passed to Morel for six, then ran for five. Two plays later Hillman connected with Morel for a 28-yard pickup to the 12. Two plays later Hillman hit Hamlet at the one and he struggled across for the touchdown. Lumpkin kicked a point for 17-13 with 10:54 left in the quarter.

The Seminoles still could't move. Cheshire punted a 42-yarder, and a swift Phil Abraira was down to nail the catcher for a three-yard loss from the point he took the ball. That put LSU on its 19.

LeBlanc's running got the Tigers up to their 40. An illegal receiver downfield penalty pushed them back to the 25.

A 15-yard LeBlanc run lifted LSU back to the 43 before a punt knocked Florida State back to the 15.

Gilman ran to the FSU 32, but again Cappleman got decked trying to throw, this time for minus eight and Cheshire punted. It was a weak one, 22 yards to the Florida State 45.

In six plays LSU scored.

Fred Haynes passed to Newfield for five. Hillman came back in, threw to Morel for a first down at the 15. On third down at the 11, Hillman hit Stober, all alone in the end zone, for six points. Lumpkin's kick brought the score to 24-13 with five seconds left in the quarter.

The Seminoles started at their 28 and in 13 plays they scored with 10:35 remaining.

Abraira caught an eight-yard pass, and Gilman a 17-yarder to LSU's 47. Two Gilman runs and a short pass to Pederson made a first down at the 37, and Cappleman threw to Sellers for another at the 26. Two plays later he found Sellers again at the 12, another first down. Three plays more and FSU got a first down at the two when interference was called on a throw to Sellers.

After Bailey gained nothing, Cappleman tossed into the flats to Sellers for the TD. FSU tried for two points. Cappleman tried to hit Tyson but the throw was intercepted. It stood 24-19.

Before LSU ran another ofensive play the Seminoles were ahead 27-24.

Smith fumbled on the kickoff return when slung down hard from behind. Ron Wallace recovered for the Seminoles at the LSU 37.

But Gilman on a pitchout, lost six, and a holding penalty slapped the Seminoles back to their 38.

Cappleman tossed to Sellers at the 45. On third and 28, Cappleman threw long to Jim Tyson, who made a dandy catch for a 31-yard pickup and a first down at LSU's 24. A toss to Bailey for seven and to Sellers for five led to the 10. Bailey caught another for seven. Gunter dug to the four. On fourth down there Cappleman passed wide to Sellers in the end zone for the touchdown. The Seminoles again went for two, made it on Cappleman's throw to Chip Glass.

There remained just 6:15 in the game, and LSU had yet to run a play in the last quarter.

But the Tigers showed what kind of stuff they were made of when they got their chance.

They moved 61 yards in nine plays for the winning touchdown after West returned the kickoff 19 yards to the 39.

LeBlanc, in two runs, reached the 30. On third down a 15-yard penalty for illegal use of hands set LSU back to the 37, but Hillman came through with a big pass and Morel with a big catch for a first down at the 17.

LeBlanc pounded to the 14. On a beautiful fake, Hillman kept and sprinted wide to a first down at the three. LeBlanc promptly scored from that range. Lumpkin booted a final point for 31-27.

With 2:39 now left, FSU started from its 27.

Glass caught a first down pass at the 39, and Sellers another at LSU's 45. A screen pass to Bailey got just a yard, and three more passes fell incomplete as Barton Frye batted down a final one to Sellers.

LSU took over with a bit over a minute left, and ran out the clock.

  1st 2nd 3rd 4th Total
Louisiana State
0
10
14
7
31
Florida State
7
6
0
14
27

1st   7- 0  Tom Bailey, 36, run (Grant Guthrie, kick), 14:40
2nd  13- 0  Bill Gunter, 21, pass from Bill Cappleman (Grant Guthrie, kick failed), 14:50
     13- 7  Opp, 39, punt return/blocked punt (kick)
     13-10  Opp, 32, field goal
     13-10  Opp, 34, field goal failed
3rd  13-17  Opp, 11, pass (kick), 10:54
     13-24  Opp, 11, pass (kick), 0:05 
4th  19-24  Ron Sellers, 2, pass from Bill Cappleman (Bill Cappleman, pass intercepted), 10:35
     27-24  Ron Sellers, 4, pass from Bill Cappleman (Chip Glass, pass from Bill Cappleman), 6:15 
     27-31  Opp, 3, run (kick), 2:39 


TEAM STATISTICS
FSU OPP First downs 19 22 Rushes-yards 34-92 43-151 Passing 221 233 Att-Comp-Int 41-21-1 30-17-1 Total Yards 75-313 73-384 Punt Returns 2-8 6-37 Kickoff Returns 6-114 5-72 Interception Ret. 1-0 1-0 Fumble Returns 4-0 0-0 Punts 9-34.7 4-41.5 Fumbles-Lost 1-0 5-4 Penalties-Yds 8-90 7-70 Attendance 35,545 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS Rushing No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Tom Bailey 11 77 1 36t Bill Gunter 8 30 0 13 Brent Gilman 5 9 0 5 Don Pederson 1 -7 0 -7 Bill Cappleman 9 -17 0 28 --------------------------------------------- FSU 34 92 1 36t Opp 43 151 1 20 Receiving No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Ron Sellers 8 76 2 18 Jim Tyson 1 31 0 31 Phil Abraira 2 25 0 17 Bill Gunter 1 21 1 21 Don Pederson 2 20 0 16 Tom Bailey 4 19 0 8 Brent Gilman 2 17 0 17 Chip Glass 1 12 0 12 --------------------------------------------- FSU 21 221 3 31 Opp 17 233 2 28 Passing C- A- I Yds TD Lng ----------------------------------------------- Bill Cappleman 21 41 1 221 3 31 ----------------------------------------------- FSU 21 41 1 221 3 31 Opp 17 30 1 233 2 28 Punt Return No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Walt Sumner 1 9 0 9 John Pell 1 -1 0 -1 --------------------------------------------- FSU 2 8 0 9 Opp 6 37 1 39t Kickoff Return No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Don Pederson 4 77 0 Tommy Warren 1 23 0 23 Brent Gilman 1 14 0 14 --------------------------------------------- FSU 6 114 0 23 Opp 5 72 0 Punting No Yds Lng ---------------------------------------- Bill Cheshire 9 312 42 ---------------------------------------- FSU 9 312 42 Opp 4 166 49 |---------Tackles---------| |---Sacks---| |---Pass Def---| |-Fumbles-| Blkd DEFENSIVE STATISTICS UT AT Total ForLoss No - Yards Int-Yds BrUp QBH Rcv-Yds FF Kick Saf ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bill Lohse . . . . . 1- 0 . . . . . . John Crowe . . . . . . . . 1- 0 . . . Dale McCullers . . . . . . . . 1- 0 . . . Mike Page . . . . . . . . 1- 0 . . . Ron Wallace . . . . . . . . 1- 0 . . . ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FSU 0 0 0 . . 1- 0 . . 4- 0 . . . Opp . . . . . 1- 0 . . . . . . STARTERS
Pos  ##  OFFENSE
----------------------------------
QB   14  Bill Cappleman
SE   19  Phil Abraira
FB   30  Tom Bailey
HB   31  Bill Gunter
FL   34  Ron Sellers
C    55  Ted Mosley
LG   64  Stan Walker
RG   68  Larry Pendleton
RT   75  Bill Rhodes
LT   76  Jack Fenwick
TE   84  Chip Glass
Pos  ##  DEFENSE
----------------------------------
RC   17  Mike Page
RS   22  Chuck Eason
LC   24  Walt Sumner
LS   41  John Crowe
MLB  50  Dale McCullers
LLB  56  Bill Lohse
RLB  61  Chuck Elliott
RT   71  Harvey Zion
LT   79  Frank Vohun
RE   80  Doug Gurr
LE   85  Floyd Ratliff
PARTICIPANTS
##  NAME
-----------------------------
15  Tommy Warren
21  John Pell
23  Don Pederson
33  Grant Guthrie
40  Brent Gilman
##  NAME
-----------------------------
42  Bill Cheshire
59  Frank Loner
81  Jim Tyson
83  Ron Wallace