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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- Chris Weinke picked a good time to have
a bad night.
|  | | Florida St. linebacker Brian Allen, who grabbed Louisville's Chris Lester on this play, helped lead a dominant Seminoles' defense. |
Weinke and Florida State's offense struggled with its passing
game Saturday, but linebacker Tommy Polley and the defense didn't
need much help.
"I thought our defense played about as good as it can play,"
Florida State coach Bobby Bowden said after the Seminoles posted
their first shutout in two years with a 31-0 win over Louisville.
"We're getting more out of our ends and we are getting good tackle
play from a lot of guys."
He wouldn't get an argument from Louisville coach John L. Smith.
"That might be the fastest crew that I've ever seen in college
football," Smith said. "They just fly. Their defense is just
unbelievable."
Polley returned an interception for one touchdown and forced a
fumble to set up another as No. 2 Florida State extended major
college's longest winning streak to 16 games.
"He's a playmaker," Bowden said. "He makes the big plays."
Weinke threw for 221 yards and a touchdown, ran 2 yards for
another, but was intercepted three times in a game penalty-filled
game. He had not been intercepted in the first three games.
Florida State's defense, which has now scored in five straight
games, handed Louisville its first shutout since 1992.
"And we got it against a good Louisville offense," Florida
State cornerback Tay Cody said.
Florida State's last shutout was a 48-0 victory over Clemson two
years ago.
Louisville (2-1) lost its only real scoring opportunity in the
fourth quarter when the Cardinals had a first down at the Florida
State 2. Two running attempts and two passes by Dave Ragone failed.
"We really hadn't been tested at the goal line yet," Cody
said. "That's was really big for us."
The Cardinals averaged 46 points and 435 yards in victories over
Kentucky and Grambling, but managed only three of its 210 yards on
the ground. Louisville picked up 109 of its yards in the fourth
quarter.
Polley's 4-yard interception return for a touchdown, a 5-yard
scoring run by Travis Minor and Matt Munyon's 23-yard field goal
gave the Seminoles (4-0) a 17-0 halftime lead.
"I think we'll feel pretty good watching film tomorrow," said
Polley, who returns to his home state Thursday for a nationally
televised game at Maryland. "We're working at being more
disciplined and not making dumb penalties."
Minor's touchdown came two plays after Polley forced a fumble by
Louisville's Tony Stallings that was recovered by Florida State's
Derrick Gibson at the Louisville 6.
Minor picked up 120 yards on 20 carries, his second straight
game over the 100-yard mark, to help the Seminoles overcome five
turnovers.
Munyon, who was awarded the starting job after Bowden tried
three different kickers a week ago, hit all four extra point kicks
in addition to the field goal, but missed a 32-yard field goal on
the final play of the third quarter.
Each team was penalized 13 times with Louisville assessed 133
yards and Florida State 110.
"We knew coming in we were going to have to gamble some,"
Smith said. "We were going to have to throw caution to the wind
and try and see what we could do."
The Seminoles have won 31 strai
ght game on their home field, where they have not been defeated in 48 games dating back to a
17-16 loss to Miami in 1991.
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ALSO SEE
COLLEGE FOOTBALL Scoreboard
Louisville Clubhouse
Florida State Clubhouse
AUDIO/VIDEO
 FSU's Marvin Minnis lays out to haul in a Chris Weinke pass.
avi: 997 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Tommy Polley returns an interception 4 yards for a Seminole TD.
avi: 646 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
The Floirda State defense preserves the shutout with a goal-line stand in the fourth quarter.
avi: 1109 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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