EJ Manuel, Lonnie Pryor lead Florida State Seminoles to Orange Bowl win over Northern Illinois
Quarterback EJ Manuel scores a touchdown in the fourth quarter of the Discover Orange Bowl game with Northern Illinois and Florida State University on January 1,2013.
Jordan Lynch said he planned to have Florida State’s defense worn down and on its knees by the fourth quarter of Tuesday night’s Discover Orange Bowl.The Seminoles were hardly wheezing.
After what could best be described as a first half to forget, Northern Illinois’ dual-threat quarterback rallied the first Mid-American Conference champions to reach a BCS bowl game to within a touchdown in the third quarter.
But in the end, EJ Manuel, Lonnie Pryor and Florida State’s defense proved to be too much as Seminoles made their first BCS Bowl appearance in seven years a good one by holding on for a 31-10 victory in front of 72,074 at Sun Life Stadium.
Manuel threw a touchdown pass before the half — a 6-yarder to former Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas standout Rashad Greene — and ran for another on the first play of the fourth quarter as the Seminoles, two-touchdown favorites coming in, completed just their third 12-win season in school history.
Pryor, who came in having run for 242 yards during the season, posted a career-high 130 yards rushing and scored on runs of 60 yards and 37 yards on a night the senior fullback will surely remember.
The Huskies, who came in having won 21 of its past 22 games including back-to-back MAC championships and became the first school from a nonautomatic qualifying conference to play in a BCS bowl game, trailed 17-3 early in the third quarter and appeared headed toward a blowout loss before Lynch and the Huskies offense came to life.
On third-and-15 from NIU’s 8-yard line, Lynch hit Akeem Daniels streaking down the Florida State sideline for a 55-yard gain. Two plays later, Lynch reeled off his longest run of the night — a 22-yard scamper — down to the FSU 11. On the next play, Lynch hit Martel Moore on a crossing route and he did the rest, diving into the end zone with 9:55 to play in the third quarter to make it 17-10.
Feeling a rush of momentum, NIU coach Rod Carey — who took over for the departed Dave Doeren (N.C. State) — called for an onside kick moments later, and the Huskies recovered. Cornerback Paris Logan pounced on the ball at the NIU 47-yard line.
But after driving down to FSU 23-yard line, Lynch scrambled and flung a pass toward receiver Jamison Wells. FSU safety Terrence Brooks stepped in front of it and picked it off. He returned the interception 20 yards.
Trailing 24-10 in the fourth quarter, NIU (12-2) ran a reverse to Da’Ron Brown. But he was hit in the backfield by FSU’s Xavier Rhodes, who forced a fumble and recovered it at the NIU 42.
Two plays later, Pryor was sprinting untouched toward the end zone.
After what could best be described as a first half to forget, Northern Illinois’ dual-threat quarterback rallied the first Mid-American Conference champions to reach a BCS bowl game to within a touchdown in the third quarter.
But in the end, EJ Manuel, Lonnie Pryor and Florida State’s defense proved to be too much as Seminoles made their first BCS Bowl appearance in seven years a good one by holding on for a 31-10 victory in front of 72,074 at Sun Life Stadium.
Manuel threw a touchdown pass before the half — a 6-yarder to former Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas standout Rashad Greene — and ran for another on the first play of the fourth quarter as the Seminoles, two-touchdown favorites coming in, completed just their third 12-win season in school history.
Pryor, who came in having run for 242 yards during the season, posted a career-high 130 yards rushing and scored on runs of 60 yards and 37 yards on a night the senior fullback will surely remember.
The Huskies, who came in having won 21 of its past 22 games including back-to-back MAC championships and became the first school from a nonautomatic qualifying conference to play in a BCS bowl game, trailed 17-3 early in the third quarter and appeared headed toward a blowout loss before Lynch and the Huskies offense came to life.
On third-and-15 from NIU’s 8-yard line, Lynch hit Akeem Daniels streaking down the Florida State sideline for a 55-yard gain. Two plays later, Lynch reeled off his longest run of the night — a 22-yard scamper — down to the FSU 11. On the next play, Lynch hit Martel Moore on a crossing route and he did the rest, diving into the end zone with 9:55 to play in the third quarter to make it 17-10.
Feeling a rush of momentum, NIU coach Rod Carey — who took over for the departed Dave Doeren (N.C. State) — called for an onside kick moments later, and the Huskies recovered. Cornerback Paris Logan pounced on the ball at the NIU 47-yard line.
But after driving down to FSU 23-yard line, Lynch scrambled and flung a pass toward receiver Jamison Wells. FSU safety Terrence Brooks stepped in front of it and picked it off. He returned the interception 20 yards.
Trailing 24-10 in the fourth quarter, NIU (12-2) ran a reverse to Da’Ron Brown. But he was hit in the backfield by FSU’s Xavier Rhodes, who forced a fumble and recovered it at the NIU 42.
Two plays later, Pryor was sprinting untouched toward the end zone.
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