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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) -- As the game reached a merciful
conclusion, Chris Weinke watched the action in a chair beyond the
end zone, his left foot immobilized and elevated.
|  | | Florida State quarterback Chris Weinke looks for a way around Maryland cornerback Curome Cox in first-quarter action on Thursday. |
The scene put a damper on an otherwise delightful night for No.
2 Florida State and its record-setting quarterback.
Weinke threw three touchdown passes before leaving early in the
third quarter with an apparent sprained ankle, and the Seminoles
cruised to a 59-7 victory Thursday night.
William McCray scored on two short runs and Atrews Bell caught
two TD passes for the Seminoles (5-0, 3-0 ACC), who built a 32-7
halftime lead en route to their 17th straight victory.
Weinke left after his third touchdown pass made it 38-7. With
rival Miami next on the Seminoles' schedule, coach Bobby Bowden probably was ready to pull his senior quarterback anyway.
The severity of the injury was not immediately known.
"I inverted my ankle on the second series, then I reinjured it
in the second quarter," Weinke said. "I did not feel comfortable
dropping back and putting pressure on it in the third quarter.
We'll find out tomorrow."
At least the Seminoles have an extra bit of time for the injury
to heal.
"I hope it's a minor thing. Thank goodness it's a Thursday
night game," Bowden said.
Weinke went 11-for-15 for 234 yards. His final TD pass gave him
58 for his career, breaking Danny Kanell's school record.
"I didn't even know I set the record, to be honest," he said.
"It's a honor."
It was 25-0 before Maryland (2-2, 0-1) got its initial first
down, on a 74-yard touchdown run by LaMont Jordan.
Jordan finished with 114 yards rushing, his first 100-yard game
of the season, but Maryland managed only eight first downs, four on
the final drive of the game. Calvin McCall, who was victimized by
several dropped passes, went 10-for-27 for 100 yards and one
interception.
"We had a chance to show the country what we are made of, and
instead all those people watching on TV are saying it's the same
old Maryland Terps," said linebacker E.J. Henderson.
"Nothing's changed with Florida State," Maryland coach Ron
Vanderlinden said. "It's the most talented football team in the
country."
Florida State is 11-0 against Maryland, winning by an average of
34 points. The Seminoles have scored at least 48 points in eight of
the last nine games between the teams.
After the Terrapins took the opening kickoff and gained only 1
yard in three plays, the Seminoles quickly covered 59 yards to go
up 7-0. Weinke went 3-for-3 for 36 yards before McCray ran in from
the 1.
"We wanted to set the tempo early tonight. We wanted to score a
touchdown on our first drive, and we did that," Weinke said.
Maryland again did nothing on offense, and a 28-yard punt return
by Clevan Thomas set up a career-long 44-yard field goal by Matt
Munyon.
The Terrapins' next possession featured two dropped passes, and
after the Seminoles' first punt, a botched pitchout by McCall was
recovered by FSU at the Maryland 16. Although the Seminoles
couldn't convert, a coffin-corner punt by Keith Cottrell set up a
safety for a 12-0 lead.
Immediately after the free kick, Robert Morgan slipped behind
Curome Cox on the right sideline and hauled in a 58-yard touchdown
pass.
The Terrapins not only found it impossible to get a first down,
but they couldn't help giving the ball away. An interception by the
Seminoles' Chris Hope led to a 2-yard touchdown run by McCray and a
25-0 lead.
Maryland ended its first-down drought and snapped the shutout
with one play, Jordan's lengthy touchdown run off a block by tight
end Jeff Dugan.
Undaunted, the Seminoles made it 32-7 on a 2-yard pass from
Weinke to Bell with 14 seconds left in the half.
At that point, a good portion of the 47,044 at Byrd Stadium
headed for the exits. It was the biggest crowd at Maryland since
1995.
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ALSO SEE
COLLEGE FOOTBALL Scoreboard
Florida State Clubhouse
Maryland Clubhouse
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Atrews Bell pulls in the over-the-shoulder TD catch.
avi: 1176 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Jamal Reynolds sacks Calvin McCall in the end zone for the safety.
avi: 964 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Maryland's LaMont Jordan busts it 74 yards for the TD.
avi: 1318 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Chris Weinke airs it out 58 yards to Robert Morgan for the TD.
avi: 804 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Tommy Polley picks up the loose ball after Florida State breaks up the option.
avi: 1036 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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