FSU’s Five Most Heartbreaking Moments in Raleigh

Most Florida State fans are aware that the Seminoles have struggled against North Carolina State over the years, particularly on the road. FSU has dropped five of its last nine at Carter-Finley Stadium. All-time, the Seminoles are 10-7 against the Wolfpack in Raleigh.

A few of the losses were expected. A few were embarrassing. A few were downright heartbreaking.

Here are the five moments that qualify as most heartbreaking:

5. 1998
Sept. 12, 1998
No. 2 Florida State’s 24-7 loss to N.C. State in September 1998 had to make the list in some form or fashion. The Seminoles scored on the first play from scrimmage on a 74-yard touchdown toss from Chris Weinke to Peter Warrick. Unfortunately, that was the last good thing that would happen for FSU all day as the Seminoles came in 25-point favorites and left 17-point losers. Narrowing it down to one heartbreaking play in this one however, is a challenge. One could go with any of Weinke’s school-record six interceptions. It could be the 99-yard drive that got the Wolfpack on the scoreboard. It could be Torry Holt’s 68-yard punt return for a touchdown that put N.C. State ahead for good or his 63-yard touchdown catch followed by a 2-point conversion that put the game away.

4. Weatherford’s Pick
Oct. 5, 2006
Ranked 17th in the country, Florida State entered Carter-Finley Stadium on a Thursday night looking to make a strong showing on national television. With more than three minutes to play in the third quarter, FSU seemed in control. Sophomore quarterback Drew Weatherford had just capped off a 99-yard touchdown drive with a strike to Brandon Warren to give the Seminoles a 20-10 lead. N.C. State answered back however with a pair of Daniel Evans touchdown passes to go up 24-20. With under three minutes to play, Weatherford had marched FSU into Wolfpack territory, but a second down pass for Warren into double coverage was deflected and intercepted by DaJuan Morgan to seal the Wolfpack victory.

3. Webster’s Pick 6
Oct. 25, 1952
The first meeting between the teams looked like it was going to go Florida State’s way. The Seminoles drew first blood on a Stan Dobosz touchdown run in the second quarter and took a 7-6 lead into the fourth quarter. On the first play of the final quarter however, N.C. State’s Alex Webster stepped in front of pass thrown by FSU quarterback Frank Henico. Webster returned it 70 yards for a touchdown and the game’s final score in a 13-7 N.C. State victory.

2. Glennon to Underwood
Oct. 6, 2012
The 2012 edition of Florida State and the Wolfpack had the Seminoles arrive in Raleigh ranked third and undefeated with a national championship in mind. FSU started strong, racing to a 16-0 lead, but the offense went stagnant in the second half. N.C. State quarterback Mike Glennon fired a touchdown pass to Shadrach Thornton early in the fourth quarter to make it 16-10 and with 2:11 to play, was given the ball in FSU territory. After converting a 4th-and-10 on a diving catch by Quintin Payton earlier on the drive, Glennon ripped FSU’s heart out with a 2-yard touchdown toss to Bryan Underwood on 4th-and-goal with just 16 seconds remaining. The Wolfpack won 17-16, handing FSU what would be its only ACC loss of the season.

1. Ponder Puts it on the Ground
Oct. 28, 2010
In Jimbo Fisher’s first season as head coach, the Seminoles came to Raleigh on a Thursday night riding high. The Seminoles were 6-1, winners of five straight and ranked 16th in the country. Thanks to a pair of second quarter touchdown runs from FSU quarterback Christian Ponder and a Ponder touchdown pass to Willie Haulstead, the Seminoles took a 21-7 lead into the locker room. N.C. State quarterback Russell Wilson however, tied the game with a pair of third quarter touchdown runs and put the Wolfpack ahead with a short touchdown pass to George Bryan on 4th-and-goal with 2:40 to play. With plenty of time remaining, Ponder proceeded to move Florida State inside N.C. State’s 5-yard-line. On 2nd-and-goal with under a minute to play however, FSU dialed up a play-action pass, but Ponder never got the pass off. That’s because the ball was knocked from his hand by running back Ty Jones on what was supposed to be a fake. With 54 seconds left, the Wolfpack recovered and ran out the clock.

Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson