As will be the case for the third time in four years in 2017, Florida State opened the 2002 campaign on a neutral field — Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City for the Eddie Robinson Classic.
Facing seemingly overmatched Iowa State, third-ranked Florida State came in as a heavy favorite and was in control for most of the game. With momentum trending heavily toward the Cyclones late, it look a memorable goal line stand for FSU to preserve the 38-31 victory and it happened 15 years ago on this day.
Drama didn’t appear to be something that was going to be in the cards on Aug. 24, 2002. After a touchdown run from Nick Maddox and a 48-yard interception return for a score by defensive end Alonzo Jackson in the first quarter, Chris Rix’s first of two touchdown passes to Anquan Boldin — this one six seconds into the second quarter — gave FSU a commanding 24-0 lead.
After Iowa State’s Hiawatha Rutland and FSU’s Greg Jones, who finished the night with 113 yards rushing, traded touchdown runs, the Cyclones were able to draw to within 31-14 on a long touchdown pass from Seneca Wallace to Kyle Knock with just nine seconds remaining in the first half.
Wallace got hot and the Cyclones were able to keep the momentum going into the second half. After cutting the lead to 14 on a field goal in the third quarter, Wallace made it a 31-24 game early in the fourth on a 1-yard touchdown run less than two minutes in.
With the contest seemingly slipping away, FSU looked to have righted the ship and put the nail in the coffin as Rix and Boldin hooked up for a 31-yard touchdown with 8:15 to play that made the score 38-24.
The talented FSU defense however, had no answer for Wallace, who finished the night with 313 yards passing. Less than three minutes after Rix found Boldin, Wallace hit Jamaul Montgomery for a 39-yard touchdown that would cut the FSU lead back to seven.
The Cyclones would force an FSU punt on the ensuing possession and with about two and half minutes to play, had one last chance. With time ticking away, Wallace looked to have scored on a 19-yard scramble with four seconds remaining, but officials ruled him out of bounds inside the FSU 1-yard-line.
On the final play of the game, Wallace ran to the right on an option keeper, but was met by FSU linebackers Jerel Hudson and Kendyll Pope short of the end zone. The victory at the time served as the 324th of FSU head coach Bobby Bowden’s legendary career, which moved him past Paul “Bear” Bryant.
It happened 15 years ago on this day.
Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson
Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole and former editor of Noled Out. Mike has more than seven years experience as a sports writer including the last four in print and online media. Mike graduated from Florida State University in 2009 with a Bachelors in Religion and a minor in Communications. Mike provided press coverage of Florida State's run to the 2013 BCS National Championship. Mike is also a news reporter at Polk County's newspaper, The Ledger in Lakeland, Florida. and contributes to Athlon Sports and ACCSports.com. Mike has been featured on sites as prominent as Yahoo Sports, FoxSports.com, Associated Press and the front page of SI.com while interviewing athletes as high profile as 2013 National League MVP, Andrew McCutchen. Email Mike at Mike@TheDailyNole.com. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson.
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