Interception Deflates Warrick’s Game

TEMPE, Ariz. â€”  One play early in the second quarter all but took Florida State All-American wide receiver Peter Warrick out of the offense, Seminole Coach Bobby Bowden said.

The play was a deep out pass by Marcus Outzen in Warrick’s direction that hung up perfectly for Tennessee cornerback Dwayne Goodrich, who cut in front of Warrick and returned the interception 54 yards for a touchdown and a 14-0 lead.

After the score, Outzen rarely threw Warrick’s way.

“They just did a good job [on Warrick],� Bowden said of Warrick’s one-catch evening. “I think when they intercepted the pass for a touchdown, that probably intimidated us a little bit.

“They took him out. We tried to get the ball to him some, but we couldn’t get it to him.�

Goodrich, named the defensive player of the game, said he was anticipating that Outzen wanted to get a deep one to Warrick.

“Getting an interception return for a touchdown in the national title game, that’s like every DB’s dream,� said Goodrich, who injured his ankle at the end of the first half and did not return.

“It was just a matter of putting pieces together. I kind of figured they were about to run an out route--I sat on the route.�

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Bowden said he thought that the biggest series of the game might have come early in the fourth quarter, when Florida State, down by only five points, drove into Tennessee territory, but then went backward on two rushing plays, a penalty and a sack, and had to punt it on fourth-and-25 from near midfield.

“They ended knocking us all the way back so we couldn’t even try a field goal,� Bowden said. “That was a big, big part of the game.�

Bowden also said on Florida State’s last desperation series, Outzen’s interception on a deep route was on a play called from the sideline.

“We thought that would be a pretty good call on an early down--a curl and go,� Bowden said. “Don’t say it doesn’t ever work because we got beat on the play by Florida.�