December 27, 2008
ORLANDO, Fla.--Florida State scored 21 points off of three Wisconsin turnovers, ' two coming on fumble returns for touchdowns, ' and the Seminoles went on to a 42-13 victory over the Badgers in the Champs Sports Bowl Saturday at Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium.
The Badgers finished the 2008 season with a 7-6 mark, while the Seminoles improved to 9-4.
The Badgers and Seminoles battled to a scoreless tie until Florida State's Derek Nicholson returned a fumble 75 yards for a touchdown with 12:33 remaining in the second quarter. The Badgers countered with a 31-yard field goal from Philip Welch, leaving the Seminoles with a 7-3 lead. But Florida State got a one-handed, 15-yard TD reception from Greg Carr with seven seconds left to give the `Noles a 14-3 halftime lead.
Welch kicked a 41-yard field goal with 12:01 left in the third quarter to cut the lead to 14-6, but FSU responded with a 16-play, 85-yard scoring drive that consumed 7:43 and was punctuated by a 6-yard TD run from Antone Smith. The Seminoles scored 21 unanswered points after that.
The game MVP was Florida State punter/kicker Graham Gano, whose punting early in the game kept the Badgers pinned deep in their territory. Gano dropped punts inside the UW 3-yard line on three consecutive punts.
Badger running back P.J. Hill rushed for 140 yards to lead the Badger offense.
Wisconsin 0 - 3 - 3 - 7 -- 13
Florida St. 0 - 14 - 14 - 14 -- 42
GAME COVERAGE
