Christian Ponder proved he is one of the nation's best quarterbacks on Thursday night in Carolina.

 
'Noles Handle 'Heels, 30-27

Christian Ponder's magnificent night helps FSU football team earn come-from-behind win at North Carolina Thursday.

Oct. 23, 2009

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CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- It's not how you start. It's how you finish.

For a Florida State football team looking for its first conference win of the year Thursday night at North Carolina, that old adage proved especially true.

The Seminoles (3-4, 1-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) bounced back from a nightmarish first half and exploded in the final two quarters to earn a 30-27 victory over the Tar Heels (4-3, 0-3). The win snaps FSU's three-game losing streak and improves the 'Noles all-time record against the 'Heels to 15-1-1.

"It means everything," Seminoles head coach Bobby Bowden said about the win. "The first two quarters were some of the worst that I have seen since I have been here. We looked like the worst team in the country. Thank goodness the kids came back out and played well."

That "worst" first half saw an inept FSU offensive attack and defensive showing that allowed 17 Carolina points.

But guided by their sensational signal caller, Christian Ponder, the Seminoles were a completely different team in the second half.

Ponder was unstoppable in the final 30 minutes against a UNC defense that entered the night ranked No. 1 in the nation against the pass and he finished with a career-high 395 yards with three touchdowns on a remarkable 33-of-40 passing. By reaching that yardage milestone, Ponder became the first Seminole quarterback since Chris Rix in 2001 to throw for over 300 yards in three-straight games.

Rod Owens led all receivers with career-highs in catches (nine) and yards (199).

Defensively, the embattled FSU defenders did just enough to keep the Tar Heels out of the endzone in the game's final moments and held UNC quarterback T.J. Yates to just 64 yards passing.

"We finally won a fourth quarter," Bowden said. "You've got to win the close games to have a good year and we finally won a close one."

Florida State finally got its first touchdown of the game midway through the third quarter. Following a North Carolina touchdown that extended the Tar Heel lead to 24-6, Ponder threw a laser to Taiwan Easterling from six yards out for the touchdown.

The offensive spark was then followed by a huge defensive one as senior safety Jamie Robinson intercepted a Yates pass on the Carolina goal line -- and then things got even more exciting.

With the Tar Heel student section just over his right shoulder, Ponder threw a stop-and-go route to Owens on the sideline and the Jacksonville, Fla. native proceeded to sprint down the sideline for an improbable 98-yard touchdown pass.

Not only did the Ponder-Owens connection set the record for longest play ever at Kenan Stadium, it also tied the FSU school record for longest play ever as Chris Weinke and Snoop Minnis' memorable play-action pass against Clemson in 2000 now has company.

The play -- which trimmed the UNC lead to 24-23 -- was just one of several good third-quarter offensive moments for a Seminole team that mustered a measly 100 yards in the first half. In comparison, FSU rattled off 236 yards in the third period alone.

The Tar Heels added a field goal to push the lead to 27-23 early in the fourth quarter but Ponder needed just four plays to put FSU on top for the first time all night. After he found Jarmon Fortson for a 34-yard play, the Colleyville, Texas native evaded the Tar Heel rush and found a wide open Beau Reliford for an 18-yard go-ahead score.

For the game, FSU achieved 438 yards compared to UN's 333. The Seminoles did allow 238 yards rushing but forced one turnover and had three sacks.

Bert Reed was the team's second-leading receiver with eight catches for 74 yards and Fortson added three catches for 56 yards. On defense, middle linebacker Kendall Smith had a team-best 10 tackles and two sacks.

The Seminoles took a 17-6 deficit into the locker room at the half after 30 minutes of penalty-filled football.

In total, FSU committed nine penalties for 70 yards in the opening half, including a crucial offensive pass interference call on a long pass play from Ponder to Fortson.

Already trailing 7-0 after an opening-possession North Carolina score, FSU freshman kicker Dustin Hopkins' 48-yard field goal moved the score to 7-3. The Seminole defense did its job in forcing a three-and-out but Ponder was sacked towards the end of the first half and lost the football deep in his team's own territory.

With a short field to play on, the Tar Heels scored two plays later when Yates connected with Ed Barham for a 13-yard score.

The 'Heels added another field goal and Hopkins hit a 26-yarder as time expired in the second quarter.

The Seminoles return home for a matchup with N.C State next Saturday. That game will kick off at noon inside Doak Campbell Stadium.