1989 Auburn vs Florida State first half (Espn Classic version)

Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use" FSU win is sweet as Sugar. Defense holds off Auburn 22-14. TALLAHASSEE, FL - Ahead 22-3 early in the last half, Florida State fought off a frantic Auburn rally and won 22-14 here Saturday night. With time running out, Auburn claimed an FSU fumble and drove to FSU's 16 with six seconds left. But on the game's last play, quarterback Reggie Slack was tackled by Odell Haggins as he tried to run up the middle for the touchdown. As FSU boosted its record to 5-2, it became the first time in history ever to beat Auburn twice in one year. This one followed a 13-6 Sugar Bowl victory over the Tigers on Jan. 2. Florida State played this one without Richie Andrews, the kickoff specialist who was also perfect this season on extra-point and field-goal attempts. Sidelined with a stubborn hip-joint inflammation, Andrews was replaced as a kickoff man by John Wimberly, and Bill Mason handled placements. Per its habit, Auburn chose to receive after winning the coin toss. Wimberly booted the ball to the 2, but Herbert Casey sped 35 yards on the return, to a start at the 37. Three downs, including two incompletions, netted a yard, and a 31-yard punt placed FSU at its 31. It was a poor FSU beginning - linebacker Craig Ogletree sacking Peter Tom Willis on FSU's first play, back on the 22. Amp Lee, starting for the injured Dexter Carter, ran for 11, then 6 before Charlie Ward punted to Auburn's 32. On third down, James Joseph took a pitchout and got 7 to the 42. Immediately, Slack passed to Casey for 16 at FSU's 42, then handed the ball to Stacy Danley for a 21-yard run to the 21. Victor Hall's 12-yard catch soon had Auburn at FSU's 6. Danley, on two runs, gained the 1. But tight end Victor Hall jumped offside, pushing Auburn back to the 6, and on third down Kirk Carruthers caught Greg Taylor for a 9-yard loss. Auburn settled for a 32-yard field goal by Win Lyle. From its 31 again, FSU moved on the running of Lee. On successive carries he got 24 yards, a dozen each time. On his third straight try, he hit the middle, cut wide, knocked off 22. A face-mask tackle brought a 15-yard penalty that leap-frogged FSU from its 44 to Auburn's 20. But a pass missed and Lee was stopped short on two runs. Mason kicked a 35-yard field goal that tied it 3-3. With Eric Hayes sacking Slack for minus-10 back on the 21, Auburn got nowhere. A 42-yard punt provided FSU with a start at its 37. After an 11-yard pass to Lee, the quarter soon ended with the Chipley freshman already having run 9 times for 55. Passes of 10 and 18 yards to Lawrence Dawsey gained Auburn's 20. Edgar Bennett, on a short pass sandwiched between two runs, reached the 9. Bruce LaSane was tackled going for a Willis pass, and the resulting interference call had FSU at the 4. Lee pounded to the 1, and Bennett scored from there, making it 10-3. With Mason kicking off this time, the ball rolled into the end zone. Two plays later, Hayes' pressure on Slack resulted in a 5-yard sack by Odell Haggins and Henry Ostaszewski. Throwing under an all-out blitz, Slack got off a screen to Joseph for 10. Had not Hayes quickly recovered and run him down, it might have been 83 yards for a touchdown. Short of a first down, however, Auburn punted under a heavy FSU rush - and the ball went a mere 13 yards. FSU had it at Auburn's 40. Dawsey caught a 15-yard pass, and soon Terry Anthony grabbed a 12-yarder at the 7. Breaking a tackle at the line of scrimmage, Bennett scored on the next play. But the point-after snap seemed low, and Mason missed the kick, leaving it 16-3.