Florida State Wins Orange Bowl

    It seemed like a home game for the Florida State Seminoles based on the amount of supporters in attendance. They proved themselves and beat the Northern Illinois Huskies 31-10 in the 79th annual Discover Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium on New Year's Day. It was the first appearance by the Seminoles in a BCS bowl game in seven years and their first victory in one since the 2000 Sugar Bowl.
    The Huskies went three-and-out on their first drive and had to punt. FSU drove the ball into NIU territory until sophomore tight end Nick O'Leary. a William T. Dwyer grad, fumbled the ball away at the Huskies 29-yard line. Northern Illinois again went a three-and-out on their next possession and had junior quarterback Jordan Lynch quick-kick the ball to the Seminoles five-yard line.
    Four plays into the Seminoles next possession, senior fullback Lonnie Pryor went around the left end and raced down the sideline for a 60-yard touchdown at 5:28 of the first quarter for a 7-0 lead. Pryor, an Okeechobee grad, was playing his final college game with Florida State.
    Northern Illinois(12-2) pulled off a fake punt on their next possession as freshman tight end Desroy Maxwell rushed for 35 yards into FSU territory. Sophomore wide receiver Tommylee Lewis, a William T. Dwyer grad, made a 25-yard catch two plays later and advanced the ball to the Noles eight-yard line. Junior kicker Mathew Sims kicked a 25-yard field goal to cut the lead down to 7-3 with 1:41 left.
    In the second quarter, the Huskies punted after three plays and Florida State got the ball downfield where senior kicker Dustin Hopkins missed a 50-yard field goal at 11:48. FSU got a touchdown on their final drive of the first half. Sophomore wide receiver Rashad Greene, a St. Thomas Aquinas grad, caught a six-yard pass in the back right corner of the end zone from senior quarterback E.J. Manuel with 11 seconds remaining. It was a 10-play, 82-yard drive that gave the Seminoles a 14-3 lead.
    Florida State(12-2) extended their lead to 17-3 on their first possession of the third quarter as Hopkins kicked a 25-yard field goal to finish an eight-play, 68-yard drive at 11:48. He set a new FBS record for most field goals in a career with his 88th.
    NIU responded on the following possession as Lynch found senior wide receiver Martel Moore on a crossing pattern for a 11-yard touchdown reception at 9:55 and closed the deficit to 17-10. The Huskies scoring drive took six plays and 87 yards. The Huskies recovered the ensuing on-side kick, but could not capitalize as junior defensive back Terrence Brooks intercepted Lynch's pass at the Noles 14-yard line.
    On the first play of the fourth quarter, Manuel scrambled up the middle on a draw play from nine yards out to complete an eight-play, 61-yard drive at 14:56 and FSU increased their lead to 24-10.
    Sophomore wide receiver Da'Ron Brown turned the ball over on a fumble at the Huskies 42-yard line. Two plays later, Pryor exploded through the middle with a 37-yard run for his second touchdown of the game at 10:33 and propelled Florida State to a 31-10 lead.
    Lonnie Pryor was named the Discover Orange Bowl most valuable player with five carries for 134 yards and two touchdowns. E.J. Manuel became the second starting quarterback in FBS history to win four bowl games as he joined Pat White of West Virginia University for that honor.