Associated Press
PROVO, Utah ó Christian Ponder threw for two touchdowns and ran for another as Florida State beat No. 7 BYU 54-28 Saturday, ending the Cougars’ 18-game home winning streak and probably any hopes they had of a BCS berth.
Florida State (2-1) was too fast for the BYU (2-1) and avoided its first 1-2 start in 20 years.
Three weeks after upsetting Oklahoma in the season opener, BYU’s Bowl Championship Series aspirations faded a little bit on each drive by the Seminoles.
The Seminoles pounced for 10 points in the final 24 seconds of the second quarter and added two touchdowns in the third, running away in the Cougars’ home opener.
Ponder was 21-for-26 for 195 yards and Ty Jones ran for 108 yards and a touchdown.
Max Hall completed 20 of 31 passes for 306 yards and two touchdowns for BYU, but also threw three interceptions. Harvey Unga ran for 97 yards and a touchdown for the Cougars, who turned the ball over five times.
The Seminoles took advantage of two turnovers while scoring 24 straight points, including Greg Reid’s 63-yard interception return for a touchdown that put Florida State up 37-14 with 12:52 left in the third quarter.
The Seminoles outran the Cougars 313 yards to 108 and converted on their first nine third downs. FSU didn’t punt until about a minute remained in the third quarter and scored all eight times it got inside the 20.