COLUMBIA, SC – Probably the Cotton Bowl, maybe the Sugar Bowl.

That was the quick projection for Florida State’s 81 Seminoles after they romped by South Carolina 590 before 75,000 here Saturday night.

Peter Tom Willis, stepping in at quarterback for the injured Chip Ferguson, completed every pass he threw for the first 20 minutes.

By Halftime, the score was 310 with aggressive FSU defenders zeroingin all the way on an attack led by the vaunted passer Todd Ellis.

Pressured hard, Ellis & Co. misfired on their first four possessions. First a fumble. Then an interception, a blocked punt, and another interception. And before halftime, still another interception.

With scouts from 10 bowls watching, Florida State had the sort of game fervently hoped for by Coach Bobby Bowden and followers – if not necessarily by ESPN, which televised the action nationally, and the sounds of sets being clicked off could be heard all over the land.

At the start, after FSU won the coin toss and deferred its option until the last half, South Carolina came out throwing after returning the kickoff to its 31.

Soon, however, Ellis turned to the running of Harold Green, who led to the 50 on two dashes.

But, on his third carry, Green fumbled, and Kelvin Smith claimed it for FSU at the 50 as the noise died a bit in partisan grandstands on this fair but chilly evening.

Two plays later, with Florida State picking up a blitz quite well, Willis threw to a streaking Terry Anthony just short of the goal for a touchdown on a 44yard play. It became 70 with barely 2 ½ minutes gone.

Green was checked a yard short of a first down after three runs, but an FSU offside on the following punt brought a first down at the Carolina 38.

A pass got 13, and another FSU offside 5 more, to the Seminole 43.

But soon Stan Shiver intercepted an Ellis shot and ran it up 13 yards to the 30.

Ronnie Lewis pulled in Willis throws of 17 and 11 yards to stake FSU to the Carolina 42. Anthony caught one for 15, but holding soon cost FSU 10.

David Taylor slipped through to sack Willis, forcing a fumble that the home team claimed at the 40.

Two runs sandwiched around a busted play got just 7. When Rodney Price tried to punt, Phil Carollo bounded through to block it. Anthony Moss picked up the rolling ball at about the 5, and carefully stepped into the end zone for a touchdown that made it 140. see next part