1996 Florida State vs North Carolina State first half

RALEIGH, NC - Before an ESPN Thursday night national television audience, third ranked Florida State scored three touchdowns within a seven minute span of the first half and cruised to a 51-17 victory over Atlantic Coast Conference foe North Carolina State in Raleigh in front of 45,700. Senior running back Warrick Dunn and junior quarterback Thad Busby ignited the Seminole attack, which churned out 527 yards of total offense. Dunn tied Greg Allen's career record with the 16th 100 yard rushing game of his Florida State career. Dunn finished the night with 108 yards and a touchdown on just 14 carries. Busby, working out of the Fast Break Offense for the majority of the night, completed 17 of 26 passes for 251 yards and two touchdowns. The FSU defense built on its impressive season opening performance by holding the Wolfpack to just 71 yards rushing and 196 total yards. The Seminoles recorded eight quarterback sacks, led by Peter Boulware with two. Scott Bentley opened the game's scoring by drilling a field goal from 46 yards out with 4:56 remaining in the first quarter to give FSU a 3-0 lead. The Seminoles extended their lead to 10-0 with a lightning quick, two play drive on their next possession. On the first play, Dunn seemed bottled up behind the line of scrimmage but cut back against the grain and raced 51 yards to the N.C. State 29 yard line. FSU scored on the next play when Busby rolled to his left, eluded a sack with a spin move, rolled back to his right and fired a 29 yard strike to a diving E.G. Green on the final play of the opening period. FSU scored on its next possession when Dunn capped a 10 play drive that covered 75 yards with a one yard TD run on fourth down to give the Tribe a 17-0 advantage. FSU's defense forced the Wolfpack to punt after three plays and it would prove disastrous for NCSU. Cornerback Troy Saunders broke free from the left side to block N.C. State's punt. Byron Capers covered the loose ball in the endzone for a touchdown and a 24-0 Florida State lead. The Seminoles lost their shutout on the Wolfpack's first drive of the second half as Marc Primanti hit a 29 yard field goal to make it 24-3. FSU responded on its next possession driving 65 yards in five plays, culminating in a 29 yard Busby to Andre Cooper TD strike to give FSU a 31-3 advantage. The Tribe's defense got into the scoring column late in the third period. Shevin Smith stepped in front of a Jose Laureano pass and raced 61 yards untouched with the interception for a touchdown. Bentley missed the point after, breaking a string of 44 in a row, giving Florida State a 37-3 lead. The teams traded touchdowns in the fourth period. NC State scored on Tremayne Stephens' two yard run and a 96 yard kickoff return by Alvis Whitted. Florida State scored on the first two touchdown passes of redshirt freshman Dan Kendra's career. Kendra hit Wayne Messam from 11 yards out and connected with Peter Warrick with a 13 yard scoring strike.