The Top 100 FSU football plays: No. 37— Peter Warrick seals win; puts CFB on notice

Date: September 20, 1997

Location: Death Valley, South Carolina

Opponent: #15 Clemson

Sophomore Peter Warrick had a huge afternoon in Death Valley and compiled a whopping 372 all-purpose yards against the Tigers. Our #38 play follows some of Warrick’s other electrifying efforts from the same game.

Five minutes into the first quarter, with the ’Noles down 7-0, Warrick went 31 yards to move Florida State to their own 43-yard line. The drive would end in a Florida State field goal. On the Tigers’ next possession, the ball was snapped over Clemson quarterback Brandon Streeter’s head. Florida State’s Sam Cowart jumped on top of the fumble in the endzone for a 10-7 lead, which the ’Noles would hold until halftime.

After another Clemson touchdown and a 22-yard field goal by Florida State’s Sebastian Janikowski, FSU quarterback Thad Busby found Warrick for a 48-yard TD pass. Florida State successfully completed a 2-point conversion and regained the lead, 21-14 with 6:32 left in the third quarter. Clemson would pick up a field goal before the teams headed to the 4th quarter.

At the start of the 4th, Warrick returned a Clemson punt 90 yards for a Florida State touchdown. The punt return was the longest in Clemson Memorial Stadium history at the time and gave the ’Noles a 28-17 lead. Clemson would answer shortly thereafter with a 6-play, 80-yard drive to cut the lead 28-25.

Finally, we reach our play of the game on the next possession. Facing 2nd and 10, Busby connected with Warrick for an 80-yard touchdown bomb to give Florida State a 35-25 lead. The Tigers would pick up a field goal later in the fourth, but the Seminoles went on to defeat Clemson 35-28.

In this game alone Warrick had the following highs for the 1997 season:

Most Receiving Yards: 249 yards (8 rec.), Peter Warrick vs. Clemson

Most Receptions in a Game: 8 (249 yards), Peter Warrick vs. Clemson

Longest Pass Play: 80, Thad Busby to Peter Warrick vs. Clemson

Warrick’s 8 receptions for 249 yards was the third-best single-game receiving total in school history. The win marked Bowden’s 200th at Florida State.

Warrick’s jersey will be retired in Doak Campbell this coming fall.

See all of Warrick’s highlights against Clemson in 1997 in the clip below.