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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Virginia (Ticker) -- Chris Weinke and Peter Warrick helped top-ranked Florida State shake off another sluggish first half and the defense came through in the second half in a 35-10 Atlantic Coast Conference win over Virginia. The Cavaliers, who in 1995 dealt Florida State the first of its two ACC losses since entering the league in 1992, had confidence and a 10-7 halftime lead. Then the Seminoles' defense shut them down and the offense pulled away. Weinke completed 24-of-35 passes for 297 yards and three touchdowns, overcoming three first-half interceptions. Warrick had six catches for 81 yards and a score and 33 yards on three punt returns for Florida State (9-0, 7-0 ACC). It marked the third time in four games Florida State was either tied or trailing at the half. However, the defense has not allowed a point in the second half of any of those games. Virginia (4-4, 3-3) got 164 yards on 26 carries from Thomas Jones, but mustered only 76 passing yards and was outgained, 403-265. Jones passed Tiki Barber as the school's all-time leading rusher with 3,473 yards. Jones gave Virginia a 7-0 lead with just over 12 minutes left in the second quarter when he ran 16 yards on 3rd-and-15 and dove rugby-style into the end zone. It came two plays after Dwayne Stukes intercepted Weinke and returned the ball nine yards to the 11. On the ensuing drive, Weinke found Marvin Minnis for a four-yard touchdown pass nearly seven minutes later to tie the game and cap a 14-play, 91-yard march. Weinke found Ron Dugans for a 38-yard pass to the Virginia 40 and hit him for nine yards on 3rd-and-6 to the Cavaliers 16. The Cavaliers took a 10-7 lead into the locker room after Todd Braverman booted a 26-yard field goal with 2:21 left. Jones set up the kick with a 71-yard scamper down the left sideline but was caught by Derrick Gibson at the 13. Weinke found Minnis from 20 yards for the go-ahead score with 3:16 left in the third quarter, making up for what could have been a costly turnover on Florida State's previous possession. With the ball at the 1, mobile backup Marcus Outzen entered the game as usual but was slammed trying to plunge into the end zone and fumbled away the ball to defensive end Ljubomir Stamenich. Virginia gained four yards, Donnie Scott punted for just 26 and Weinke hit Minnis three plays later to make it 14-10. David Rivers was intercepted two plays thereafter by linebacker Corey Simon, who gave the Seminoles possession at the Virginia 27. Four plays later, Travis Minor scored on a six-yard run for a 21-10 lead with 30 seconds remaining in the period. Minor carried 19 times for 90 yards and Dugans caught six passes for 84 yards for Florida State, which was outgained 189-76 on the ground. Midway through the fourth quarter, Warrick turned a short pass on the left flank into an electrifying 50-yard touchdown, beating a pair of defenders to the outside and cutting back across the field. Ahmad Hawkins muffed a punt and Reggie Durden recovered for FSU at the Cavs 9. Outzen, now on in relief of Weinke, hit Atrews Bell with a pass to the 1 and ran the final yard himself on the next play to make it 35-10 with 74 seconds left. Dan Ellis was 7-of-14 for 44 yards and an interception but did not play in the second half after suffering an apparent mild concussion. Rivers came on and was 4-of-11 for 32 yards. Jones was the only Virginia receiver to catch more than one pass, making six grabs for 26 yards.
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