Seminole Stories: "I See Ya PK Sam!"

It's November 29th, 2003 as Bobby Bowden leads his 9th-ranked Seminoles into Gainesville for his 28th matchup vs the Florida Gators. The 'Noles have taken four of the last five over the Gators but today they face an 11th-ranked Florida team led by Chris Leak and a feisty defense.

Chris Rix and the Florida State offense have escaped a few controversial fumble calls and weathered an all-around controversial game and find themselves down three with just over a minute left. After mustering a desperation drive including the previous play where Rix converted a 4th and 14, they face a first and ten from their own 48-yard line.

With running back (and current Tennessee Titan) Leon Washington to his left, Rix takes the snap from center David Castillo. He drops back a few steps while surveying the field before evading the pass rush and slipping out of the pocket to his right. With two large gather steps, Rix moves forward a few yards teeing up a Hail Mary sling to P.K. Sam who is trying to find room in the end zone. About 65 yards later, P.K. Sam cradles the ball into his lap while he falls back in the face of a spinning Gus Scott.

TOUCHDOWN FLORIDA STATE.

After gathering himself, Sam jumps to his feet and trots in front of the crushed Gator fans who have gone silent in disbelief. Rix falls to his knees with arms wide open and looks to the sky before his teammates come to congratulate him. The fourth of the stadium that is Florida State fans lose their minds and after a Beitia extra point, the Marching Chiefs erupt with the FSU Fight Song that echoes through The Swamp.

The Gators received the ball back with :55 seconds but time runs out before they can answer. The 'Noles win and storm the field, helmets raised. After some celebrating at midfield, a brawl breaks out but does not last. The 'Noles exit the stadium to boos, raising the alligator head high in the sky, as victors in dramatic fashion.

Chris Rix was a four year starter who, despite being very criticized throughout his FSU career, delivered
 one of the greatest plays in Florida State history.

The 'Noles finished the season with an ACC Championship and a 10-win season. The Gators did not win the SEC and ended up losing in the Outback Bowl to Iowa.

I was watching this game with my mother's family. There were about 20 of us cramped into a tiny room and everyone had taken all of the good seats in the room so I was stuck on the floor. When we saw the play, we all erupted. My clumsy self hit my head on my grandma's stupid wooden table, apparently I had my head under it the entire game. Though it did hurt like hell I didn't care. I shook it off and we all rejoiced together like we had won the lottery because there are not many things we hate more than the Florida Gators.

Relive it:

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Did you like this story? Check out some other Seminole Story features on Nole Pride:
Rashad Greene Erupts Doak
Noles Upset #2 BC

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Player Focus: DeMarcus Walker

The 2015 Florida State Seminole football team will feature a lot of talent but also a great deal of inexperience. To ease the transition of new faces all across the depth chart, veterans will need to step up. On the defensive line, DeMarcus Walker will be one of the one's tasked with leading a unit that lost 3 starters from a year ago in Desmond Hollin, Mario Edwards, Jr. and Eddie Goldman.

Coming out of high school, Walker was rated a consensus 4-star prospect, U.S. Army All-American, and the 40th ranked overall player in the ESPN 150. The 6'3", 277-pound Jacksonville, Florida native has started 14 of the 26 games he has played in for the Seminoles including the last 7 of the 2014 season. He finished with 38 tackles, six for loss, one sack and one forced fumble in his sophomore season.

(via WLPearce.com) Demarcus Walker had the 2nd-most tackles of any Seminole defensive lineman in 2014.

Comparison: Cameron Heyward, Pittsburgh Steelers. Heyward is obviously doing extremely well in the NFL and is a little bit bigger but I believe that Walker has the un-tapped potential to be this elite. Both are larger, not flashy defensive ends, but ones that can dominate and disrupt the line of scrimmage consistently. Walker has a lot to prove to deserve this comparison but I think he has the potential.

Career Day: In the last 2014 home game against the team from Gainesville, Walker recorded six tackles, one for loss. He was consistently disruptive to Treon Harris and the Gator offense for most of the game.

Best Moment: In last year's shootout in Raleigh against NC State, Walker sacked Jacoby Brissett early in the second quarter on 3rd and 10 to force a punt that swung momentum in the Seminoles' favor. Florida State was trailing at the time 24-14 and were struggling to slow down the Wolfpack offense. After the offense got the ball back with excellent field position, Jameis Winston and the offense cashed in with a touchdown pass to Christian Green that cut the deficit to three. Walker finished the game with four tackles along with the sack.

Quick Fact: Was named co-defensive MVP with Freshman defensive end Rick Leonard for the 2015 Spring Practice.

Despite losing a great deal of starting talent to the NFL, the Seminoles return a lot of depth to the defensive line. The 'Noles will need to take a great leap forward from last season's embarrassing 17 total sacks, only three of which were recorded by returning players. Walker will, himself, need to take a great leap forward and live up to the hype he received coming out of high school or he could be passed up by the abundance of younger talent behind him.