Florida St. 44, UCLA 27

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) _ While UCLA hung tight with Florida State for three quarters, the Emerald Bowl seemed just as challenging to Bobby Bowden as any national championship game. <br/><br/>The Seminoles'

Thursday, December 28th 2006, 6:14 am

By: News On 6

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) _ While UCLA hung tight with Florida State for three quarters, the Emerald Bowl seemed just as challenging to Bobby Bowden as any national championship game.

The Seminoles' three-decade streak of winning football was in trouble _ until they blew out the Bruins by channeling a season's worth of frustration into a fantastic fourth quarter.

Lorenzo Booker ran for 91 yards, caught five passes for 117 more and scored two touchdowns, leading Florida State to a 44-27 victory Wednesday night to complete Bowden's 30th straight year with a winning team.

In their 21-point final period, the Seminoles (7-6) were everything they wanted to be all season long. Greg Carr caught a go-ahead, 30-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-9, and Booker capped his final college game with a key third-down catch and a 3-yard TD run with 6:17 left.

Tony Carter's 86-yard interception return for another score 37 seconds later was the finishing touch in Bowden's 20th bowl victory. With relief and genuine excitement, the Seminoles celebrated at midfield _ or what's normally shallow left field at the San Francisco Giants' ballpark.

``We took the game to a Florida level, and I don't think they were used to that,'' Seminoles linebacker Buster Davis said. ``We kept believing in each other, and we finished. ... We've been through a lot of adversity this season. We just wanted to come out to California and take care of business. That's all this week was about.''

This was no fairy-tale finish for a program that once dominated the sport and won two national titles. Wracked by injuries and beset by coaching turmoil that led to Jeff Bowden's in-season resignation as offensive coordinator, the Seminoles finished with their worst record since going 7-4-1 in 1986.

But the 77-year-old Bowden still hasn't coached a losing club since going 5-6 in his first season at Florida State _ and with a fine finish against the Bruins (7-6), the Seminoles are headed into 2007 with more momentum than they've had all season.

``That's what Florida State used to do all the time,'' Bowden said. ``I hope this is a good sign for us. I've been looking for that sign.''

A 3-5 record in ACC play, including four losses in six games to close the regular season, forced Florida State to finish an ignominious year with the longest road trip in school history. The Seminoles have played in 25 straight bowl games, but the last 15 were played in January, with considerably bigger stakes and payouts.

Don't tell that to Booker, a California native who got a chance to impress 130 friends and family members in the stands. This minor bowl was a major win.

``We have a 30-year streak, and we're proud of our history,'' said Drew Weatherford, who overcame a shaky start to pass for 325 yards, 126 in the fourth quarter. ``We had to keep it going, and it gives us a head start and a boost for next season.''

Patrick Cowan passed for 240 yards and Chris Markey ran for 144 for the inconsistent Bruins, who came in with a three-game winning streak, highlighted by a 13-9 victory over archrival USC 3 1/2 weeks ago.

``When you look at the score the next day, I'm sure people are going to say, 'Wow, what happened?''' UCLA coach Karl Dorrell said. ``But it was a lot different game than the score indicated. We played three pretty good quarters.''

Yet the Seminoles rolled over the Bruins on offense, defense and special teams in the second half. Lawrence Timmons returned a blocked punt 25 yards for a score in the third quarter, and Carter's return was just one of several big stops.

When a Florida State drive stalled early in the fourth quarter with the Seminoles trailing by four, Bowden and his son proved they had nothing to lose by boldly going for it on fourth and long. Carr easily made his TD catch a step from the end zone when his defender fell down.

Most in the sellout crowd of 40,331 fans cheered UCLA, but Florida State had a surprisingly solid rooting section for a game on the opposite coast.

Brandon Breazell caught a 78-yard TD pass and Junior Taylor had a scoring catch in the first half for the Bruins, who finished a mediocre regular season playing some of their best football in Dorrell's four seasons.

``We have to use this to drive ourselves to getting better,'' UCLA linebacker Christian Taylor said. ``We need to work even harder in the offseason, because we know we have some weaknesses. Someone had to lose and it's disappointing it was us.''