It was a fitting way for Peter Warrick to conclude his collegiate career, a night in which he made big play after big play for the Florida State Seminoles in their 46-29 win over Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl.

	Peter Warrick put away the Hokies with this 43-yard TD catch.

The Seminoles were already leading Virginia Tech by 10 points, 39-29, when the game turned for the final time.

First, FSU snuffed Virginia Tech's vaunted special teams again, denying the Hokies on a fake punt on fourth-and-10 from the 36. Tech's Nick Sorensen was stopped after gaining only 7 yards, giving the Seminoles the ball in great field position at the Tech 43.

On the next play, Florida State quarterback Chris Weinke hit a home run by connecting on a 43-yard pass to Warrick, who made the reception despite interference by Tech cornerback Ronyell Whitaker.

"Right before that play, I asked our offense, 'You want me to finish them off?' " Warrick said. "And I did."

The touchdown gave Florida State all the points it needed.

"He's the best football player in the country," Weinke said. "Anybody who watched this game now has to know that he's the best football player in the country. You saw what happens when he touches the ball."

Warrick finished the game with six receptions for 163 yards, including two for touchdowns. He also scored on a 59-yard punt return and caught a two-point conversion pass from Weinke.

For his efforts, Warrick was named the Sugar Bowl's Most Outstanding Player and set the record for most points scored in a Sugar Bowl game with 20.

"It's worth the wait," said Warrick, who passed up millionaire status after last season to return for his senior year. "I based my whole year on two decisions, two goals. To graduate and come back and win a national championship. I thank God I came back to accomplish those two goals."

As it turned out, the Seminoles needed every bit of his heroics.

That's because there was a player just as dazzling on the other side of the field. Virginia Tech quarterback Michael Vick continually burned the FSU defense with his deft running.

FSU needed a lift and got it from Warrick.

"I told our players before the game that Vick was going to make big plays," said FSU coach Bobby Bowden. "I said to Pete, 'You have to counter his big plays.' And that's what he did. It would have been hard to win without Pete."

The fifth-year senior from Bradenton, Fla., caught 71 passes in nine games this season, an average of 13.2 yards per reception.

But he was far better known for his role in a department store theft that originally had him charged with a felony, later dropped to a misdemeanor. Warrick missed two games, but his Heisman Trophy candidacy was derailed and he was ridiculed across the country.

Warrick managed to overcome the abuse to play in the title game again. Last year in the Fiesta Bowl against Tennessee, he was limited to just one reception. "I wasn't focused on last year because that's behind me," Warrick said. "I was just going to go into this game to do what I've done all season -- go out and make plays."

Talk about an understatement.

Warrick took over the game, and his national championship goal was secure.

Bob Harig, who covers college football for the St. Petersburg Times, writes a weekly college football column for ESPN.com.