By Matt Schulz
FANSonly.com

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Mario Edwards almost singlehandedly kept Florida State in the Virtual Championship Series.

The junior cornerback picked off Arizona's Ortege Jenkins three times in the second half, preserving the second-seeded Seminoles' 20-14 Gator Bowl victory. His third interception -- a diving grab in the end zone -- came with just 4:22 left.

Florida State advances to face Kansas State next weekend in the VCS semifinals at the Sugar Bowl. K-State trounced Texas A&M to reach the Final Four.

The Seminoles will have to generate more offense next week to beat the Wildcats. Neither FSU nor Arizona scored in the second half, though Arizona had several chances that ended with a big play by Edwards. A 43-yard field goal by Florida State's Sebastian Janikowski closed the scoring with 3:49 left in the half.

Three plays later, the Seminoles' David Warren sacked Arizona starter Keith Smith. Smith (7-of-11, 60 yds., 0 TDs, 0 INTs) severely injured his knee on the play and wouldn't return. That left the Wildcats' fate in the hands of Ortege Jenkins, who split time with Smith throughout the season.

Neither Jenkins (9-of-28, 100 yards, 0 TDs, 3 INTs) nor FSU starter Marcus Outzen (17-of-29, 167 yds, 0 TDs, 1 INT) were terribly effective. But Outzen played mistake-free football after halftime, while Jenkins did anything but.

Edwards intercepted Jenkins inside the FSU 20-yard-line twice in the third period, each time with only a short return. But the play that Arizona fans will remember for years to come came with less than five minutes remaining.

With the ball at FSU's 15-yard-line, Smith rolled to his right and threw toward receiver Dennis Northcutt. But Edwards dove in front of Northcutt to make a spectacular catch and break the Wildcats' spirit once again.

Florida State then got consecutive first downs on runs by Travis Minor and was able to run out the clock.