College Football: Friendly rivalry discovered in FSU-UF collision

Ciatrick Fason of Neptune Beach- Fletcher earned most of the acclaim. Leon Washington of Jacksonville-Andrew Jack son won all the head-to-head battles.

Saturday, the friendly rivalry continues on a much bigger stage. Washington rushed for a career-high 134 yards in Florida State's 31-14 victory over Florida last year. Fason will try to even the score at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

"There's no hate between us," Fason said. "We just go out and play the game."

The two sophomores may have grown up in the same part of Florida, but they took much different routes to get to this point.

Fason was one of the nation's top recruits his senior year at Fletcher, though he committed to Florida early without visiting any other schools. He ran for more than 7,400 yards and graduated as the state's fifth-leading all-time rusher.

"He was the guy," Washington acknowledges.

Washington was a late bloomer who didn't realize his own potential until he attended a Florida State summer camp after his junior year. That's when Seminoles coach Bobby Bowden promised the lifelong Gator fan a scholarship no matter what happened during Washington's senior season.

"That meant a lot," Washington said. "I went into my senior year not worrying about getting hurt or anything like that."

Washington rushed for 2,237 yards and 28 touchdowns that fall. He also led Jackson to its second straight victory over Fason's Fletcher team and won the state's Mr. Football award.

But Fason remained the better- known back coming out of high school.

"He's the best high school player I've seen," said Fletcher coach Joe Reynolds, who began coaching in 1976. "As good as Leon is and as much as I like Leon, Fason's the guy."

The roles have reversed in college.

Washington got the early opportunities, while Fason had to stay patient.

"We always say that when you get your opportunity, make sure you're ready," Florida coach Ron Zook said. "A lot of times guys aren't. He took advantage of his."

After rushing for only 93 yards in his first five games this season, Fason now has gained a team- high 539 yards on 72 carries.

Fason has averaged 8.3 yards per attempt during Florida's five- game winning streak.

His 190 yards in a 24-22 victory at South Carolina two weeks ago were the most by a Florida back since Errict Rhett ran for 196 yards against Auburn in 1993.

"Every time I touch the ball, I believe I'm going to score," Fason said.

Fason's high school coach would love to see how many yards Fason could gain if he didn't have to share carries with Ran Carthon and DeShawn Wynn.

"I think he's the best college running back in America now," Reynolds said. "He just hasn't touched the ball enough."

Washington also finds himself in a three-back system, as he's gained 302 yards on 50 carries while splitting time with Greg Jones and Lorenzo Booker. The difference is that Washington got an early chance to prove himself after Jones tore his anterior cruciate ligament last season.

Washington responded against Florida by delivering his best performance in the Seminoles' biggest game.

"I think I caught them by surprise," Washington said.

Washington also has surprised coaches and teammates with a remarkable level of maturity.He moved in with his grandmother at age 15 to make sure she was safe living in a tough section of Jacksonville. It turned into a mutually beneficial arrangement, because Washington's grandmother taught him how to stay focused and rely on his faith.

"He's a special young man, not just in football but the type of person he is," Bowden said. "He's just got some things that you can't coach. You know he's going to give it everything he's got on every play.

"He's probably about as underrated a back as there is in the country."

Washington says he'd like to win this game for his grandmother, who has been hearing boasts from Gator fans at work the last couple of weeks. And he'd love to continue having the upper hand in his personal rivalry with Fason.

They've been the center of attention in Jacksonville for years.

Now the rest of the state is watching as well.