’Noles tab Weatherford to start Saturday’s game against Duke

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — After nearly a month on the bench, Drew Weatherford will return as Florida State’s starting quarterback for Saturday’s homecoming game against Duke.

Just as he did last season, Weatherford will take over for Xavier Lee, coach Bobby Bowden said Monday. Lee replaced Weatherford on Sept. 29.

This marks Weatherford’s third chance at nailing down the starting job.

“We tried to analyze this thing. The best game Lee has had was against Alabama when he came in off the bench,” coach Bobby Bowden said. “We feel like we are just better off going with Drew.”

And for the second time in his career, Lee has been yanked — this time after poor finishes in consecutive losses to North Carolina State and Miami the last two weeks.

In Saturday’s 37-29 loss to Miami, Lee was intercepted twice and had two fumbles. One of the fumbles was recovered by the Hurricanes for a key late-game touchdown. He completed 14 of 32 passes for 208 yards.

“It’s always the quarterback that gets changed,” offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher said Monday. “We have to find a way to get it done.”

Florida State (4-3, 1-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) has lost 10 of its last 14 league games after losing its second straight Saturday and faces a demanding November schedule with road games at No. 2 Boston College, No. 8 Virginia Tech and No. 9 Florida.