31 Days Until FSU Football: Seminoles Rally to Force Improbable 31-31 Tie vs. Florida in 1994

There are 31 days left until Florida State football starts the 2018 season. As part of the offseason, we’re highlighting players, games, and specific moments from FSU football history.

On Thursday, it was Chris Weinke and his 32 wins as FSU starting quarterback.

Today, it’s FSU’s improbable fourth quarter comeback against Florida in 1994 to force a 31-31 tie.

The 1994 regular season finale, which has come to be known as the “Choke at Doak”, ended in a tie, but for FSU fans, it was better than most wins. Florida State seemed destined for its first home loss in more than three years as No. 4 Florida was comfortably in control after three quarters, leading 31-3.

At that point, seventh-ranked FSU was playing simply for pride — or so it would seem. With just under 13 minutes to play, the Seminoles finally found the end zone as fullback Zack Crockett punched it in from five yards out.

Zack Crockett scored FSU’s first touchdown to spark a 28-point fourth quarter in the 1994 contest with Florida. (Garnet and Great, FSU Archivist)

It look less than three minutes after that to cut what was once a 28-point lead in half as FSU quarterback Danny Kanell hit Andre Cooper near the sideline in the end zone for a 6-yard score with more than 10 minutes remaining.

The Florida State offense had found its spark, but the defense soon followed. After getting a second straight stop, Kanell led yet another scoring drive, punching it in himself from two yards away to cut the lead to 31-24.

On the ensuing Florida drive, cornerback James Colzie played the unlikely hero with a diving interception of Florida’s Danny Wuerffel at the FSU 40-yard-line. With 1:45 to play, running back Rock Preston took a carry four yards to the end zone, which was followed by an extra point by Dan Mowrey to knot the score at 31 apiece.

Rock Preston’s 4-yard rushing touchdown with 1:45 to play forced a 31-31 tie against Florida in 1994. (Photo provided by Garnet and Great, FSU Archivist)

The FSU defense would get one more stop, but time would run out on the offense before Kanell could stop the clock after his scramble came up short of a first down. Kanell was the catalyst for the comeback, passing for 421 yards. As a team, Florida State gained 519 yards to the Gators’ 389.

Although FSU’s comeback ran out of seconds, the Seminoles still got to prove their supremacy over the rival Gators. The two teams met again in New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl to conclude the season in a contest dubbed, “The Fifth Quarter in the French Quarter”. FSU won the contest, 23-17, to close the year.

Thanks to the tie, FSU’s home unbeaten streak would span nearly a decade. From Nov. 26, 1994 until October 2001, the Seminoles won every home game before ultimately falling to eventual national champion Miami.

Florida and Florida State were both ranked each year the teams met under Steve Spurrier and Bobby Bowden. Spurrier never led the Gators to a win at Doak Campbell Stadium, but he’ll always have one memorable tie.

Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson