FSU’s Top 10 Moments vs. Florida — Part II

It’s almost that time as Florida State and Florida get set to renew their annual rivalry. The teams will meet on Saturday at Doak Campbell Stadium as the Seminoles look to make it six straight over the rival Gators.

As usual, we’ll be breaking down the top moments in series history that have gone in favor of the Seminoles. In this rivalry, there are just too many memorable moments to sum up in one piece. Rather than five, we’ll be looking at the 10 greatest moments for FSU with rival Florida.

We started the series on Thursday with Nos. 6-10. We wrap it up here with the top five moments:

5. First Win Over Florida
Nov. 21, 1964
Florida 7, (12) Florida State 16

Entering the 1964 contest with rival Florida, the Seminoles were 0-5-1 against the Gators all-time but none of those contests had been in Tallahassee. For FSU, the home-field advantage would prove to be advantageous. Thanks to a strong defensive performance, a long touchdown pass from Steve Tensi to Fred Biletnikoff and a pair of Les Murdock field goals, FSU held a 13-0 lead early in the fourth quarter. Jack Harper broke up the shutout for Florida on a 6-yard run with about nine minutes remaining, but that would be the lone highlight for Florida. Murdock’s 40-yard field goal with less than seven minutes to play made it a 2-score game as FSU prevailed en route to its first ranked finish. Bill McDowell and Winfred Bailey each had interceptions to lead an FSU defense that held the Gators to 244 yards and forced six turnovers.

4. Warrick Off the Deflection
Nov. 21, 1998
(4) Florida 12, (5) Florida State 23

With backup quarterback Marcus Outzen at the helm, Florida led FSU 12-6 in a top-5 match-up to conclude the 1998 regular season. For most of the first half, Florida State had been stifled, but on the opening drive of the second half, the Seminoles marched inside the Florida 35-yard-line. What happened next would completely swing the complexion of the football game. On a pass play, Outzen looked as though he may have committed a costly error when he threw in the direction of Florida safety Marquand Manuel, who had only green field in front of him. Unfortunately for Manuel, he was unable to make the grab and the ball bounced into the hands of FSU receiver Peter Warrick, who weaved through defenders on his way to a 32-yard touchdown to give his team its first lead. From there, the FSU defense dominated as the Seminoles cruised to a 23-12 victory.

3. Rix to Sam
Nov. 29, 2003
(9) Florida State 38, (11) Florida 34

In a contest that had already had three fourth-quarter lead changes, the game hung in the balance for Florida State as it faced 4th-and-14 inside its own 30-yard-line with just over a minute to play while trailing rival Florida, 34-31. The Seminoles were able to gain new life as Chris Rix found Dominic Robinson for a gain of 24 and a first down. On the very next play, Rix went for the jugular. Flushed to his right, Rix had room to wind up and threw the ball down the field toward the end zone. Waiting on the football was receiver P.K. Sam, who had beaten Florida safety Guss Scott. Scott never turned around for the football and Sam hauled it in for a game-winning 52-yard touchdown reception. Rix finished the day with 256 yards passing and three touchdowns.

2. The Choke at Doak
Nov. 26, 1994
(4) Florida 31, (7) Florida State 31

Florida State hadn’t lost at home in more than three years as it hosted Florida, but that appeared to be on the verge of changing as the Gators led 31-3 after three quarters. FSU quarterback Danny Kanell and the Seminoles however, had other plans. Two minutes into the final quarter, fullback Zack Crockett got the Seminoles in the end zone with a 5-yard touchdown run before Kanell found Andre Cooper three minutes later to cut what had been a 28-point deficit in half. With 5:25 to play, Kanell pulled the Seminoles to within a touchdown as he outran defenders to the end zone on a designed rollout. After James Colzie came through with a key interception, FSU tied the game on a 4-yard touchdown scamper by running back Rock Preston with 1:45 to play. FSU would get one more possession, but the contest ended just inside Florida’s side of the field. The 31-31 tie felt more like a win for FSU and the Seminoles were able to claim supremacy over their rivals with a 23-17 Sugar Bowl rematch victory a little more than a month later. Kanell passed for 421 yards in the tie.

1. Warrick Dunn Down the Sideline
Nov. 27, 1993
(1) Florida State 33, (7) Florida 21

The storied Swamp of Gainesville probably couldn’t have been much louder as FSU faced 3rd-and-10 from its own 21-yard-line with less than six minutes to play in the 1993 contest. Florida had cut what was a 27-7 lead for the Seminoles down to six and had stoned FSU on its first two plays of the ensuing drive. The Gators were one play away from getting the ball back with a chance to go ahead. Florida was able to get pressure on FSU senior quarterback and eventual Heisman Trophy winner Charlie Ward, but Ward rolled left to buy time before hitting freshman running back Warrick Dunn on a dump pass on the sideline. Dunn got one key block and outraced defenders down the sideline for a back-breaking 79-yard touchdown to quiet the raucous Florida crowd. The play served as the knockout punch as the Seminoles would beat Florida 33-21 and go on to win their first national championship. That contest served as Florida’s first home loss under third-year head coach Steve Spurrier.

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