ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, December 1, 1996 TAG: 9612020110
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: TALLAHASSEE, FLA.
SOURCE: Associated Press
For Florida State, the Sugar Bowl's a Dunn deal. Florida is simply done.
Warrick Dunn ran for a career-best 185 yards, Pooh Bear Williams scored on two short touchdown runs and the second-ranked Seminoles squeezed out a 24-21 victory Saturday over the top-ranked Gators.
In the 31st meeting between teams ranked 1-2, it was the Seminoles' aggressive defense that shut down the Gators' high-powered offense as Dunn produced his big day in the biggest game of the season.
``Warrick was sensational,'' Florida coach Steve Spurrier said. ``He won the game for them, probably. We knew we had to slow him down and didn't do a very good job of it.''
In completing their second perfect regular season, the Seminoles (11-0) should move into the No.1 ranking this week, which ensures a spot in the Sugar Bowl, where a victory would give them their second national title in four years.
``It will be a fairy tale end to my career to play in the Sugar Bowl,'' said Dunn, from Baton Rouge, La., ``That was one of my goals when I decided to stay for my senior year.''
If No. 4 Nebraska beats Texas in the Big 12 Conference title game Saturday, the Seminoles would play the Cornhuskers in New Orleans.
The Gators (10-1), shooting for a rematch against the Huskers after last year's 62-24 loss in the Fiesta Bowl, play No. 15 Alabama in the SEC title game Saturday, needing a victory to get into the Orange Bowl.
``It's just nearly too good to be true that you can end up with a 1-2 and win that darned thing in front of our home fans,'' Florida State coach Bobby Bowden said. ``I've got to hand our offensive line a lot of credit, because they got Dunn beyond the line of scrimmage. And if you can get him beyond the line of scrimmage, he'll just eat you alive.''
Florida State's top-rated defense ate Danny Wuerffel alive for most of the day before a Doak Campbell Stadium record crowd of 80,932.
But even though Wuerffel threw three first-half interceptions and was sacked six times, he led the Gators back from a 17-0 first-quarter deficit with three touchdown passes and finished 23-for-48 for 362 yards.
``He nearly single-handedly beat us,'' Bowden said. ``We had everybody else taken care of on their football team. Our defensive rush was just too much.''
Led by nose guard Andre Wadsworth and safety Shevin Smith, the Seminoles were all over Wuerffel, who hoped to clinch the Heisman Trophy with a big performance. At one point in the second period, the Seminoles were called for a personal foul and two roughing-the-passer penalties on the Gators' second touchdown drive.
``We were being too aggressive,'' said Seminoles end Greg Spires, who had one of the six sacks. ``We played so aggressive we had to lighten up on the pass rush and not hit him as he was about to throw the ball.''
With FSU nursing a 17-14 lead, Williams capped a 75-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown surge with 7:15 left to give the Seminoles breathing room. Dunn had an 18-yard run to the Gators 1 on the game-winning drive.
They needed the cushion, too. Wuerffel's 2-yard scoring pass to Reidel Anthony with 1:19 left cut the margin to three points, but the ensuing onside kick went out of bounds.
Dunn then ripped off a 14-yard run for a first down and the Seminoles ran out the clock. When the game ended, the fans began chanting ``We're No.1!'' as they streamed onto the field and tore down both goalposts.
Anthony had 11 catches for 193 yards for the Gators, but his hookups with Wuerffel were offset by Florida's inability to run the ball effectively. FSU held the Gators to 81 yards rushing.
LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: AP. Florida State defender Semari Rolle (2) intercepts aby CNBpass intended for Florida receiver Reidel Anthony in the end zone
during action in the third quarter Saturday in Tallahassee, Fla.
color. KEYWORDS: FOOTBALL