Florida State was dead and buried against hated, intrastate rival Florida in 1994. Trailing 31–3 entering the fourth quarter and having been shredded by Gators QB Danny Wuerffel all day, it looked as if the Seminoles would endure a rare home loss at Doak Campbell Stadium.
That was all until the “Choke at Doak” transpired.
While Florida coach Steve Spurrier shifted to a more consecutive set of play calls, Florida State turned almost exclusively to the shotgun and hurry-up offense. The end result: 28 unanswered points, tying the NCAA record for the biggest fourth-quarter comeback. The final touchdown didn’t come courtesy of star RB Warrick Dunn but rather his backup, fellow freshman Rock Preston.
It would prove to be the highlight of Preston’s football career as he was dismissed from the FSU program for academic reasons following the 1996 season. He spent three seasons in the CFL (1999–2001) and now lives in Miami with his wife, Nakia, and two daughters.
The Seminoles do battle with their fiercest rival again this Saturday in Tallahassee. Rock Preston profile
