Game Name: | Sugar Bowl |
Date Game Played: | January 1 |
Year Game Played: | 1994 |
Football Season: | 1993 |
Title Sponsor: | USF&G Insurance |
Date: | January 1, 1994 |
Stadium: | Louisiana Superdome |
City: | New Orleans, Louisiana |
Visitor Record: | 10–2 |
Visitor Name Short: | Florida |
Visitor Nickname: | Gators |
Visitor Coach: | Steve Spurrier |
Visitor Conference: | SEC |
Visitor 1Q: | 7 |
Visitor 2Q: | 14 |
Visitor 3Q: | 14 |
Visitor 4Q: | 6 |
Visitor Rank Ap: | 8 |
Visitor Rank Coaches: | 8 |
Visitor Rank Bowlcoalition: | 8 |
Home Record: | 11–0 |
Home Name Short: | West Virginia |
Home Nickname: | Mountaineers |
Home Coach: | Don Nehlen |
Home Conference: | Big East |
Home 1Q: | 7 |
Home 2Q: | 0 |
Home 3Q: | 0 |
Home 4Q: | 0 |
Home Rank Ap: | 3 |
Home Rank Coaches: | 2 |
Home Rank Bowlcoalition: | 3 |
Attendance: | 75,437 |
Mvp: | Florida RB Errict Rhett |
Referee: | Jim Kemerling (Big Ten) |
Us Network: | ABC Sports |
Us Announcers: | Brent Musburger and Dick Vermeil |
Different Next: | 1995 (Jan) |
Odds: | Florida by 6.5 points (54.5) [1] [2] |
The 1994 Sugar Bowl took place on January 1, 1994, in the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana between the Florida Gators, the champions of the Southeastern Conference (SEC), and West Virginia Mountaineers, winners of the Big East Conference. The Mountaineers came into the game undefeated, with a shot at a share of the national title, while Florida came in 10–2 and ranked #8.
After a quick touchdown from Jake Kelchner to Jay Kearney to put West Virginia up 7–0 early, the Gators came right back and answered with a touchdown by Errict Rhett to tie the score at 7. Just before halftime, Gator defensive back Lawrence Wright picked off an errant pass from West Virginia quarterback Darren Studstill right on the midfield logo. He first made his way to his right side, but when he ran out of blocking help just inside the West Virginia 40, he turned around and backtracked, circling back to the 45 before finding some running room, and he sprinted into the end zone from there to cap a 51-yard interception return touchdown. That put Florida up 14–7, and crushed the Mountaineers' competitive spirit, as Florida's defense proceeded to force a quick three and out, which gave Terry Dean time to connect with Willie Jackson for a 39-yard touchdown to make it 21–7 at halftime.
From there, the Gators cruised in the second half. Rhett ran in two more touchdowns and Judd Davis added two insurance field goals in the fourth quarter to make the final score a convincing 41–7.
Qtr | Team | Scoring Information[3] | Score | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
FLA | WV | ||||
1 | WV | Jake Kelchner 32-yard touchdown pass to Jay Kearney, Tom Mazzone kick good ! 0 | 7 | ||
FLA | Errict Rhett 3-yard touchdown run, Judd Davis kick good ! 7 | 7 | |||
2 | FLA | Lawrence Wright 51-yard return of an interception for a touchdown, Judd Davis kick good ! 14 | 7 | ||
FLA | Terry Dean 39-yard touchdown pass to Willie Jackson, Judd Davis kick good ! 21 | 7 | |||
3 | FLA | Errict Rhett 2-yard touchdown run, Judd Davis kick good ! 28 | 7 | ||
FLA | Errict Rhett 1-yard touchdown run, Judd Davis kick good ! 35 | 7 | |||
4 | FLA | 43-yard field goal by Judd Davis ! 38 | 7 | ||
FLA | 26-yard field goal by Judd Davis ! 41 | 7 | |||
Final score | 41 | 7 |