updated 7:33 p.m. ET Nov. 19, 2004

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Florida coach Ron Zook has one final chance to do something even Steve Spurrier couldn’t do as Top Gator — win at Florida State.

The Gators will try to break an 18-year winless streak at Doak Campbell Stadium on Saturday in Zook’s final regular-season game.

“We want him to go out good,” Gators linebacker Travis Harris said. “It means a lot to us.”

Zook, who was fired last month, is 0-2 versus the Seminoles (8-2).

The Gators last won in Tallahassee on a rainy day in 1986, when what Seminoles fans remember as a phantom holding call wiped out a would-be, game-winning touchdown run by Florida State’s Sammie Smith.

Spurrier (5-8-1 overall against Florida State) was winless in six tries in the capital of the Sunshine State. Even the tie he managed to secure in 1994 felt more like a loss. The Seminoles rallied from four touchdowns behind in the final 13 minutes to avoid defeat.

While the game marks another milestone on Zook’s forced farewell tour, it’s another chance for Florida State to honor coach Bobby Bowden.

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Before the game a stained glass tribute to Bowden will be unveiled and the field at Doak Campbell Stadium will be named in his honor.

The Gators (6-4) aren’t quite so mighty anymore, but they still worry the 75-year-old Bowden, the winningest coach in Division I-A history.

“Every time they come in here, I know this, they’re capable of beating us,” he said. “I know that coach Zook, this is his last regular season game, so you can imagine he wants to win it and how bad his boys want to win it for him.”

And for themselves.

“If it comes out Saturday that we carry (Zook) off on our shoulders, we did pretty well,” Florida center Mike Degory said. “Just beating FSU period is a dream of mine.”

Bowden is counting on the offense getting back in sync at home, where quarterback Wyatt Sexton has been particularly effective, despite struggling on the road.

Florida ranks 16th in the nation in total offense, averaging 434 yards. Florida State is averaging 366 yards, which ranks 66th.

Sexton said his coaches open things up more at home.

“We’ve been conservative early on the road because we don’t want the crowd to get into it early,” he said. “So we kind of lean on our defense somewhat more so on the road.”

There’s no debating who is the No. 1 quarterback at Florida.

Chris Leak is ranked 20th nationally, throwing for 2,704 yards and 27 touchdowns with nine interceptions, but he will be facing his toughest defensive opponent of the season.

Florida State ranks first against the run, fourth in total defense and third in scoring defense, giving up 13.1 points and 260 yards a game.

Sexton, who will be making his seventh career start, has passed for 1,497 yards and eight touchdowns with seven interceptions while taking the top job from Chris Rix twice this season. Sexton’s only been intercepted once at home.

Florida’s defense has been inconsistent all season, especially against the run. The Gators will be tested by Florida State tailbacks Leon Washington and Lorenzo Booker, who have teamed for 1,506 yards. Washington missed two games with a separated shoulder.

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