Bowden Keeps His Streak Alive

Florida State finished with a win yet again.

Dan Kanell threw two of his record four touchdown passes in the final 10 minutes to help the Seminoles rally from a 12-point deficit and beat Notre Dame 31-26 Monday night in the Orange Bowl.

The No. 8 Seminoles (10-2) extended their NCAA-record streak of 11 consecutive bowl victories and remained unbeaten in their past 14 postseason games.

“It seemed like the national championship,” coach Bobby Bowden said. “We were lucky to win the darn game.”

For the ninth consecutive year under Bowden, the Seminoles reached 10 victories. They’ll also likely finish ranked in the top five for the ninth year in a row. Both streaks are NCAA records.

“We didn’t want coach Bowden’s streak to end,” said Andre Cooper, whose third touchdown reception put Florida State ahead to stay. “It definitely went through our minds.”

No. 6 Notre Dame (9-3), an 11-point underdog, appeared in command when it led 26-14 after 5 minutes of the fourth quarter.

Florida State’s comeback began with a five-play, 73-yard drive capped by Kanell’s 11-yard TD pass to E.G. Green with 9:47 left.

The Seminoles forced a punt, and Dee Feaster returned it 41 yards to the Notre Dame 30-yard line. Cooper caught a 3-yard touchdown pass, then grabbed Kanell’s two-point conversion pass for a 29-26 lead with 6:09 to go.

Florida State added a safety with 2:02 left when Notre Dame’s Tom Krug was called for intentional grounding in the end zone.

Cooper, chosen the game’s most valuable player, set an Orange Bowl record with three touchdown receptions. He scored on 15- and 10-yard completions in the first half, the latter on a leaping catch.

“I was very happy with the way we could fight and claw our way back in the ballgame,” Cooper said.

Kanell set an Orange Bowl record with his four touchdown passes and completed 20 of 32 passes for 290 yards. Teammate Warrick Dunn carried 22 times for 151 yards.

Florida State 31, Notre Dame 26

Florida State 7 7 0 17 - 31

Notre Dame 10 0 7 9 - 26

ND-Mayes 39 pass from Krug (Cengia kick) FSU Cooper 15 pass from Kanell (Bentley kick)

ND-FG Cengia 20 FSUCooper 10 pass from Kanell (Bentley kick)

ND-Mayes 33 pass from Krug (Cengia kick)

ND-Safety, Kanell stepped out of end zone

ND-Chryplewicz 5 pass from Krug (Cengia kick) FSUE.Green 11 pass from Kanell (Bentley kick) FSUCooper 2 pass from Kanell (Cooper pass from Kanell) FSUSafety, intentional grounding in end zone

A-72,198

FSU ND First downs 26 17 Rushes-yards 37-188 45-256 Passing 290 169 Return Yards 60 35 Comp-Att-Int 20-33-2 15-26-1 Punts 3-44 5-42 Fumbles-Lost 1-0 2-1 Penalties-Yards 7-59 7-55 Time of Possession 28:13 31:47

RUSHINGFlorida State, Dunn 22-151, Preston 6-55, Williams 2-7, Abdullah 2-2, Kanell 5-(minus 27). Notre Dame, Farmer 7-93, Denson 11-67, Edwards 14-55, Krug 11-45, Thorne 1-4, Sollmann 1-(minus 8).

PASSINGFlorida State, Kanell 20-32-2-290, Dunn 0-1-0-0. Notre Dame, Krug 14-24-1-140, Smith 1-1-0-29, Edwards 0-1-0-0.

RECEIVINGFlorida State, Messam 6-103, E.Green 5-99, Cooper 4-38, Dunn 2-19, Williams 2-17, Abdullah 1-14. Notre Dame, Mayes 6-96, Chryplewicz 3-18, Edwards 2-25, Stafford 2-14, Mosley 1-13, Farmer 1-3.