How does a Swamp sound after being drained? Eerily quiet.

Just a few seconds earlier, the noise from Florida Field would’ve drowned out a jet engine. The Florida State Seminoles, with designs on a national championship, were in trouble. Their 20-point fourth-quarter lead was down to six. They were hanging on by their fingernails.

The Florida Gators, with a 23-game home winning streak, were furiously waving their arms, exhorting the state-record crowd of 85,507.

Third-and-10 from the FSU 21-yard line. Just under six minutes to play.

‘’If we can’t get a first down here,’’ FSU radio announcer Vic Prinzi told his audience, ‘’the Gators are going to win this game.’’

In the huddle, FSU quarterback Charlie Ward relayed the play - 344 Z-curl. A short pass to receiver Kez McCorvey, meant to move the sticks and hush the frenzy. But it never had a chance.

McCorvey couldn’t break free. Gators defensive tackle Ellis Johnson plowed into the backfield and, for a brief second, looked like he might sack Ward.

‘’I had my fingers on him,’’ Johnson said. ‘’I just couldn’t grab him. He was too fast.’’

Ward scrambled left and found his safety valve, freshman running back Warrick Dunn, in the flat at the FSU 30. Gators cornerback Anthone Lott was blocked out of the play by receiver Tamarick Vanover.

‘’I turned the corner, and then it was a race,’’ Dunn said.

Down the sideline he galloped, toward the small pocket of FSU fans in the stadium’s southeast corner. UF safety Michael Gilmore, the last man with a chance, made a futile dive for Dunn’s ankles. Dunn already had begun to kick his legs like a drum major, almost sensing someone closing in, and soared into the end zone.

The Seminoles had preserved their No. 1-ranked season. The Gators, who won an SEC championship, had come so close to the upset.

Until Dunn turned the corner.

‘’Then you could say that famous Spanish phrase,’’ FSU running backs coach Billy Sexton said. ‘’Adios, amigo.’’