Gator Chomped

No. 11 Florida puts a beat down on No. 4 LSU, 51-21.

by Matt Reynolds
Tiger Rag Assistant Editor

(At left, Chris Mitchell (Photo by Steve Franz/LSU)

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Judging from the first 15 minutes of the contest, it was clear Florida was determined to give LSU a taste of its own medicine.

The Tigers used a 28-24 win over the Gators last season as motivation en route to the BCS National Title.

Turnabout is fair play.

Playing for its BCS existence, Florida (5-1, 3-1 SEC) used a blitzkrieg offensive attack, jumped out to a 17-0 first quarter lead and never relinquished the upper hand in this matchup of the past two national champions.

Gator quarterback Tim Tebow threw two touchdown passes to Percy Harvin and ran for another score as the Gators put a 51-21 smack down on the defending national champions.

It was the first meeting of back to back title holders since 1987 champion Miami beat 1988’s Notre Dame 27-10 in 1989.

It was the first time a Les Miles-coached team had surrendered 50 points in regulation and the first time for LSU to give up half-a-hundred since a 56-13 loss in 1996 – at Florida.

A first quarter, in which Florida outgained LSU 186-4, set the pace for the one-sided event. Despite a spirited rally, in which LSU closed the gap to 20-14 midway through the third quarter, the game was never really in doubt for the home team. The Gators out gained LSU 475-321 and held the Tigers to just 80 rushing yards in the 30-point blowout.

LSU running back Charles Scott, considered one of the best running backs in the country coming into the game, was limited to just 37 yards on 12 carries by the Gator defense.

“They did a good job on defense bottling up our run,” said Miles, who fell to 38-7 as LSU coach and suffered his worst loss in three-plus seasons. “We did not have the run early on. They were getting first downs and were scoring. That’s how it started. We never really got momentum in that game and never got in-tune except for a few drives on offense. That’s what happens; you play quality teams, make mistakes and you give up easy scores.”

Tebow, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, completed 14-of-21 passes for 210 yards. He also ran 12 times for 22 yards.

“LSU is a very good team,” Tebow said. “We wanted to start strong and we did that. They rallied back and made it a game, but we responded with maturity and took over at the end.”

Harvin, who entered the game nursing a sore ankle, showed no signs of injury catching six passes for 112 yards and a pair of scores. The junior had over 100 yards receiving in the first quarter and logged the first multiple touchdown performance of his Florida career.

The Florida rushing attack dominated the highly regarded LSU defensive front, as the Gators pounded the Tigers for 265 yards on the ground. True freshman Jeffrey Demps ran 10 times for 129 yards. Redshirt freshman Chris Rainey added 66 yards on the ground.

On the opening drive, LSU rattled Tebow on consecutive plays to force a third-and-12. On third down he threw a deep ball to Harvin that was slightly underthrown but was tipped by LSU safety Danny McCray into Harvin’s hands for a 70-yard-touchdown strike.

On its second possession, Florida threw four consecutive passes to different targets for double-figure gains to the LSU 7-yard line. Two Tebow passes into the end zone were astray and the Gators settled for a Jonathan Phillips 20-yard field goal and a 10-0 lead after eight minutes of play.

Three plays later, James returned an LSU punt 25 yards to the Tigers’ 41-yard line. After a face mask penalty moved Florida to the LSU 27, Tebow gave the Gators a first-and-goal with a 12-yard pass to Deonte Thompson. After two runs by Tebow came up short of the goal line, he decided to find Harvin again, this time matched up on linebacker Darry Beckwith. The 7-yard strike on the crossing pattern pushed the lead to 17-0 with 1:09 to play in the quarter.

LSU’s next two drives ended in turnovers, including an interception by Lee on an out-route to tight end Richard Dickson and a fumbled on the Tigers’ first play in Florida territory by Scott — his first in drop in 385 rushing attempts.

The Tigers defense was able to force consecutive in its territory punts after these turnovers, keeping the game within reach.

Just before the half, Florida added a 34-yard field goal by Phillips to continue the shutout and lead 20-0 with 49 seconds left to go in the half.

Lee then guided his team 60 yards in six plays to the elusive Gators end zone in only 45 seconds. A 24-yard strike to wide receiver Terrance Toliver moved LSU into Florida territory for the second time in the half.

After a 12-yard catch by Brandon LaFell and an eight-yard catch by Dickson, Lee made a quick throw to LaFell, who lateraled the ball to Trindon Holliday for a 15-yard gain to the Florida 6. With 10 seconds left, Lee found Chris Mitchell in the corner of the end zone to put the first Tiger points on the board.

“We spotted them 20 points in the first half,” Miles said afterwards. “We never got out of that hole. I thought our effort was good, but we made too many mistakes in all three phases.”

To start the second half, LSU took the kickoff and marched 80 yards in 12 plays for a 3-yard bruising rushing touchdown by Andrew Hatch.

That would be as close as LSU would get to the Gators, as Tebow would run in a two-yard touchdown on the Gators next possession. The score was Tebow’s 34th career rushing touchdown — he now trails only Emmitt Smith, who has 36.

“Our coaches did a great job getting into our guys’ ears at halftime,” said Florida coach Urban Meyer. “We came out with lots of juice in the third quarter which was important. The score was 20-7 going into the locker room and all a sudden it’s a two-score game. That first touchdown drive was a pivotal play for our momentum.”

On the Gators next possession, Tebow pitched the ball to running back Jeffrey Demps on an option play and the speedy freshman took it 42-yards to the house for the score to give Florida a 34-14 lead.

Florida junior linebacker Brandon Spikes lowered the coffin into the ground when he picked off a wayward Lee pass and trucked it 52-yards for his first career touchdown.
Lee completed 23-of-38 passes for 209 yards and a pair of touchdowns and interceptions.

“Florida played a great game,” Lee said. “I made some misreads and their defense took advantage of them. They are an outstanding team on both sides of the ball. I thought we fought back well, but they were just too much in the end.”

Despite the 41-14 deficit, LSU continued to fight. LSU defensive end Rahim Alem sacked Tebow and jarred the ball loose. Defensive end Tyson Jackson picked up the ball and returned 18 yards to the Florida 31.

Five plays later, Lee connected with Dickson in the middle of the end zone for a 6-yard touchdown. LSU trailed 41-21.

Florida tacked on another field goal with 6:47 to play for a 44-21 lead.

The Gators added another rushing touchdown late in the fourth quarter for the final margin.