<p>The Miami Hurricanes were eliminated from the national championship early in the season. They missed out on the conference championship late.</p><p>They settled for the state title Friday night.</p><p>Devin Hester returned a blocked field goal 78 yards for a touchdown and intercepted a pass to set up another score, helping the 14th-ranked Hurricanes beat No. 20 Florida 27-10 in the Peach Bowl.</p><p>Miami also earned a third consecutive "state title" by beating Florida and Florida State in the same season, spoiled interim coach Charlie Strong's debut and extended its winning streak against the Gators (7-5) to six games.</p><p>This time, the Hurricanes (9-3) didn't need a strong performance from Brock Berlin. The senior quarterback who transferred from Florida in January 2002 torched his former team in a 38-33 comeback victory last year and mocked fans after the game.</p><p>Berlin finished 13-of-23 for 171 yards Friday, and had a 20-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Moore in the third quarter that made it 24-3.</p><p>But Miami's special teams and defense did more damage on New Year's Eve.</p><p>Just four plays after a blocked punt gave the Gators great field position, defensive lineman Thomas Carroll blocked Matt Leach's 32-yard field goal attempt. Hester picked up the loose ball and sprinted the other way for a score.</p><p>The momentum swing set the tone for the Hurricanes, who sacked Chris Leak on the next two plays and intercepted a pass late in the second quarter.</p><p>Leak, who struggled under heavy pressure all night, overthrew O.J. Small one play after Frank Gore fumbled in Florida territory. Hester picked off the pass and snaked his way across the field to put Miami back in field goal range.</p><p>Despite losing big yardage on an errant screen pass that ended up in the arms of a lineman, Jon Peattie nailed a 47-yarder to give the 'Canes a 10-3 lead.</p><p>Miami forced Florida to punt on the ensuing possession, and Roscoe Parrish caught the line-drive kick and ran untouched up the seam for a 72-yard score.</p><p>Leach missed a 41-yard field goal in the waning seconds of the first half that could have sparked the Gators.</p><p>Berlin's TD pass early in the third silenced the partisan and packed Georgia Dome.</p><p>But Leak's best pass of the game got the Gators back in it. He faked a handoff, had plenty of time and found Jemalle Cornelius wide open on a post pattern for a 45-yard score.</p><p>Leak finished 19-of-39 for 262 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions.</p><p>The comeback was short-lived.</p><p>Miami capped a 65-yard drive with Peattie's 32-yard field goal, making it 27-10 early in the fourth.</p><p>The Gators couldn't mount another rally _ something they did so well this season.</p><p>Coach Ron Zook was fired Oct. 25 after a 4-3 start and an embarrassing loss at Mississippi State. Players rallied around Zook and the other coaches, winning the final three games. The streak included a victory in Tallahassee for the first time since 1987.</p><p>Zook then took the head coaching job at Illinois, former Utah coach Urban Meyer was hired at Florida and the Gators were left with an awkward coaching situation for the bowl. Three assistants agreed to join Zook, two were retained by Meyer and three have uncertain futures.</p><p>Despite all the changes, the Gators hoped to win the Florida Cup _ the state-sponsored trophy given to either Florida, Florida State and Miami in return for beating the other two teams in the same season.</p><p>Instead, the trophy will remain in coach Larry Coker's office, where it has been the last two years.</p>
