JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Tim Tebow accounted for five touchdowns, Percy Harvin scored twice and the revenge-minded Gators thumped the Bulldogs 49-10 Saturday in one of the most anticipated matchups in the history of this storied rivalry.
Florida (7-1, 5-1) pretty much shut down Knowshon Moreno, took advantage of Georgia's numerous mistakes and avenged last year's 42-30 loss in which the brazen Bulldogs used a full-team, end-zone celebration to energize them.
The Gators won for the 16th time in the last 19 meetings, and this one was one of the most lopsided of all the one-sided affairs. Florida's largest margin of victory in the series was a 47-7 win in 1996.
Many of the Georgia faithful headed to the exits early in the fourth quarter, having seen enough of Tebow, Harvin and Florida's opportunistic defense.
Tebow ran for a season-high three touchdowns, including two in the decisive third quarter. Florida outscored Georgia (7-2, 4-2) 21-0 in the third, scoring twice after turnovers.
Joe Haden intercepted Matthew Stafford's sideline pass to A.J. Green and returned it 88 yards to the 1. Tebow took it in from there, putting the Gators ahead 21-3.
Florida forced a punt, then Tebow threw a 44-yard touchdown strike to Louis Murphy. Moreno, who ran for 188 yards and three touchdowns last year, fumbled on the ensuing possession. Terron Sanders picked it up and returned it to the Georgia 10 -- Tebow territory.
The 2007 Heisman Trophy winner rambled in from 8 yards out -- and the party was on. No one knows when it will end, either. The Gators can clinch the SEC East next week at Vanderbilt, and if they win out, they could end up playing for the national championship.
Florida players were silent much of the week, following coach Urban Meyer's edict to not say anything about last year's contentious celebration. But it was clearly on their minds. Pictures of Georgia's entire team jumping up and down after a touchdown were sprawled around the locker room during the offseason, and there were rumors Florida defenders had to do 188 push-ups a day -- one for every yard Moreno gained against them.
Moreno ran for 65 yards this time.
Stafford was 18-of-33 for 265 yards, with three interceptions. He was sacked twice.
The Gators were much more efficient.
Tebow was 10-of-13 passing for 154 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran 12 times for 39 yards. Harvin ran four times for 37 yards and caught three passes for another 52.
Florida, showing little respect for Georgia after last year's debacle, added a touchdown midway through the fourth with mostly backups on the field.
By the time it was over, it was the most-lopsided loss of Mark Richt's eight-year career as Georgia coach.
The Bulldogs had problems early, too. They missed two field goals, had an interception nullified by penalty and bumbled two chances for a touchdown when Stafford missed an open receiver in the end zone and Moreno had a pass slip through his hands.
Georgia also failed to recover an onside kick following Blair Walsh's 35-yard field goal early in the second quarter. Florida's Butch Rowley caught the ball on a short hop, and the Gators drove 41 yards to make it 14-3.
The Dawgs looked like they would answer, but Walsh's 27-yard field goal attempt clanked off the left upright. It was Walsh's second miss -- he also was wide left on a 38-yarder in the first quarter -- and followed two blown chances at a touchdown.
Stafford had tight end Tripp Chandler alone in the end zone, but threw well behind him. Moreno was open two plays later, but he couldn't hang onto Stafford's pass.
Maybe the turning point of the first half came when Prince Miller intercepted a pass from Tebow, but the play was nullified by defensive end Jarius Wynn's personal foul. Wynn was flagged for slapping Carl Johnson in the face on third down, a penalty that gave Florida a first down deep in Georgia territory and set up Harvin's 13-yard TD run.
Saturday
October 26th, 2024
6:18AM
