GATORS ESCAPE WITH 17-16 WIN
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) -- Jarvis Moss blocked a 48-yard field goal as time
expired to give No. 6 Florida a 17-16 victory over South Carolina on Saturday,
spoiling Steve Spurrier's return to Gainesville and keeping the Gators'
national championship hopes intact.
Spurrier stood near the 31-yard line with his
legs crossed as Ryan Succop lined up for the game-winner. Succop's kick
cleared the line of scrimmage but didn't get over the outstretched arms of the
6-foot-6 defensive end.
It was the third blocked kick of the game for
Florida (9-1, 7-1 Southeastern Conference) and the second for Moss.
Moss blocked Succop's extra point attempt
earlier in the fourth quarter, leaving the Gamecocks (5-5, 3-5) with a 16-10
advantage following Mike Davis' second touchdown run.
Defensive tackle Ray McDonald also blocked a
47-yard field goal attempt in the first half.
After Davis' score, Chris Leak and Tim Tebow
teamed up to put the Gators ahead. Tebow picked up 6 yards on fourth-and-one
in Florida territory, Leak ran for 17 a few plays later and then added an
8-yard scramble on third down.
Tebow scored on the next play from 12 yards
out. Florida then made the extra point, which turned out to be the difference
in the game - and maybe the season.
The Gators were fourth in the latest Bowl
Championship Series rankings, right behind Louisville and just in front of
Texas. But with the Cardinals losing at Rutgers on Thursday night and with No.
1 Ohio State playing No. 2 Michigan next Saturday, the Gators believe they
have as good a chance as anybody of getting to the national championship game
as a one-loss team.
Blake Mitchell drove the Gamecocks to the
Florida 34 on the final drive, but a false start moved them back 5 yards. On
third-and-17, he connected with Freddie Brown III for 8 yards to get them back
into field goal territory.
Then Moss stepped up.
The Gamecocks need to win one of their
remaining games against Middle Tennessee and Clemson to become bowl eligible
for the second straight year under the ol' ball coach.
Spurrier coached 12 years in Gainesville and
led Florida - his alma mater - to national prominence.
He went 68-5 at Florida Field, creating one
of the best home-field advantages in college football, and even nicknamed the
stadium the Swamp.
His 1966 Heisman Trophy is displayed outside
the locker room. So are photos of his six Southeastern Conference championship
teams and the 1996 national title trophy. His name and No. 11 jersey are
painted inside the stadium. And he has one of four spots in the program's Ring
of Honor, commemorated by a large placard featuring his name and number.
He said repeatedly that returning to
Gainesville would be no big deal because he would be immersed in calling
plays.
Spurrier was cheered by some, but booed by
most as he entered the stadium along with his players.
But he quickly showed why so many fans wanted
him to return to Florida after an unsuccessful stint in the NFL.
South Carolina took an early lead after
Florida's Chris Hetland missed a field goal attempt for the seventh time this
season.
The Gamecocks converted a fourth down on
their scoring drive, then got help from a personal foul penalty. Mitchell,
starting in place of Syvelle Newton, completed all six passes on the drive for
46 yards.
Davis capped the 80-yard drive with a 4-yard
TD run, silencing most of the 90,000-plus fans on hand.
South Carolina looked to make it 10-0 with a
55-yard field goal attempt, but a delay of game forced a punt and prompted
Spurrier to toss his play-calling sheet to the ground.
Florida responded with its longest drive in
more than a month, a 78-yarder that Leak completed with a a 21-yard TD pass to
Dallas Baker, who reached over Fred Bennett's back, grabbed the ball and
stepped backward into the end zone.
THE GOOD
QB Blake Mitchell had one of his best games
as a Gamecock.
THE
BAD
One of the most
dependable Gamecocks, Ryan Succop had two field goals and one extra point
blocked.
THE
UGLY
The Gamecocks
failed to adjust to the tall Gator who earlier blocked a field goal attempt
and ended up blocking the game-winning attempt on the final play of the game.
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