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Gators must be first to pressure Manning

GAINESVILLE -- The Florida defense will face one of its biggest tests of the season Saturday when the Gators play at Mississippi. Ole Miss quarterback Eli Manning is being protected by an offensive line that has yet to give up a sack. Since the start of the 1999 season, Mississippi has allowed the fewest sacks in the Southeastern Conference with 33. Ole Miss has not allowed a sack since Nov. 17 against Georgia -- 10 consecutive games.

"Probably the biggest issue is we throw the ball all the time," Mississippi coach David Cutcliffe said. "And (Manning) does a great job of knowing where to go with the ball and gets it out quickly. Certainly our offensive line and backs have done a good job. It gets progressively tougher but we throw the ball pretty quickly. We don't hold the ball very much and that's probably the biggest issue in why we don't normally take a lot of sacks."

The Florida defense welcomes the challenge.

"I'd like to be the first," defensive end Marcus Oquendo-Johnson said. "I would say anybody on our defense would like to be the first if they haven't given one up all year."

The Gators have registered just six sacks in five games, but coach Ron Zook said rushing the quarterback is always part of Florida's defensive scheme.

"You always go into a game trying to develop pressure," he said. " ... That's what we've got to do with Manning. We can't give him lanes because he's a very accurate quarterback. If we're not sacking, we at least have to get in his face and get close to him."

MR. VERSATILITY: Backup quarterback Ingle Martin may add another position to his resume. Saturday, Martin lined up at receiver and caught a pass. He is spending this week practicing at punter, hoping to bolster Florida's shaky special teams. "Ingle Martin is a guy who punted through high school," Zook said. "We've been working with him. We'll give him a look. He's a great athlete who can do a lot of things to help your football team in a lot of different ways. That's a tribute to him and his athletic ability."

THE ORIGINAL MANNING: While watching film this week, Zook has become familiar with Manning, the Ole Miss quarterback. But during his time with the New Orleans Saints, Zook was acquainted with another Manning, Archie, the former Ole Miss and Saints quarterback. "Yes, I do know Archie," Zook said. "When I was with the Saints in the preseason, he would cover our games. In fact, I got a little concerned when he was out there watching practice in the preseason and we were playing (the Colts and quarterback Peyton Manning). It didn't seem right, but Archie is very professional. I haven't talked to him in a few weeks, but he called me when I got the job and congratulated me. Obviously in New Orleans he's very, very powerful."

RECORD-SETTERS: With its win over Mississippi State on Sunday, the volleyball team set the NCAA record for most consecutive regular-season conference wins with 100. Western Michigan won 99 in the MAC conference from 1982-89.

"We've said all along that our success is a direct result of the talent we've had come through this program," said Florida coach Mary Wise, who also credited assistant coach Nick Cheronis. " ... The streak is a testament to how we've never taken a night off for all those years. And the night when we weren't great, we were good enough to win."

Florida (12-1, 2-0 SEC) will host Georgia at 7 tonight then will travel to play Tennessee at 7 p.m. Friday.

The Gators are 28-0 against Georgia under Wise. The last match Florida lost to the Bulldogs was in 1990.

Tonight's match will be carried live on Sunshine Network.

TENNIS TIME: Florida will host the three-day Gator Fall Classic Tournament beginning Friday at the Ring Tennis Complex. Players from Central Florida, Florida Atlantic, Florida International, Florida State, Georgia, Jacksonville, Kentucky, Miami, South Florida and Troy State will participate. There will be two flights of singles and two flights of doubles.

-- Antonya English covers Florida athletics. She can be reached at (813) 226-3389 or english@sptimes.com.

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