colleges

Peach Bowl: Special effects show

The Hurricanes score touchdowns on a punt return and blocked field goal and shut down the Gators offense, 27-10.

By ANTONYA ENGLISH
Published January 1, 2005

	[Times photo: Stefanie Boyar]
	Roscoe Parrish celebrates his 73-yard punt return that gave Miami a 17-3 lead late in the first half. Miami's first touchdown came on Devin Hester's 78-yard return of a blocked field goal.

ATLANTA - They supposedly were coming out to play with a vengeance. A team with so little expected of it yet so much to prove.

The Gators had been embroiled in a disappointing season: their coach fired at midseason, their hearts ripped out by last-minute letdowns and their future uncertain with new coach Urban Meyer arriving next week.

But in Friday night's Peach Bowl, facing a rival led by a former teammate and playing for an interim coach eager to prove his ability, the team that won three of its last four regular-season games stumbled again.

And Miami played like the team that remains the most talented in the state of Florida despite its disappointing season.

Florida gave up two special-teams touchdowns during the first half. Its offense sputtered. Its kicking game had problems. And offensively, it was never in the game after the first six minutes as Miami won 27-10 in front of 69,322 at the Georgia Dome.

"To say that we're excited about this win is an understatement," Miami coach Larry Coker said.

With Friday's victory and a regular-season victory over Florida State, Miami can lay claim to the state title for the 12th time. Overall, it has beaten Florida and Florida State six consecutive times.

"There's nothing bigger than beating Florida and Florida State," Miami senior cornerback Antrel Rolle said. "And to end my college career never having lost to them is remarkable." It is the first time since 1989 the Gators ended the season with a 7-5 record. Florida also had an interim coach that season (Gary Darnell, who took over when Galen Hall was fired).

"We had too many mistakes and too many penalties," interim coach Charlie Strong said.

It was a tough night for Strong, who hoped the Gators would put on a high-level performance in his first game as a head coach. Instead, mistakes, including two interceptions, doomed Florida. Quarterback Chris Leak had one of his worst games of the season, and the offense never seemed in synch.

It had been 41 days since the Gators last played a game. Starting left tackle Jonathan Colon missed the first half with the stomach flu. Leak was 19-of-39 for 262 yards and two interceptions. His biggest gain was a 45-yard touchdown to Jemalle Cornelius with 45 seconds remaining in the third quarter to pull Florida within 24-10. "They did a great job of getting pressure on him, and he was never really able to get comfortable," Strong said.

Miami quarterback Brock Berlin finished his career against his former team, but it most likely wasn't the way he envisioned. Berlin was 13-of-24 for 171 yards and two interceptions.

Miami led 17-3 at halftime despite a solid defensive effort by the Gators.

Florida held the Hurricanes to 24 passing yards and 26 rushing yards. Miami didn't pick up a first down until six minutes into the second quarter, and Berlin was 1-for-7 for 3 yards during the first quarter.

"We had to give our defense a rest, but we had to be patient," Coker said. "I knew if we could hang in there, we would make things happen. It was our special teams that was critical."

Florida held the ball for 20:15 compared with Miami's 9:45 during the first half but couldn't score a touchdown.

Florida got the first break of the game when Tremaine McCollum blocked a punt to give the Gators a first down at the Miami 20. But Florida gained just 9 yards on three plays. Then an illegal motion penalty (receiver Dallas Baker rushed onto the field but was not set when the ball was snapped) negated a fourth-and-1 conversion.

The penalty proved costly.

Matt Leach's 32-yard field goal was blocked by Thomas Carroll and returned 78 yards for a touchdown by Devin Hester 6:34 into the game.

Special-teams play was Miami's best asset in the first half. Roscoe Parrish scored a touchdown on a 72-yard punt return to make it 17-3 with 3:48 remaining before halftime.

"There are three phases of the game, and one phase didn't play to the best of their ability," said Florida sophomore linebacker Channing Crowder, who had one fumble recovery.

"Obviously, those big plays hurt us," center Mike Degory said. "We thought we could make it up, but. ... "

Early in the third quarter, Berlin hit sophomore Ryan Moore on a 20-yard pass to give the Hurricanes a 24-3 lead.

Florida struggled from its opening possession. It had 14 passing yards and 30 total (16 yards on 14 carries) during the first quarter. It also went 1-for-5 on third down. By the time they headed to the bus, the reigning sentiment from Gator players seemed to be unanimous: 2005 can only bring a much better season than the one they just endured. "It was real frustrating to see yourself playing the way we did (in wins) against South Carolina and Florida State," Cornelius said. "Then for some reason, we just didn't execute tonight."

[Last modified July 3, 2005, 11:48:12]