College football: Florida 49-Vandy 42(2OT)

Gators need overtimes to escape Commodores

The Gators blow a lead, but Chris Leak's touchdowns and Reggie Lewis' pick win it.

By ANTONYA ENGLISH
Published November 6, 2005

	[Times photo: James Borchuck]
	Florida QB Chris Leak led the team in rushing in the first half with 42 yards and one TD in five attempts.

GAINESVILLE - Vanderbilt entered Saturday's game against Florida with just a .500 record, but you wouldn't have known it by the way it played.

Just how tough was it? In less than than four minutes, Vandy went from trailing by 14 to forcing overtime.

But Chris Leak hit Jemalle Cornelius in the back of the end zone with a 16-yard pass to give Florida a 49-42 double-overtime win at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

"That's what big-time college football is all about," Leak said. "That's why you come here, for games like this. It was a lot of fun for everybody."

After Florida took its final lead, Reggie Lewis came up with, arguably, the biggest play of his career.

Lewis, in the game because of an injury to senior Vernell Brown, intercepted Jay Cutler, sending the Florida bench into a raucous celebration.

"This was a great win," Florida coach Urban Meyer said. "I thought our team fought through a lot of adversity. At one point, we had five starters out. ... This is a team that just won't give in."

Saturday's game produced several injuries for the Gators, one costly. Brown broke his left ankle and is expected to miss 4-6 weeks. Receiver Dallas Baker (back contusion) and running back DeShawn Wynn (bruised shoulder) also missed the second half.

"We had a lot of guys out there that probably should be out there at some point, but maybe not right now," Meyer said.

Whatever the Gators' issues, Vanderbilt (4-5, 2-4 SEC) took advantage.

The Commodores scored first in overtime on sophomore Jeff Jennings' 8-yard run for a 42-35 lead. Florida tied it a 9-yard pass from Leak to Chad Jackson.

Leak finished 32-of-41 for 257 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 67 yards.

"I saw a quarterback take control of the game," Meyer said. It looked like a game the Gators would win in regulation.

But with 2:17 left, Vanderbilt pulled within 35-28 on George Smith's 2-yard catch. The Commodores then recovered an onside kick and began the 57-yard tying drive, ensuring overtime with a 6-yard pass from Cutler to Earl Bennett with 54 seconds left, Cutler, who leads the SEC in total offense and passing offense, was 28-of-42 for 361 yards, a career high.

"I think he's a heck of a quarterback," Meyer said. "He's an NFL quarterback on a team that is playing well."

For the first 31/2 quarters, the Gator defense was again the dominant force. It forced three turnovers (two fumbles, one interception) that led to 21 of the Gators' 28 points. On the flip side, the defense gave up the most points since allowing 35 to Alabama on Oct. 1. Fourteen came in the final four minutes of regulation.

The victory kept Florida's SEC title hopes alive, and now the Gators (7-2, 5-2) can turn their attention to the game many fans have had circled on their calendars since last season: the showdown with South Carolina and former coach Steve Spurrier.

A Florida win coupled with a Georgia loss to Auburn would give Florida the SEC East title. "We've got to shore up some mistakes," Meyer said. "We lost one of our best covers, and we'll be going against a team that likes to pass a lot."

In Wynn's absence, freshman Markus Manson had 18 carries for 61 yards and one touchdown. The Gators had 191 rushing yards, 257 passing. Vanderbilt finished with 58 rushing yards and 361 passing. As it has often been in the past, Vanderbilt (4-5, 2-4) didn't make it easy for the Gators - right from the start. It took a 7-0 lead on its first possession with a 14-yard pass from Cutler to Bennett. It was the first time this season the Gators trailed at home.

[Last modified November 6, 2005, 05:25:39]