College football: UF-FSU

Return of the swamp kings

After two poor games, the Gators' defense plays like it did early in the season in handing the Seminoles their worst loss since 2001.

By ANTONYA ENGLISH
Published November 27, 2005

	[Times photo: James Borchuck]
	The victorious Gators gather in the north end zone and hoist their helmets while singing the school fight song. Florida finished unbeaten at home this season with the romp over archrival Florida State.
	[Times photo: Stefanie Boyar]
	Fans celebrate on the sideline with the Gators mascots in midst of arguably Florida's biggest win and best defensive performance of the season.
	[Times photo: James Borchuck]
	George Edmundson Jr., a.k.a. Florida mainstay Mr. Two Bits, center, eggs on Gators fans during the second quarter.

GAINESVILLE - After giving up 71 points in its past two games, the Florida defense had become the latest target of ridicule. The unit that early in the season was Florida's saving grace suddenly looked like its Achilles' heel.

With archrival Florida State coming to town, the No.19 Gators spent all week telling each other they had to play well - for the seniors, for an undefeated season at home, and most of all to get back its pride.

And with what coach Urban Meyer called the biggest win of the season, the Florida defense rose to the occasion, making plays that led to 24 points in a 34-7 win over No.23 Florida State in front of 90,669.

"That was a great win, and this was a great night," Meyer said.

Florida intercepted Drew Weatherford twice, caused two fumbles, had five sacks and held the Seminoles to 49 rushing yards.

"Sometimes, you've got to feel as though no team can beat you," an emotional senior Jeremy Mincey said. "Even though we lost a couple of games, you still have to have that feeling. Florida State's offense isn't bad, but we just outplayed them. We came out with our heads high. We practiced hard, and we deserve this victory."

"We knew we had to play really well on defense because they have an excellent defense themselves," co-defensive coordinator Charlie Strong said. "We felt like we could beat them on a four-man rush, and that's what we did. We four man-rushed them most of the day, and we didn't have to blitz as much."

While Florida (8-3, 5-3 SEC) won with its best defensive effort of the season, Florida State (7-4, 5-3 ACC) suffered its worst loss since 2001 because of turnovers and an inability to get its offense going. The Seminoles, who entered leading the ACC in total offense (400.6 yards per game), were held to 285.

"We did exactly what we weren't supposed to do to win," Weatherford said.

Gator players said they were motivated by last week's comments by FSU linebacker Ernie Sims and running back Lorenzo Booker.

"They were on their high horse and talking a lot of trash," said linebacker Brandon Siler, who recovered his SEC-leading seventh fumble early in the fourth. "Ernie guaranteed a win. Booker said he's wasting his time coming to the Swamp. Well, we said come on down to the Swamp and we'll show you how to control yourself.

"They came to the Swamp, and we whipped them. We felt unstoppable the whole game. Booker got us alive and kicking, and I thank him for that."

Actually, a big second-quarter play really got Florida going. Trailing 7-0, the Seminoles' Kyler Hall intercepted Chris Leak and returned it 13 yards to the Florida 27. But a rush for no gain and two incompletions later, the Seminoles opted to let Gary Cismesia attempt a 44-yard field goal.

It was a costly decision.

Marcus Thomas blocked the kick, and Reggie Lewis returned it 52 yards for a touchdown and 14-0 lead with 9:48 left in the first half.

"That was the play of the day," Meyer said.

"The blocked field goal was big," FSU coach Bobby Bowden said. "Instead of 7-3 at halftime, it was 14-0. It seemed like turnovers were our downfall."

And there were more.

Trailing by 17 late in the third, Weatherford was intercepted by senior Jarvis Herring, who returned it 26 yards. Weatherford has 13 interceptions in the past six games. The play set up a 34-yard field goal by Chris Hetland to give Florida a 20-0 lead six seconds in the fourth.

The interception was the first of three turnovers for FSU in a 7:48 span, including fumbles by Leon Washington and De'Cody Fagg, (caused by Herring, recovered by Avery Atkins). FSU scored its only touchdown on a 5-yard pass from Weatherford to Fagg with 6:35 left.

Both teams struggled offensively in the first half. The Gators' had minus-5 rushing yards on 14 carries, the fewest for an FSU opponent this season, and 79 total yards. FSU had 43 rushing yards, 20 passing. The Gators gained 205 total yards in the second half.

Leak, who has had an up-and-down season under Meyer's new system, finished 19-of-28 for 211 yards and two touchdowns. Chad Jackson had nine receptions for 97 yards and is now seven receptions shy of tying Carlos Alvarez's season record set in 1969.

For the Seminoles, who have lost three in a row for the first time since 1983, they will enter the ACC championship Saturday in Jacksonville searching for the team that was ranked No. 4 six weeks ago.

And with the lingering question: What's wrong?

"That's a darn good question," Bowden said. "We started out the season, it looked like we might go 11-1 or 10-1 or something like that. Then all of a sudden, we just ... it's hard for me to say. I know this: We were not as good physically up front offensively as some of the teams we were facing. And then our defense went through a bad spell. We just went through a bad spell. It's not like it's the first time it's ever happened to me.

"It's the first time in a long time. If I can get by this every 20 years, I'm okay."

[Last modified November 27, 2005, 12:49:25]