Colleges

'Scoop and score' stuns Vols

Dustin Doe's fumble return for a touchdown swings the momentum back in Florida's favor.

By BRYAN JONES, Times Correspondent
Published September 16, 2007

GAINESVILLE - Tennessee's comeback bid was quashed in a few seconds.

With Florida leading 28-20 with 5:27 remaining in the third quarter, Dustin Doe scooped up a fumble by Arian Foster and took it in for a touchdown.

It changed the flow of the game as the Gators pounded the Volunteers from there en route to a 59-20 victory.

"It was phenomenal," Doe said. "You live for opportunities like these.

"(It was) game-changing."

Foster's fumble appeared to be unforced as he did not completely secure the ball on the exchange from quarterback Erik Ainge.

Because Ainge has a broken finger on his right hand, the right-hander has been handing off with his left hand.

"Whether it was (Foster's) arm that came down on it or me getting him the ball late, I'm not quite sure," Ainge said.

After a scrum of players failed to grab hold of the ball, it bounced to Doe, who had a clear path to the end zone 18 yards away.

"Scoop and score," Doe said. "That's all I was thinking about. Scoop and score."

Doe's big play came on the heels of a big defensive play by the Volunteers.

Tennessee appeared to be on the verge of bouncing back from a 28-6 deficit. Ainge drove the Vols 64 yards in 1:05, capped by a 15-yard touchdown to Chris Brown with 25 seconds left in the first half.

Eric Berry's 96-yard interception return midway through the third cut it to 28-20. Tennessee then forced a punt, taking the air out of the crowd and pushing the momentum in its favor.

That swing lasted for one play, when the Gators' defensive touchdown put them back in the driver's seat for good.

Florida's offense took control of the game from there and put Tennessee away.

"It's 28-20, and we're talking about going for two the next time we score," Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer said. "All of a sudden, the ball pops out, and it was a huge swing.

"It just went downhill from there."

Florida's defense had forced just two turnovers in two games entering Saturday. But the unit came up with three, including two interceptions, against the Volunteers.

Coach Urban Meyer stressed the importance of Doe's play as well as a first-quarter interception by cornerback Markihe Anderson.

That came after Tennessee reached the Florida 11.

"Those are difference makers," Meyer said. "Those are game-changers."

[Last modified September 15, 2007, 23:05:11]