Colleges

Gators answer coach's call

Urban Meyer's calculations come true, and UF suddenly controls the SEC East again.

By ANTONYA ENGLISH, Times Staff Writer
Published October 21, 2007

Florida quarterback Tim Tebow eyes a Kentucky defender as he runs the ball during the second half of their college football game in Lexington, Ky., Saturday, Oct. 20, 2007. Florida won the game, 45-37.
	[AP]

LEXINGTON, Ky. - It all played out exactly as coach Urban Meyer had been telling his Florida Gators all week.

After Kentucky defeated then-No.1 LSU last weekend, Meyer began hitting speed dial on his phone, contacting every player he could find at home during the Gators' off week and telling each one the very same thing.

If we handle our business, the rest will take care of itself. We're still in control.

Last week, it might have been a motivational tool. Today, it's stone cold reality.

With its 45-37 victory over No.8 Kentucky in front of a record 71,024 at Commonwealth Stadium, the 14th-ranked Gators put themselves right back atop the SEC East standings. Florida's win, coupled with losses by Tennessee and South Carolina, puts the Gators back in a first-place tie with South Carolina and Georgia.

If the Gators win out - in games over Georgia, South Carolina and Vanderbilt - they win the East.

"That feels good to have it back in our hands and not have to worry about what all the other teams are doing," senior receiver Andre Caldwell said. "We just need to go out and play our game."

Florida 5-2, 3-2 SEC has now won 21 straight over Kentucky (6-2, 2-2). It also ended a two-game losing streak for the Gators.

"That was a big win against a quality football team," Meyer said. "A very quality football team."

Saturday's game turned out to be exactly what most anticipated: a wild, offensive shootout. Florida had 427 yards of offense, including 256 passing yards. Kentucky amassed 512 yards, led by 415 passing from Heisman hopeful quarterback Andre Woodson (35-of-50).

Florida scored on three of its five first-half possessions: a 10-yard pass from Tebow to Cornelius Ingram, a 66-yard pass to Louis Murphy and a 1-yard pass to freshman tight end Aaron Hernandez, his first of the season.

But it was the Gators' final drive that rejuvenated its season and, according to the players, gave the Gators newfound confidence. In losses to Auburn and LSU, Florida couldn't finish the game. Saturday, it did.

After Kentucky pulled within 38-31 on a 7-yard pass from Woodson to Dicky Lyons Jr., the Gators took over with 3:35 remaining.

Briefly, Meyer and offensive coordinator Dan Mullen discussed taking a knee four downs to try to run the clock out. It wouldn't take up enough time, so Florida decided it had to score.

"Coach Meyer said let's take the shot right here," Mullen said. "If the head coach says you can do it. ..."

Brandon James' 26-yard return set the Gators up at their 43-yard line and four plays later, with 2:06 remaining, Tebow hit sophomore receiver Percy Harvin for a 40-yard pass that set the Gators up first and goal at the 2-yard line. Tebow then ran the ball in for the score.

"We have worked on that a lot in practice and when you have great receivers, you can put that out there for them to make a play," said Tebow, who was 18-of-26 for 256 yards and had 20 rushes for 78 yards.

Florida led 28-10 early in the third quarter, but Meyer said he knew matching Kentucky score for score was the only way to win.

In the second half, Florida scored off of Caldwell's 8-yard reception, Harvin's 24-yard run, Tebow's 2-yard run and a 21-yard field goal by Joey Ijjas.

"What you saw today, the points we scored with so many different weapons, that's the way this offense is supposed to be played," said Murphy, who had four catches for a team-high 91 yards. "When we have everybody healthy and we can spread it out like that, you see what can happen."

Though still porous and prone to giving up big plays, the defense came up big when it had to.

The Gators had six sacks for 38 yards and some key defensive stops during Kentucky drives in the second half.

66 Florida quarterback Tim Tebow's 66-yard first quarter touchdown to Louis Murphy was the Gators' longest pass play of the season. The score gave Florida a 14-7 lead.

4 passes for touchdowns, a career high. A potential fifth slipped through Cornelius Ingram's fingers.

[Last modified October 20, 2007, 23:04:42]