Colleges

Tebow show carries Gators

Tim Tebow's seven TDs lift UF past Steve Spurrier's Gamecocks.

By ANTONYA ENGLISH, Times Staff Writer
Published November 11, 2007

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Since his shoulder injury one month ago, Tim Tebow hasn't been able to avoid the questions.

Would he be hampered by the injury the remainder of the season? Would it keep him from running the way he did earlier in the year?

Apparently, the answer is no. And no.

On a day when Florida got no help from other SEC teams in its quest for an SEC title, the sophomore quarterback took it upon himself to make sure the Gators did more than enough to help themselves.

Tebow was 22-of-32 for 304 yards with one interception, and had 26 carries for 120 yards to help Florida hang on to its slim SEC title hopes with a 51-31 victory over the Gamecocks in front of 81,215 at Williams-Brice stadium.

Florida is now 2-1 under Urban Meyer against Spurrier. It was the most points scored against a Spurrier team since the 1995 Fiesta Bowl, when Nebraska routed Florida 62-24.

"I think that was a Heisman performance," Meyer said of Tebow. "That was one of the finest performances I've ever seen. With Percy receiver Harvin sick and not being here, we made the decision to ride that horse."

And the horse responded. The sophomore quarterback had five rushing touchdowns in the game, which gave him 19 on the season, a Florida single-season record. Tebow is in a three-way tie for most in a single season in the SEC with Georgia's Garrison Hearst, Alabama's Shaun Alexander and LSU's LaBrandon Toefield.

Tebow has totaled 42 touchdowns this season, breaking the SEC single-season record held by Danny Wuerffel (41 in 1996).

"I thought we talked about not letting him run it in, but I guess they didn't hear it well enough," Spurrier said. "How many times, did he run it, two? He ran it five? I lost count. ... We got our butts kicked, that's all you can say."

Florida (7-3, 5-3 SEC) led by 13 within the first four minutes after capitalizing on two turnovers: a fumbled snap exchange on the first play that led to a Tebow 5-yard touchdown run and a blocked Ryan Succop punt by John Curtis that led to a 22-yard touchdown pass from Tebow to Jarred Fayson. Joey Ijjas' extra point hit the right upright.

South Carolina rallied, scoring on a 5-yard pass from quarterback Blake Mitchell to Emanuel Cook and a 2-yard run by Cory Boyd to take a 14-13 lead late in the first quarter.

Florida scored on its next two possessions, the second touchdown set up by safety Tony Joiner's interception.

South Carolina (6-5, 3-5) entered with the nation's No. 1 pass defense, allowing 149 yards per game, but gave up 304. Senior receiver Andre Caldwell had a game- and career-high 11 receptions for 148 yards, moving into second on the UF career receptions list with 164, ahead of Errict Rhett and Willie Jackson.

The Gators held South Carolina to 68 rushing yards.

The Gators' season-long goal was to be in the mix for the SEC East title in the final month. They've done all they can. The rest is up to its SEC rivals Georgia and Tennessee. Florida needs a loss by both Georgia and Tennessee to force a three-way tie, which the Gators would win.

"The light at the end of the tunnel is we're still there," Meyer said.

Now, they wait. And hope.

S. Carolina 31

[Last modified November 11, 2007, 00:56:56]