|
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) -- Party on, Gators.
|  | | Florida tailback Robert Gillespie scored in the second quarter to help the Gators defeat rival Georgia. |
Led by a big-play defense and yet another crazy turn of Steve
Spurrier's quarterback carousel, Florida (No. 7 ESPN/USA Today, No. 8 AP) earned a 34-23 victory over
Georgia (No. 12 ESPN/USA Today, No. 13 AP) on Saturday in the game known as "The World's
Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party."
For all the revelry beforehand, nothing could beat the show
these bitter rivals put on inside, on the neutral turf of Alltel
Stadium.
This one wasn't decided until Alex Brown forced a Georgia fumble
with 5 minutes left, and Rex Grossman followed with perfectly
thrown 27-yard pass to Reche Caldwell that set up the clinching
touchdown.
It was a fantastic finish to a classic game, and it marked
Spurrier's 10th victory in 11 meetings with the rival he loves to
hate most.
"It's good to beat a team that beat us so many times,"
Spurrier said. "We were talking as coaches, and we realized we
were a combined 4-19 as players against them. So, it means a lot to
beat them."
Just as importantly, the game put Florida (7-1, 5-1) in command
for its eighth trip to the Southeastern Conference title game. It
also keeps the Gators alive in the national-title picture.
The Bulldogs (6-2, 4-2) left shaking their heads, bemoaning lost
opportunities and wondering what might have been in this, a season
in which they were expected to finally break through.
"We had some tough breaks that went against us," Georgia
quarterback Quincy Carter said. "But that's part of football. You
have to overcome them and make the best of it."
|
 |
|
|
Sat, October 28
Georgia had a chance, but they blew it. I don't know if they'll ever beat Florida.
Everybody had counted the Gators out, but now they are right back in it. This isn't the best Florida team we've seen in recent years. This team isn't as good as last year's team was, but they'll be excellent next year. With Rex Grossman struggling on the road, they still have some quarterback issues. But the Gators are certainly in the hunt.
They could get to the SEC championship game, and if they win that, they'll only have one loss on the year and will be right back in the thick of things. A coach that has been there and done that can get his players to believe they can do something even when no one else thinks they have the talent to do it. This may not be the best Florida team, but if Spurrier tell them they are, they will believe him. If a guy who's won the national title is telling you you can win the national title, you're inclined to believe him. Confidence is what every team needs at this time of the year.
|
|
|
Indeed, Georgia seemed to have captured all the momentum after
cutting a 10-point deficit to 27-23 and knowing the Florida offense
would be run by Grossman, the freshman Spurrier had replaced with
Jesse Palmer, only to see Palmer leave with a severely sprained
ankle.
The Bulldogs defense forced a Florida punt and Georgia's half of
the stadium looked primed for the capper to a thrilling comeback.
Then came Brown, who combined with Clint Mitchell to smash Carter
and force a fumble.
Grossman connected with Caldwell to put the ball at the 2.
Robert Gillespie scored on the next play and the Gators had their
victory. They need to beat South Carolina at home in two weeks to
win the SEC East.
As usual, there will be a quarterback debate before then,
although Spurrier said Palmer's injury looked bad enough to keep
him out at least a week.
That leaves Florida with Grossman, who threw interceptions on
his first two passes of the game, sending Spurrier into a
visor-tossing tizzy, the likes of which he hasn't shown in at least
three seasons.
"Rex still has a ways to go," Spurrier said. "I know y'all
named him a Heisman candidate after two games. But he's got a lot
to learn, a long way to go."
Grossman finished 12-of-24 for 152 yards and a touchdown to go
with the three picks.
"Obviously, I played terrible in the first half, but our
defense stepped up big and the rest of our offense stepped up,"
Grossman said. "I'm just glad we came out with the win, even
though I threw three picks and played terrible, actually."
Palmer wasn't much better. He fumbled his second snap, leading
to a turnover and a Georgia touchdown for a 17-9 lead.
Minutes later, Georgia appeared to be driving for a touchdown
that could have been a death blow.
But Florida cornerback Lito Sheppard made one of the best plays
of the season -- coming from nowhere to snatch Carter's pass, then
twisting and turning his way upfield for a 61-yard return.
Palmer found Gillespie in the flat for a 14-yard score and a
2-point conversion left it tied at 17 at halftime.
A tie was all Georgia had to show for the four first-half
turnovers it created -- not nearly enough in a game this big,
against an opponent that good.
"Definitely, that's the biggest play of the year right there,"
Georgia coach Jim Donnan said of the interception. "That's a big
momentum changer."
Carter, a junior, will likely leave Georgia 0-3 against the
Bulldogs' most bitter rival, although it's hard to blame this one
on him.
He finished 20-of-39 for 240 yards and one score, braving a
series of hard hits by a defense looking to test his sore left
shoulder. He even left briefly after falling hard on the left
shoulder.
His departure took away much of Georgia's option threat,
although missed opportunities will haunt the Bulldogs more than any
Xs and Os.
One that stood out came early, when tight end Randy McMichael
dropped a wide-open catch in the end zone, forcing Georgia to
settle for a field goal after Florida's second turnover. Georgia
led just 3-0 after Grossman's two early interceptions, both in good
field position.
"We missed some opportunities here," Carter said. "This
rivalry is about making big plays, and we didn't do it."
In addition to Sheppard's pick and the big forced fumble,
Marquand Manuel had an interception that stopped a Georgia scoring
threat and Byron Hardman had another on Georgia's final drive.
Palmer completed half his 12 passes for 95 yards. Jabar Gaffney
had six catches for 138 yards to surpass the 100-yard mark for the
fourth straight game.
Jeff Chandler, a Jacksonville native, also hit a 54-yard field
goal early in the third quarter to give the Gators a 20-17 lead. It
was the third-longest field goal in Florida history.
|
|
ALSO SEE
College Football Scoreboard
Georgia Clubhouse
Florida Clubhouse
|
