|
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) -- Steve Spurrier couldn't understand all
the fuss about Mississippi State beating his third-ranked Florida
Gators.
|  | | Robert Gillespie tries to jump over the Mississippi St. defense as Gators' quarterback Jesse Palmer looks on. |
"Mississippi State ought to be embarrassed tearing down the
goal posts after beating this team," the Florida coach said.
But down they went, both of them, after Mississippi State beat
the defenseless Gators 47-35 on Saturday.
Florida scored on the game's last play but couldn't even attempt
a conversion.
Spurrier openly questioned his defense's effort after last
week's poor performance against Kentucky, and saw no improvement
against the Bulldogs (3-1, 1-1 SEC).
Dicenzo Miller ran for 172 yards and Dontae Walker had 156 for
Mississippi State.
Mississippi State gained 517 yards, 351 on the ground. Miller
and Walker each had a touchdown run, and Wayne Madkin ran for two
scores and threw for one.
It was the most yards rushing and points allowed by Florida
since a 62-24 loss to Nebraska in the 1996 Fiesta Bowl. The Gators
(4-1, 2-1) had minus-78 yards rushing, the lowest ever under
Spurrier.
Spurrier's postgame news conference was brief and his voice
hoarse after a day spent screaming from the sidelines. Defensive
coordinator Jon Hoke was left to explain the second straight game
filled with missed tackles.
"I can't tackle for them," Hoke said. "But the communication
on how to tackle is not getting taught.
"We'll look at every position from a standpoint that something
is missing. I'm accountable for that."
Florida linebacker Daryl Owens said the players are responsible
for Florida's first loss to an unranked opponent under Spurrier --
breaking a streak of 72 games that was the best in the nation.
"You have to want to make that tackle," Owens said. "We don't
want to tackle."
Florida's offense wasn't much better against Mississippi State's
pressure defense. The Gators turned the ball over three times,
allowed seven sacks and missed three fourth-and-1 attempts in the
first half.
It was Mississippi State's first victory over a top three team
since beating No. 1 Alabama in 1980.
The Bulldogs were coming off a 23-19 loss to South Carolina that
knocked them out of the Top 25. They figure they will be back in this
week after the nationally televised victory.
"Everybody with electricity saw it," Madkin said. "They ought
to know how good we are."
Florida trailed 31-23 and was driving with 10 minutes left when
the Gators' shotgun formation misfired.
The Gators had a first-and-10 at their own 49, when two straight
snaps by David Jorgensen sailed over Rex Grossman's head. The plays
resulted in a 46-yard loss and a third-and-56 for Florida.
Florida coach Steve Spurrier elected to have his quarterback run
through the end zone for a safety, giving the Bulldogs the ball and
a 33-23 lead with 9:22 left.
"I thought it'd save us 20 yards," Spurrier said. "Two points
didn't seem to matter at that point."
The strategy seemed to backfire when Walker broke a 61-yard run
all the way to the Gators' 1. Madkin sneaked over on the next play
to make it 40-23 with 8:16 left.
Spurrier used three quarterbacks, including one drive when
starter Jessie Palmer, Brock Berlin and Grossman all took snaps.
Palmer suffered a sprained ankle when he was sacked for a safety in
the first quarter and didn't play the second half.
All three of the quarterbacks received a steady dose of blitzes.
A sack by Conner Stephens forced a fumble that set up the
Bulldogs' first score of the second half.
Mississippi State took over after recovering the fumble at the
Florida 35. After seven straight runs by Miller, Walker leaped into
the end zone on third-and-goal.
Madkin hit Donald Lee for the 2-point conversion to give the
Bulldogs a 24-10 lead at 8:04 of the third quarter and send the
record-breaking crowd of 43,816 at Scott Field into a frenzy.
As the fans shook the bleachers, the Mississippi State players
danced on the sidelines.
Florida quickly put an end to the "Dog Pound Rock."
Grossman hit Jabar Gaffney with two touchdown passes in less
than four minutes to cut the lead to 24-23 at 3:48 of the third.
Jeff Chandler missed the PAT on the second touchdown.
But Florida's defense again went soft on Mississippi State's
next possession. The Bulldogs put together an 80-yard, 11-play
drive, with Madkin teaming with Larry Huntington on a 17-yard
touchdown pass to make it 31-23 with 12:46 left in the fourth.
It was the third time this season No. 3 has been defeated and
despite what Spurrier said, Mississippi State coach Jackie Sherrill
thought it was a win worth celebrating.
"This is the biggest win since I've been here," Sherrill said.
|
|
ALSO SEE
College Football Scoreboard
Florida Clubhouse
Mississippi State Clubhouse
AUDIO/VIDEO
 A hoarse Steve Spurrier said the better team won.
wav: 115 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
|
