|
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Rex Grossman struggled early against
Vanderbilt's blitzing defense. The Florida's defense gave the
redshirt freshman plenty of chances to work the kinks out.
The Gators intercepted five passes and Grossman threw for a
career-high 334 yards and two touchdowns as Florida (No. 5 ESPN/USA Today, No. 6 AP) beat
Vanderbilt 43-20 on Saturday.
|  | | Taylor Jacobs ran in for a 4-yard touchdown, one of three rushing TDs by the Gators. |
Florida will play No. 22 South Carolina next week for the
Southeastern Conference's Eastern Division title.
"This is a good win, but the big game is next week," Florida
coach Steve Spurrier said.
It was only a week ago that Spurrier benched Grossman after he
threw interceptions on his first two passes in a victory over
Georgia. With Jesse Palmer out with a severely sprained ankle,
Spurrier had only Brock Berlin as his other choice at quarterback.
"Hopefully, today was a good learning experience for him,"
Spurrier said of Grossman.
Vanderbilt (2-7, 0-6) took advantage of Florida's problems with
penalties and an interception and led twice in the first half, the
last at 13-10 following a 21-yard field goal by John Markham with
2:39 remaining before halftime.
Then Grossman took over.
He was perfect in hitting 5-of-5 passes for 51 yards, including
a 2-yard toss to Reche Caldwell 27 seconds before halftime for a
17-13 lead.
Florida never trailed again and scored the next 19 points,
including a 7-yard TD pass from Grossman to Jabar Gaffney in the
third quarter. Jeff Chandler, who kicked a 30-yard field goal in
the first period, added field goals of 34 and 18 yards in the
quarter.
Left tackle Mike Pearson said Grossman definitely was flustered
early in the game as Vandy put the pressure on the quarterback who
was starting only his fourth game, first outside of the state of
Florida. But Grossman completed 21 of 34 passes with only one
interception, and he said he figured out Vandy's defense with
everything clicking just before halftime.
"I knew it on paper, but once you get out there and see what
they're doing, it's a lot easier to check off," he said.
The Gators had their best defensive performance of the season,
holding Vanderbilt to 199 total yards, and have forced a record 33
turnovers this season. Florida finished with 475 yards total
offense as Taylor Jacobs, Earnest Graham and Robert Gillespie each
added rushing touchdowns.
"You can't turn the ball over as many times as we did against a
great football team and expect to win," Vanderbilt coach Woody
Widenhofer said. "At this point, we're pretty fragile. When you
don't get some calls, it wears on you. I know it wears on me."
Those calls came in the first half when Florida was struggling
to get going.
The Gators were flagged five times on one drive and had nine
penalties for 75 yards in the half, and Vandy thought it had
recovered two fumbles only to have them taken away by the
officials.
Grossman lost the ball after being hit by Vandy lineman Jamie
Winborn in the first quarter, and one of the Commodores picked it
up and was headed to the end zone. The officials gave the ball to
Florida and ruled a 5-yard loss, which Spurrier called a good break
since Grossman's arm was going forward with no receiver nearby.
The second occurred just after the Commodores tied it at 10 on a
47-yard field goal by Markham. Grossman dropped the ball inside the
Florida 20 as he put his arm back to pass, and Vandy safety
Jonathan Shaub recovered only to have the officials call it an
incomplete pass.
Jimmy Williams left nothing to chance on the next possession
when he stepped in front of Caldwell at the Vanderbilt 41 and
intercepted Grossman's pass. Williams couldn't get in the end zone
despite a 53-yard return, and Vandy settled for Markham's second
field goal.
Matt Stewart intercepted Brock Berlin's pass in the fourth
quarter and returned it 25 yards for a TD.
|
|
ALSO SEE
College Football Scoreboard
Florida Clubhouse
Vanderbilt Clubhouse
|
