The Florida Gators ratcheted their ranking up to 12-0 on Saturday by beating Florida State's Seminoles with a decisive 37-10. And quarterback Tim Tebow, a 2007 Heisman Trophy Winner, had another stellar game. It's fitting that the record-setting Gators games should have had senior Tebow with a whopping 5 touchdowns and top of his game play, because it was his last home game as a Gator.
Saturday's game was the home finale, and the crowd of almost 91,000 fans sent him off in style with emotions running high for both Tebow and spectators. There's still the SEC Championship game, but Tebow's scored his last touchdown at his home stadium. As Tebow left the field for the last time, the fans cheered and gave him a standing ovation, many wearing his famed black eyepatches, and a tearful Tebow hugged coach Meyer at the 30-yard line.
The Gators are on a 22 game winning streak, and have achieved a 12-0 season for only the second time the school's history. It's the first time in Gators history that they've reached 12-0 in the regular season, however. The first time in 1995 included a post-season game. Tebow also now holds the record of a total 11,389 career yards.
Many who already thought that Bobby Bowden, the Seminoles coach for over 3 decades, should retire are renewed in their opinion that it's time for a new coach at Florida State. The Seminoles are 6 for 6, and came out of the gate at the beginning of the season with less than great gameplay. Bowden ranks 2nd, however, in college football coaches with most career victories overall.
Other notable Gators include tight end Aaron Hernandez who had 2 touchdowns, 5 catches and 83 yards, a career high for him. Jeff Demps had 7 carries, more than other players, and a total of 106 yards rushing. Quarterback John Brantley once again took over for Tebow during the game, this time early in the 4th quarter. He finished the game 2 of 2 with 13 yards.
Florida shut out the Seminoles for the first half, scoring 3 touchdowns and one field goal. They'd forced punts 4 times in the first half. The Gators first touchdown came just less than 7 minutes into the first quarter, with Tebow orchestrating a shovel pass reaching 18 yards to Hernandez. They forced the Seminoles to punt and then running back Chris Rainey helped the ball 55 yards of a 69 yard drive. Strugis kicked and scored the 3-point goal giving the gators 10 at the beginning of the second quarter.
An 80-yard drive, the longest of this season, gave Tebow an 18-yard rushing touchdown, his career 55th. With the extra point, it was Gators 17-0. Just over 2 minutes until halftime, Gators got possession and Hernandez caught a 37-yard pass from Tebow for the score, putting the score at 24-0
Riley Cooper caught the first touchdown pass of the second half, then FSU scored for the first time with 3 seconds left in the third quarter. Tebow got his 56th rushing touchdown during the game, and ended the season with his best performance this year.
Photo Credits:sassycrafter
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