SEC Florida survives scare in stopping Arkansas

The Gators led 38-7 late in the third quarter.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) -- Chris Leak did just about everything for Florida on Saturday -- except preserve a victory.
Linebacker Channing Crowder did that.
Leak threw for a career-high 322 yards and three touchdowns, and the No. 16 Gators held off another late rally to beat Arkansas 45-30.
Florida extended its winning streak against the Razorbacks to five games -- every matchup since Arkansas joined the Southeastern Conference in 1992.
Much like last season, the Razorbacks (3-2, 1-1 SEC) had a comeback fall short.
Florida stumbles
The Gators (3-1, 2-1) led 38-7 late in the third quarter before the Razorbacks scored 23 consecutive points. Quarterback Matt Jones, who leads the league in total offense, hurt the Gators running and passing. He scrambled effectively and picked apart Florida's secondary.
But he also threw three costly interceptions, including one that ended the rally.
Trailing 38-30 with less than five minutes to play, Jones threw behind Carlos Ousley. The receiver reached back with his left hand and tipped the ball into Crowder's arms. Crowder returned the interception to the Arkansas 26.
"It was time for somebody on the defense to step up and make a play," Crowder said. "Luckily, I was the guy. The ball pretty much fell in my hands."
Leak then found Dallas Baker in the end zone for a 2-yard score to put the game out of reach.
"We waited a little too late," Arkansas coach Houston Nutt said. "And you cannot do that against a good team."
Leak completed 23 of 38 passes and topped his career high of 286 yards set two weeks ago in a loss at Tennessee.
"Chris is a great player, and those guys rally around him," coach Ron Zook said. "He's going to continue to improve. Talk about a guy who's calm and cool. He don't ever change."
Just enough
Baker caught six passes for 89 yards, fellow receiver Andre Caldwell had a 61-yard touchdown run on a reverse and the defense did just enough to slow down Jones -- who broke Clint Stoerner's school record for total yards.
Leak escaped sacks, was accurate throwing on the run and led the Gators to their most points in any quarter under Zook, in his third season. After a lackluster opening period, Florida scored four touchdowns in the second quarter -- finding the end zone on each possession.
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