Florida puts bite on Georgia

November 2, 2008 at 12:00a.m.

Associated Press

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Florida waited a year to celebrate against Georgia — and boy did the fifth-ranked Gators get to party.

Tim Tebow accounted for five touchdowns, Percy Harvin scored twice and the revenge-minded Gators thumped the Bulldogs 49-10 Saturday in one of the most anticipated matchups in the history of this storied rivalry.

Florida (7-1, 5-1) pretty much shut down Knowshon Moreno, took advantage of Georgia’s numerous mistakes and avenged last year’s 42-30 loss in which the brazen Bulldogs used a full-team, end-zone celebration to energize them.

The Gators won for the 16th time in the last 19 meetings, and this one was one of the most lopsided of all the one-sided affairs.

Tebow ran for a season-high three touchdowns, including two in the decisive third quarter. Florida outscored Georgia (7-2, 4-2) 21-0 in the third, scoring twice after turnovers.

No. 2 Alabama 35, Arkansas State 0

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Mark Ingram rushed for 113 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries and Rashad Johnson scored on a 32-yard interception return in Alabama’s victory over Arkansas State.

The Crimson Tide (9-0) turned in a dominant all-around performance to set the stage for next week’s showdown at No. 15 LSU in the type of game that had been a stumbling block for recent ’Bama teams.

No. 9 Oklahoma State 59, Iowa State 17

STILLWATER, Okla. — Dez Bryant caught four touchdown passes, Zac Robinson passed for 395 yards and Oklahoma State rebounded from its first loss by routing Iowa State.

Bryant, the Cowboys’ star sophomore, had nine catches for 171 yards, including touchdowns on plays of 11, 26, 80 and 1 yards, as Oklahoma State clinched its first 8-win season since 2003.

The Cowboys are 8-1 for only the third time ever and 4-1 in conference play for the first time since the Big 12 began play in 1996.

Georgia Tech 31, No. 16 Florida State 28

ATLANTA — Marcus Sims fumbled into the end zone to end No. 16 Florida State’s comeback hopes in the final minute, and Georgia Tech held on to beat the Seminoles.

The Yellow Jackets (7-2 overall, 4-2 ACC) beat Florida State for the first time since 1975, after going 0-12 against Bobby Bowden and the Seminoles in the ACC.

No. 14 Missouri 31, Baylor 28

WACO, Texas — Chase Daniel passed for 318 yards and three touchdowns and Jeff Wolfert kicked a 34-yard field goal with 2:31 remaining to help Missouri escape with a victory over Baylor in a game the Tigers could have put out of reach early.

Baylor (3-6, 1-4 Big 12), which had twice come back from 14-point deficits but never led, had one last chance late. But Brock Christopher’s interception with 1:40 left — the first thrown by freshman Robert Griffin in 210 attempts this season — finally clinched it for the Tigers (7-2, 3-2).

Arkansas 30, No. 19 Tulsa 23

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Dennis Johnson returned a kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown in the final minute of the third quarter, and Arkansas snapped Tulsa’s unbeaten run.

The Golden Hurricane (8-1) had a chance to tie it in the final minute, but David Johnson threw incomplete on fourth down from the Arkansas 7.

The Razorbacks (4-5) jumped ahead 17-0 in the first quarter, but Johnson threw for 322 yards and a touchdown, and Charles Clay scored a pair of TDs on the way to tying it at 23.

California 26, No. 23 Oregon 16

BERKELEY, Calif. — Marcus Ezeff recovered Oregon’s fumble on a punt return to set up Shane Vereen’s 2-yard touchdown run with 8:57 to play, and California persevered through a steady rain for a victory over the 23rd-ranked Ducks.