TBO.com - Tampa Bay Online
Tebow Continues To Break Records
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Published: November 11, 2007
COLUMBIA, S.C. - Florida QB Tim Tebow broke a tie Saturday with former Gator Emmitt Smith for the school's single-season rushing touchdown record when Tebow scored on a 5-yard run 2:14 into Florida's 51-31 win at South Carolina.
But Tebow wasn't done. After toppling Smith's record, Tebow set his sights on other players sacred to Southeastern Conference fans. With five rushing touchdowns Saturday, Tebow surpassed Herschel Walker and finished tied with Georgia's Garrison Hearst (1992), Alabama's Shaun Alexander (1999) and LSU's LaBrandon Toefield (2001) for the SEC single-season rushing touchdown record with 19.
Tebow also passed former Gators QB Danny Wuerffel (1996) for the SEC single-season record for touchdowns accounted for with 42. With two passing touchdowns Saturday, Tebow now has 23.
POUNCEY GOES DOWN: Florida G Maurkice Pouncey went down with a leg injury on the Gators' first possession and did not return. Sophomore Maurice Hurt replaced Pouncey at right guard.
The Gators got a scare in the second quarter when C Drew Miller went down. After laying on the field for a few minutes while he was examined by Florida's training staff, Miller left the field under his own power. He returned the following series.
FUMBLES AN ISSUE: Florida didn't punt in the first half, but the Gators had two drives end because of lost fumbles.
Late in the first quarter, WR Jarred Fayson fumbled a handoff, and South Carolina DE Ladi Ajiboye recovered on the Gators' 23-yard line. Two plays later, RB Cory Boyd scored a 2-yard touchdown.
In the second quarter, RB Brandon James caught a shovel pass and gained nine yards to the South Carolina 5-yard line before coughing up the ball following a tackle by FS Chris Hampton.
The Gamecocks also had ball-security issues. QB Blake Mitchell fumbled on the first play from scrimmage. The Gators recovered on the South Carolina 21-yard line and scored five plays later on a Tebow run.
DUELING DiMARCOS: PGA Tour veteran Chris DiMarco, who starred for Florida's golf team from 1987-90, introduced the Gators' starting lineups Saturday. But DiMarco may have had a divided loyalty Saturday, because his nephew, Patrick DiMarco, is a freshman fullback for the Gamecocks.
Patrick DiMarco, who is from Altamonte Springs, said earlier in the week that Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier, an avid golfer, accidentally called Patrick "Chris" on several occasions.
"He'd done it on the phone, too, when he recruited me," Patrick DiMarco told the Charleston (S.C.) Post and Courier. "I just kind of bit my lip. I was like, 'All right, my name's Patrick.' I don't mind it. I think he's getting it now. South Carolina running backs coach and former Florida RB Robert Gillespie had to straighten him out once, but ever since then, he's been good."
GATOR BITES: S Jamar Hornsby and RB Chevon Walker were left off the dress roster for the third consecutive week. ... Florida's offense had 18 first downs on 45 plays in the first half. ... Fayson's 22-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter was his third of the season and second in the past two games.
Andy Staples
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