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Gators-LSU: Opportunity Lost

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Andy Staples/The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 7, 2007

BATON ROUGE, La. - Urban Meyer sat stone-faced late Saturday night in the very spot where his eyes glistened after a loss two years ago. This time, the University of Florida coach gritted his teeth - even after a loss that could have driven any coach to tears.

Just when it appeared the Gators would crowbar their way back into the national title race, magical Tiger Stadium and the top-ranked team that calls it home cast a spell to doom them. LSU stormed back from 10 down in the fourth quarter to beat Florida, 28-24, and crush any hope the ninth-ranked Gators might have had of repeating as national champions. Florida (4-2, 2-2 Southeastern Conference) likely will have to win the rest of its conference games in order to win the SEC's Eastern Division.

Tailback Jacob Hester crashed in from the 2-yard line with 1:09 remaining to give the Tigers their first lead of the night. His run capped a 15-play, 60-yard drive that swallowed 8:11 of the fourth quarter and left the Gators virtually no time to come back.

The Tigers (6-0, 3-0) converted fourth-down plays on all four of their scoring drives, using a fake field goal to keep one first-half possession alive and handing off to Hester for a yard on fourth-and-1 from the Florida 6-yard line on the winning drive.

'Very frustrating,' Meyer said of the fourth-down plays before gritting his teeth again.

Florida led 24-14 when LSU defensive end Kirston Pittman intercepted a Tim Tebow pass that had bounced off the helmet of Cornelius Ingram. Five plays later, LSU quarterback Matt Flynn capped a 17-yard drive with a 2-yard pass to receiver Demetrius Byrd.

Until the interception, the Gators had dominated. Florida scored more points (17) in the first half than the Tigers had given up in a game all season. Florida also gained two fewer yards in the first half than LSU's per-game defensive average (174), and the Gators rushed for 54 more yards than the Tigers were giving up per game (39).

Florida's first touchdown seemed eerily reminiscent of the Tebow-to-Tate Casey 'jump pass' that helped turn last year's LSU game in Florida's favor. Once again, everyone in the stadium thought Tebow would run. He took the snap and ran left, tucking the ball as he reached the hash marks. The tuck drew LSU defenders away from tailback Kestahn Moore, and Tebow flicked a pass over their heads to a wide-open Moore.

Tebow scored Florida's second touchdown because the Tigers were convinced he would throw. Five Gators lined up wide on third-and-goal from the 9, but Tebow waited for the defense to spread and sprinted up the middle for a score.

Trailing 17-7, LSU took the second-half kickoff and didn't give the ball back until 7 minutes, 3 seconds later, after Keiland Williams danced in for a 5-yard score to cap a 15-play, 70-yard drive.

During the television timeout following the extra point, the stadium public-address announcer boomed news of Southern California's loss throughout Tiger Stadium. Most in the stadium-record crowd of 92,910 leaped from their seats and screamed at the news that - if the Tigers could rally and win - they would claim the No. 1 spot in every major poll. That enthusiasm tumbled down to the LSU sideline, where players celebrated.

'When the fans found out USC had lost,' Tigers coach Les Miles said, 'they kind of gave us a wake-up call.'

The Tigers didn't immediately awaken. Less than three minutes later, two LSU defensive backs raced to cover Florida receiver Percy Harvin, leaving none to cover Ingram. Tebow hit Ingram across the middle for a 37-yard touchdown that stretched Florida's lead to 10.

The Gators committed turnovers on their next two possessions, opening the door for the Tigers to barge through. Sitting in the spot where a loss two years ago taught Meyer some of the lessons he needed to lead Florida to last year's national title, Meyer looked to the future. He said his young team wouldn't wallow in self-pity. Instead, he promised a resurgence.

'I don't guarantee much,' Meyer said, 'but I guarantee the Gators will be back.'

Reporter Andy Staples can be reached at (352) 262-3719 or astaples@tampatrib.com.

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