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Swamp Stunner

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By ANDY STAPLES, The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 30, 2007

GAINESVILLE Auburn University kicker Wes Byrum refused to freeze Saturday night.

After watching a 43-yard field goal sail through the uprights to — Byrum assumed — upset No.4 Florida, Byrum learned the Gators had called timeout a split-second before the snap. The freshman from Fort Lauderdale would have to kick again.

Byrum stopped celebrating and took the field. The Gators, out of timeouts, couldn't attempt to ice him again. Byrum planted his left foot, swung his right and drove a dagger into the hearts of a Florida team that entered Florida Field overconfident and left humbled.

The kick lifted the Tigers to a 20-17 win and made Florida the third member of The Associated Press top five to lose this weekend. Florida rallied from 14 down to tie the score at 17 in the fourth quarter, but the Gators couldn't move the ball when they had a chance to win, and they couldn't stop the Tigers as they drove into field goal range.

"I'm not sick to my stomach with the effort," Florida coach Urban Meyer said. "I'm sick to my stomach when we lose."

Florida lost at home for the first time in 17 tries under Meyer, and the Gators (4-1, 2-1 Southeastern Conference) failed to avenge the only blemish on their 2006 national championship season. And for all their talk about how last season's loss at Auburn would keep them from taking this year's Tigers lightly and looking ahead to this week's visit to No.2 LSU, Florida players didn't show much respect until the Tigers (3-2, 1-1) led by two touchdowns.

The drive that led to Auburn's first score would have ended deep in Tigers' territory had Florida safety Jamar Hornsby not careened into Tigers punter Ryan Shoemaker. The ensuing 5-yard penalty kept alive a 14-play, 86-yard march that ended when backup quarterback Kodi Burns scored on a 6-yard run.

Auburn quarterback Brandon Cox (17 of 26, 227 yards, no interceptions) made none of the mistakes that haunted him in losses to the University of South Florida and Mississippi State earlier this month. Instead, Cox looked like the player who calmly helped Auburn to a 27-17 win against eventual national champion Florida last Oct. 14 at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Meanwhile, Florida quarterback Tim Tebow looked more human than he did in Florida's first four games. He finished with 201 passing yards and 75 rushing yards, but he threw a critical interception early in the third quarter.

After a blocked Florida field goal attempt set up another Auburn touchdown drive, the Gators went into the half trailing 14-0. It was Florida's first scoreless first half since a 1992 win against South Carolina.

Auburn stuffed Florida inside the 5-yard line early in the third, holding the Gators to a field goal. Florida's offense finally clicked late in the third, but even the Gators' best drive included a critical mistake.

On the play they needed most — third-and-goal from the Auburn 1-yard line early in the fourth — several Gators false-started. They managed to stay set on the next snap, and Tebow fired left and found Cornelius Ingram for a 6-yard touchdown that cut Auburn's lead to a touchdown.

A leaping 32-yard catch by Percy Harvin set up a 2-yard Tebow touchdown run that allowed Florida to force a 17-17 tie with 7:36 remaining, but, given a chance to win, Florida's offense floundered. Auburn defensive end Sen'Derrick Marks dragged down Harvin for a 6-yard loss on the Gators' next offensive snap, and Florida's Chas Henry shanked a punt, allowing the Tigers to take over on their 39-yard line.

Auburn rode tailback Ben Tate into field goal range. Then, as time ticked away, Byrum kicked the game-winner. Then he kicked it again.

"Definitely, it doesn't get any better than that," Byrum said. "That's a dream situation."

After the kick dropped over the crossbar, Byrum Gator chomped toward Florida's sideline. Meanwhile, the Gators trudged off the field. Florida's band waited for the players to join them for the playing of the fight song, a tradition Meyer had hoped would continue win or lose.

But the Gators never re-emerged from their locker room. After about 10 minutes, the band stood up and filed out.

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

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