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Gators Seniors Enjoy Their Day

Tribune photo by SCOTT ISKOWITZ

Tim Tebow celebrates with teammates after beating the Citadel 70-19.

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By MICK ELLIOTT | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 23, 2008

Updated: 11/23/2008 12:45 am

GAINESVILLE - Think of the Florida Gators' Saturday afternoon as an open date, except with a performance by the marching band.

How bad a mismatch was Florida's 70-19 trouncing of The Citadel?

Gators senior Javier Estopinan, an erstwhile injury-plagued defensive end not even on the depth chart, made an appearance at running back and scored on a 1-yard run to open the second half.

"I started talking about that a few weeks ago," Florida coach Urban Meyer said. "I remember the day Javier was playing his best football against LSU two years ago and hurt that knee. I believe he has had three ACL surgeries, so, we were talking and I said, 'We're going to get you a touchdown.'"

Yeah, sure, Cach.

"I told him he was crazy, he was lying," Estopinan said.

But on Senior Day, during the Gators' final home game, the 6-foot-2, 290-pounder scored the first touchdown of the second half, pushing the score to 56-6.

"I just wanted to make sure I didn't drop the ball," he said. "It was awesome."

So good that looking back, Estopinan wishes he had celebrated the moment - except he forgot.

"I was so dazed and confused," he said, "I didn't know what to do."

The Bulldogs understand the feeling.

Florida, No. 3 in the nation and averaging 44 points a game, hosted the Football Championship Subdivision team that last week ended a six-game losing streak by eking out a 24-21 victory against Chattanooga.

The Gators scored touchdowns on their opening seven possessions, two of the scores set up by interceptions. Florida had 512 yards of offense by halftime. It was 42-0 with 9:46 remaining in the second quarter.

Florida's early scoring marches were like drive-through window pickups: six plays, 49 yards; five plays, 61 yards; five plays, 84 yards; five plays, 89 yards; one play, 31 yards; three plays, 84 yards; and 64 yards, seven plays.

Quarterback Tim Tebow threw scoring passes of 18 yards to Louis Murphy, 43 yards to Riley Cooper and 31 to Deonte Thompson. Tailback Chris Rainey has a 7-yard touchdown run and a 73-yard scamper that set up Kestahn Moore from the 2. Percy Harvin scored on a 12-yard run.

Florida had almost 400 yards of offense when, with more than nine minutes left before halftime, Tebow went to the sideline with nine completions in 11 attempts for 201 yards and three TDs. So, backup John Brantley took over and promptly moved Florida into position for a 22-yard touchdown run by Moore and a 49-6 halftime lead.

"Obviously, it's a great football team that we were playing against," Bulldogs coach Kevin Higgins said. "I thought our guys could have played better, but a lot of that is because of who we were playing."

By the time the day was over, Florida rolled up a list of statistics that were jaw dropping. The Gators' 705 yards of offense were the third most in school history. They rushed for 397, with Rainey getting 142 yards on seven carries and Emmanuel Moody adding 117 on 13 attempts.

Now comes some heavy lifting. The 10-1 Gators, in the middle of the national championship chase, go to Florida State next weekend and then on to Atlanta to face No. 1-ranked Alabama in the SEC Championship Game.

Saturday was a day for the seniors, and, possibly a few others (juniors Brandon Spikes, Harvin and Tebow come to mind) to say goodbye to The Swamp, but as much fun as the afternoon may have provided, it did nothing to help the Gators' title drive.

If anything, it may have hurt. Two defensive tackles, sophomore Lawrence Marsh and freshman Matt Patchan (Armwood High), left the game with knee injuries.

"Marsh has an MCL sprain and Patchan also has an MCL but we're not sure what degree," Meyer said.

But Florida State waits.

"Our next two weeks are about as important as they can be," Meyer said. "In the history of Florida football, I can't imagine a more important two weeks than what's rolling down the barrel at us: two very good football teams and two very good coaches."

Reporter Mick Elliott can be reached at (813) 281-2534.

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