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Multitalented James Continues To Excel For UF

The Associated Press

Florida running back Chris Rainey carries during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game with Arkansas in Fayetteville, Ark., Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008. Rainey rushed for 103 yards and made one touchdown in Florida's 38-7 victory.

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By MICK ELLIOTT | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 5, 2008

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Brandon James did a little bit of everything Saturday to contribute to Florida's win at Arkansas.

The Gators' special teams star was the first player down field and recovered a fumbled fair catch at the Arkansas 16 to set up Florida's second touchdown. He returned the opening kickoff of the second half 89 yards for a touchdown, although it was called back for an illegal block. Later in the quarter, he carried for 10 yards and a first down on a fake punt on fourth-and-1 from Florida's 47.

"He's a really good player," Coach Urban Meyer said. "He's that valuable."

Meyer took the penalty that nullified the kickoff return hard. Chris Pintado was called for a block in the back at midfield.

"It's just rips your heart out," Meyer said. "I can just go crush the kid who did it. But he was trying his heart out. Our kickoff return team is just so excited when they actually kick the ball to him and let him come out."

James said he made a point to find Pintado on the sideline to insist he not dwell on the mistake.

"That was a little frustrating," James said. "It would have been the first one I had returned. Second one that got called back. I feel like it was a questionable call. He only had his hands on him, but it was a good effort by Pintado. He's doing a great job blocking so can't criticize him any.

"I told him if he could have just shielded him instead of putting his hands on him we may still have had a big play. You can't really knock a guy that's going 4-6 seconds as hard as he can trying to do his all for you. I told him it was OK."

TEBOW INTERCEPTED: Florida QB Tim Tebow's two-season streak of passes without an interception came to an end with 23 seconds left in the third quarter Saturday, after 203 attempts without a pick.

Florida was leading 17-7 and driving when Jerry Franklin picked off Tebow at the Arkansas 39.

The Florida defense held, and Tebow came back to lead his team on an 83-yard drive that ended with his 21-yard pass to Percy Harvin.

"I was a little determined the next drive," Tebow said. "It was just a bad play by me."

A bad throw or misread?

"Absolutely both," he said. "I just threw it right to the guy. We could have had a good play there. I was reading something different than I should have been."

The streak was the third-longest in SEC history.

DONOVAN SCORES: During an away football game weekend may seem to be an odd time to announce your basketball coach's contract signing, but the Gators and Billy Donovan have reached an agreement that extends through the 2012-13 season.

Donovan, who resigned before last season to join the NBA's Orlando Magic only to change his mind, had been working under the agreement but without a signed contract. Donovan, 285-115 with two national titles in 12 seasons with the Gators, will be paid $3.5 million per year through the 2012-13 season, a six-year deal worth $21 million.

GATOR BITES: Arkansas has been outscored 41-0 in the first quarter during the past three games. ... Since joining the SEC for the 1992 football season, Arkansas has beaten each of the other 11 conference schools except one. The Razorbacks are 0-7 vs. Florida as an SEC opponent, although they did beat the Gators in the 1982 Bluebonnet Bowl. ... After going 2-for-2 Saturday, Florida has scored on 16 of 17 trips inside the red zone this year. ... James' 2-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter was his first scoring catch of his career. This season, James has scored a rushing and receiving touchdown in addition to two punt returns. ... The Gators were called for 12 penalties for 110 yards.

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