TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

UF Quick To Dispatch Kentucky

Tribune photo by COLIN HACKLEY

Florida's Jeffrey Demps leaves Kentucky's Matt Lentz in his dust has he runs 61 yards for a touchdown.

ADVERTISEMENT

By MICK ELLIOTT | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 26, 2008

GAINESVILLE - So much the better that Florida's homecoming game against the Kentucky Wildcats started Saturday with a 12:30 p.m. kickoff, even if many in the crowd of 90,589 that filled The Swamp with surprising energy had not totally cleared away cobwebs from the previous night's Gator Growl.

Droopy eyes aside, the benefit of an early start was that the Gators completed their 63-5 blasting of Kentucky by mid-afternoon, providing plenty of time for an early start celebrating the arrival of Florida-Georgia week.

Finally, the game that has loomed monstrously large since preseason practice began in August can be addressed without drawing ire from Florida coach Urban Meyer. The Gators will carry a 6-1 and 4-1 Southeastern Conference record into Jacksonville against the Bulldogs. Georgia, fresh off a win Saturday against LSU, will arrive 7-1 and 4-1. The winner gets an inside track to the SEC East title and a spot in the conference championship game.

"We're looking to get to Atlanta," junior playmaker Percy Harvin said after catching a 33-yard touchdown pass and scoring again on a 16-yard run. "Georgia is in the way, and we remember the loss last year, so we're going to prepare for them real good."

There is no forgetting last year. That's when Georgia scored first and its entire bench - at the pregame urging of Coach Mark Richt - stormed the field in celebration.

The Gators have steamed since and the 42-30 loss was a source of energy during long, hot preseason drills.

Now the week is here. And just listen to what the Gators have to say.

"We've got no comment," guard Mike Pouncey said.

The Gators do know who they play, right?

"It's somebody in the SEC," cornerback Joe Haden said. "I know it's a conference game.

"Yeah, we're looking forward to the game ... but Coach says ... uh, we're just ready for the game."

So what exactly did Meyer say that so muzzled his players?

"No comment," freshman running back Jeffrey Demps said.

It's just as well. The unmerciful thrashing of the injury-weakened Wildcats was so complete and total it should be a performance on which the Gators enjoy lingering. After all, it isn't often a team blocks three kicks, successfully converting each into a quick touchdown on the way to a 35-0 lead with 11:26 still remaining in the second quarter.

Nor is it commonplace to hang 63 points on a team that arrived as the SEC's top defense in points allowed (11.8 per game). Or to bust off 230 yards rushing.

But this was different.

Georgia waits.

And the Gators have a running start.

That's because Kentucky's kicking team never blocked them.

The Wildcats ended their first possession of the day going three-and-out and punting from their own 26.

Florida freshman reserve defensive end William Green broke through the middle to block Tim Masthay's kick with his chest. The ball was recovered at the 3 by Chris Rainey, and one play later Gators quarterback Tim Tebow scored.

After failing to muster a first down on the next possession, the Wildcats punted from their 28. This time, Demps broke through the middle, blocked the kick and recovered at the 1. Brandon James scored.

It was 14-0 with less than six minutes gone in the first quarter, and Florida's scoring drives were a combined eight seconds.

"Two blocked punts, back-to-back," Demps said. "You glance over there, you can see them dropping their heads, because special teams is like a real big game-changer."

Even Florida having to start in its own territory was only a minor inconvenience. On their next two possessions the Gators went 61 yards in four plays (Harvin's 16-yard run) and 62 yards in four plays (Tebow to Harvin for 33 yards) to lead 28-0 at the end of one quarter.

That's when things just went wacky for the Wildcats.

After cornerback Trevard Lindley intercepted Tebow at the Florida 37, the Wildcats had a chance to at least briefly stem the tide, but the Gators' Haden blocked their 31-yard field-goal attempt.

Three plays later, Tebow threw across the middle to Demps, who ran past the Wildcats for a 61-yard score.

"He caught the ball and I started looking for the extra-point team," Meyer said. "He's a fast dude."

When it was finally over, Tebow was 11-of-15 passing for two touchdowns, 180 yards and one interception. He also ran nine times for 48 yards and two touchdowns. Demps carried seven times for 50 yards in addition to the touchdown catch.

It's Florida-Georgia week. Now it can finally be said. Does Tebow still have some hard feelings about what Georgia did last year, and how excited is he for next weekend?

"No comment on hard feelings; I'm very excited about this game."

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

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT