|
|
By John L. Crawford
SouthernPigskin.com Contributor
Fernandina News-Leader
SouthernPigskin.com Contributor John L. Crawford looks back on Florida's comeback win against Arkansas.
It was Ole Miss 2008. It was Auburn 2006. It was the one that the Florida Gators would inevitably let slip away on a day when handicappers, and everyone else for that matter, thought they would roll. This time, however, Lady Luck and Arkansas kicker Alex Tejada, gave the Gators a reprieve. What could have been a devastating blow to Florida’s national championship quest turned into a 23-20 victory that produced this reminder: Never take a Southeastern Conference opponent lightly.
One might have expected Arkansas, who was coming off an emotional win over the Auburn Tigers on The Plains last week, to be incapable of a similar performance against the Gators and their 90,000-plus backers in The Swamp. But it was evident early on that the Razorbacks were well prepared and wouldn’t wilt under the oppressive crowd noise. Four fumbles, a few blown coverages by the secondary and a 20-13 deficit later and Florida fans had to be wondering if QB Tim Tebow had another speech in reserve. The walk down the densely packed ramps of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium was sure to be a little more suffocating after such a miserable performance.
But the Gators and RB Jeff Demps, who gained 49 of his 59 total yards on the last two drives, managed to dig deep enough to march the ball 77 yards for a game-tying score with 7:27 to play. Rushing yards proved hard to come by for most of the afternoon, however, Demps opened the drive with a 20-yard scamper around end and closed it with a 10-yard scamper in the same direction for a touchdown. The Gators had new life. But Arkansas had time.
Nine plays later and with 3:12 remaining, the Razorbacks had marched to the Florida 21-yard line and were poised to take the lead with what seemed like a chip shot 38-yard field goal. The Florida faithful had to be thinking about Auburn 2006 but hoping for South Carolina 2006. They got the latter, although Tejada did the honors of missing the field goal unassisted. He just shanked it. And then Tebow Company proceeded to shank Arkansas.
The next drive was vintage Tebow, with the quarterback scrambling for nine and seven yards on back-to-back plays for first downs. If the Gators end up realizing their hush-hush goal of an undefeated season in 2009, however, it might be because of WR Riley Cooper’s two first-down grabs on Florida’s final drive. “Clutch” is the word that comes to mind.
Sophomore kicker Caleb Sturges booted a 27-yard field goal with 13 seconds to play to complete the unlikely comeback and The Swamp let out its collective breath.
Florida now moves forward with all preseason goals intact and plenty of areas in which to improve. Alabama, Florida’s likely opponent in the SEC Championship Game if everything plays out like it should, appears solid if not spectacular, so the Gators had better improve and improve vastly before December.
But first thing’s first and that’s a primetime date in Starkville, Mississippi this Saturday to face the coach who knows everything there is to know about Florida’s offense because he helped orchestrate it. While the Gators boast superior talent, fans can expect a dogfight from Dan Mullen and his Mississippi State team. It’s the nature of the beast in the SEC. No team can be taken lightly.
.....
Crawford of the Fernandina News-Leader, a veteran journalist in the Sunshine State and a high school football coach, has joined the SouthernPigskin.com Staff. His opinions will include college football but other sports as well. Share your thoughts on the SouthernPigskin.com Message Boards or email John at
Stories written by SouthernPigskin.com columnists are done independently. Views do not always coincide with those of the remainder of the staff or the ownership of SouthernPigskin.com.
|
Comments
Make Yourself Heard
|
|
