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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, September 7, 2008

No. 5 Florida finally defeats Miami

Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

BYU's Jan Jorgensen (84) blocked the game-tying extra-point attempt by Washington's Ryan Perkins.

SCOTT G. WINTERTON | Associated Press

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow may never play Miami again, and that's just fine with him.

He got his victory against the Hurricanes and earned a spot in the annals of this storied and once-bitter instate rivalry.

Tebow was good early and even better late, throwing two touchdown passes and helping the fifth-ranked Gators snap a six-game losing streak against Miami with a 26-3 victory last night at The Swamp.

It was Florida's first win since 1985 in the on-again, off-again series.

The rebuilding Hurricanes (1-1), three-touchdown underdogs, hung close for three quarters. But Tebow and speedster Percy Harvin took over late and erased three quarters of frustration against Miami's improved defense.

Florida's defense was stout all night, holding the Hurricanes to 140 total yards.

"Our defense played outstanding," Gators coach Urban Meyer said. "I thought they played great."

So did Tebow. The Hurricanes pressured the junior with every snap, forcing him to scramble and make early, sometimes off-balance throws.

Still, he finished 21-of-35 passing for 256 yards and two TD passes. He also ran 13 times for 55 yards. Harvin, who missed last week's opener while recovering from offseason heel surgery, ran five times for 27 yards.

"We can do much more with him and we will," Meyer said.

Robert Marve, making his first career start for Miami, was 10-of-18 passing for 69 yards and was sacked three times.

"We can build a lot of things off this game," Miami coach Randy Shannon said. "That's the one thing that we're excited about. They see where we can get better, and they also know we were able to play with a top-five team in this country and we had a shot.

"That's all you want is a shot, a chance on the road, hostile environment and we had that opportunity. But we have to capitalize on it next time."

Florida, whose two scores in the first half came off Miami miscues on special teams, led 9-3 to start the fourth quarter. But Tebow, Harvin & Co. finally found their rhythm, putting together consecutive drives of 86 and 95 yards to put the game away.

NO. 2 GEORGIA 56, CENTRAL MICHIGAN 17

ATHENS, Ga. — Knowshon Moreno rushed for 168 yards and tied his career high with three touchdowns, while massive defensive end Demarcus Dobbs rumbled for a 78-yard score after picking off a deflected pass to lead the Bulldogs (2-0) over the Chippewas (1-1).

Matthew Stafford was 18 of 28 for 213 yards, hooking up with Mohamed Massaquoi on a pair of touchdown passes for Georgia.

Moreno, a sophomore, sat out his first season at Georgia, a decision coach Mark Richt clearly regrets.

"He's a special kid," Richt said. "We saw him do it in practice, and I redshirted him anyway. That wasn't real smart on my part. I knew he was good, but I didn't know he was that good."

NO. 3 OHIO STATE 26, OHIO 14

COLUMBUS, Ohio — With star tailback Chris Wells sidelined by a foot injury, the host Buckeyes (2-0) struggled until Brandon Saine's 2-yard plunge on the third play of the final quarter finally put them on top 19-14 in turning back the Bobcats (0-2).

Ray Small added a late 69-yard punt return for a TD and the Buckeyes forced two turnovers in the fourth quarter in their tuneup game before traveling to meet No. 1 Southern California.

"It kind of looked like everyone predicted you might look like in between your opener and your big national stage game, which is disappointing because we really needed to make progress," Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel said. "And we did make progress in the takeaway area, which was huge. It's got to be something we continue to do."

NO. 4 OKLAHOMA 52, CINCINNATI 26

NORMAN, Okla. — Sam Bradford overcame two interceptions and threw for a career-best 395 yards and five touchdowns as the Sooners (2-0) rolled past the Bearcats (1-1).

Freshman Ryan Broyles had a breakout game with 141 receiving yards, Jermaine Gresham caught two touchdown passes and the Sooners extended the nation's longest home winning streak to 20 games.

"Just growing up in Norman and seeing how big everything is around here, and now finally getting a chance to play, it's a great feeling," Broyles said. "I just don't let it get to my head really. This is the first game I've been out there, so I think I have a lot to prove."

NO. 6 MISSOURI 52, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 3

COLUMBIA, Mo. — Chase Daniel threw three touchdown passes in the first half and Derrick Washington scored three times, helping the Tigers (2-0) run up a quick 42-point lead before calling in the reserves against the Redhawks (1-1).

Missouri scored on its first five possessions, Sean Weatherspoon returned an interception for a score and the Tigers raced to a 42-0 halftime lead.

"We played exactly like we should have played," Daniel said. "I think we scored almost every single time we touched the ball and that's what we expect no matter the opponent."

NO. 9 AUBURN 27, SOUTHERN MISS 13

AUBURN, Ala. — Chris Todd completed 21 of 31 passes for 248 yards in his first start and Ben Tate ran for 71 yards and a touchdown and caught three passes for 51 yards to help the Tigers (2-0) beat the Golden Eagles (1-1).

The junior college transfer also led a late scoring drive for Auburn after Southern Miss surged back with a pair of touchdowns against a defense that had pitched a shutout for the first 102 minutes of the season.

"I tried to come out and lead the team, take care of the ball and be smart," Todd said.

NO. 10 TEXAS 42, TEXAS EL-PASO 13

EL PASO, Texas — Colt McCoy passed for 282 yards and four touchdowns and the visiting Longhorns (2-0) spoiled the biggest sports party in years in this city with a rout of the Miners (0-2).

Quan Cosby caught eight passes for 154 yards and a score for the Longhorns, who built a big first-half lead, then put the game away with McCoy's 15-yard TD strike to Jordan Shipley early in the fourth quarter. Moments later, Rod Muckelroy returned a fumble 26 yards for a touchdown.

NO. 11 WISCONSIN 51, MARSHALL 14

MADISON, Wis. — Allan Evridge threw for 308 yards and a touchdown the the Badgers (2-0), who trailed 14-0 in the second quarter, reeled off 51 straight points to turn a potential upset into a walkover in beating the Thundering Herd (1-1). Wisconsin extended its home winning streak to 16 games, second-longest in major college football behind Oklahoma.

NO. 13 ALABAMA 20, TULANE 6

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Javier Arenas returned a punt 87 yards for a touchdown and the Tide (2-0), who allowed four sacks and gained just 178 yards, held on to beat the Green Wave (0-1) for coach Nick Saban's 100th collegiate career victory.

NO. 15 ARIZONA STATE 41, STANFORD 17

TEMPE, Ariz. — Facing relentless pressure on a 100-degree night in the desert, Rudy Carpenter completed 27 of 36 passes for 345 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Sun Devils (2-0) over the Cardinals (1-1).

NO. 15 BYU 28, WASHINGTON 27

SEATTLE — Jan Jorgensen blocked Ryan Perkins' 35-yard extra-point attempt with 2 seconds left to lift the Cougars (2-0). Jake Locker scored on a 3-yard plunge — pulling the Huskies (0-2) within one — but was called for unsportsmanlike conduct when he threw the ball in the air after rolling into the endzone.

NO. 17 SOUTH FLORIDA 31, CENTRAL FLORIDA 24

ORLANDO, Fla. — Matt Grothe threw for 346 yards and three touchdowns, including a 25-yarder to Taurus Johnson in overtime, and the visiting Bulls (2-0) beat the Knights (1-1) in the final scheduled meeting between the rivals whose campuses are barely 100 miles apart.

NO. 20 WAKE FOREST 30, MISSISSIPPI 28

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Sam Swank kicked a 41-yard field goal with 3 seconds left to lift the Demon Deacons (2-0) over the Rebels (1-1), who had taken a 28-27 lead on Jevan Snead's 5-yard touchdown pass to Cordera Eason on fourth down with 1:01 left.

NO. 22 UTAH 42, UNLV 21

SALT LAKE CITY — Brian Johnson threw for two touchdowns and scored on a 56-yard run, and the Utes (2-0) scored three touchdowns in the third quarter and pulled away after a shaky first half, holding the Rebels (1-1) to 11 yards of offense in the third period and only 83 total yards in the second half.

NO. 24 ILLINOIS 47, EASTERN ILLINOIS 21

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Juice Williams ran for 174 yards and two touchdowns, and also threw for 124 yards to lift the host Illini (1-1) over the Panthers (0-2). Illinois scored four touchdowns in a 13-minute span that bridged the second and third quarters, going from a 13-7 lead to a 40-7 cushion.