TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida coach Urban Meyer sure knows how to win rivalry games.
Chris Leak threw for 283 yards and two touchdowns, Percy Harvin ran for a score and the fourth-ranked Gators beat struggling Florida State 21-14 on Saturday to stay in the national title hunt.
Florida (11-1) won its third straight against Florida State and improved to 6-0 against its three main rivals — Tennessee, Georgia and Florida State — in Meyer’s two seasons.
The latest victory might not help much in the Bowl Championship Series standings, leaving the Gators looking for assistance to get to the title game.
But don’t expect Florida to complain.
The Gators won consecutive games in Tallahassee for the first time since 1986 and won three in a row against their in-state rivals for the first time since a six-game streak between 1981 and 1986.
Leak had a lot to do with the current streak.
He completed 21 of 34 passes and directed several long drives Saturday. The most impressive came when Florida needed it most. Leak was 7-of-8 for 81 yards on the game-winning drive early in the fourth quarter.
He called an audible on third down, recognizing a blitz and checking to a slant pass, and hooked up with Dallas Baker for a 25-yard gain. He connected with Baker again two plays later for a 25-yard score.
The Seminoles (6-6) had two chances to even the score, but they failed to convert on fourth down twice — once in Florida territory and once deep in their own end.
Tennessee 17,
Kentucky 12
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — LaMarcus Coker plunged 1 yard for a touchdown and No. 19 Tennessee’s defense held on to beat Kentucky 17-12 Saturday, the Volunteers’ 22nd consecutive victory over the Wildcats.
Kentucky made the Volunteers (9-3, 5-3 Southeastern Conference) work to the very end for this one.
After going ahead with Coker’s score at the beginning of the fourth quarter, Tennessee looked like it could grind out the clock and score again, but quarterback Erik Ainge was tackled and fumbled on third down. Tennessee recovered but had to punt.
The Wildcats (7-5, 4-4) got it back with 8:30 left and marched inside the Vols 10. They had a delay of game penalty on second-and-goal at the 3, and their possession ended with two consecutive incomplete passes.
Tennessee took over with 3:02 to go and got a first down that allowed them to run out the clock.
Kentucky was leading 12-10 at halftime, and Lones Seiber missed a field goal in the third quarter that would have extended its lead. Coker scored on the Vols’ ensuing drive.
Mississippi 20,
Miss. St. 17
Chris Leak threw for 283 yards and two touchdowns, Percy Harvin ran for a score and the fourth-ranked Gators beat struggling Florida State 21-14 on Saturday to stay in the national title hunt.
Florida (11-1) won its third straight against Florida State and improved to 6-0 against its three main rivals — Tennessee, Georgia and Florida State — in Meyer’s two seasons.
The latest victory might not help much in the Bowl Championship Series standings, leaving the Gators looking for assistance to get to the title game.
But don’t expect Florida to complain.
The Gators won consecutive games in Tallahassee for the first time since 1986 and won three in a row against their in-state rivals for the first time since a six-game streak between 1981 and 1986.
Leak had a lot to do with the current streak.
He completed 21 of 34 passes and directed several long drives Saturday. The most impressive came when Florida needed it most. Leak was 7-of-8 for 81 yards on the game-winning drive early in the fourth quarter.
He called an audible on third down, recognizing a blitz and checking to a slant pass, and hooked up with Dallas Baker for a 25-yard gain. He connected with Baker again two plays later for a 25-yard score.
The Seminoles (6-6) had two chances to even the score, but they failed to convert on fourth down twice — once in Florida territory and once deep in their own end.
Tennessee 17,
Kentucky 12
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — LaMarcus Coker plunged 1 yard for a touchdown and No. 19 Tennessee’s defense held on to beat Kentucky 17-12 Saturday, the Volunteers’ 22nd consecutive victory over the Wildcats.
Kentucky made the Volunteers (9-3, 5-3 Southeastern Conference) work to the very end for this one.
After going ahead with Coker’s score at the beginning of the fourth quarter, Tennessee looked like it could grind out the clock and score again, but quarterback Erik Ainge was tackled and fumbled on third down. Tennessee recovered but had to punt.
The Wildcats (7-5, 4-4) got it back with 8:30 left and marched inside the Vols 10. They had a delay of game penalty on second-and-goal at the 3, and their possession ended with two consecutive incomplete passes.
Tennessee took over with 3:02 to go and got a first down that allowed them to run out the clock.
Kentucky was leading 12-10 at halftime, and Lones Seiber missed a field goal in the third quarter that would have extended its lead. Coker scored on the Vols’ ensuing drive.
Mississippi 20,
Miss. St. 17
