GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) – Of all the numbers No. 3 Florida has rolled up while winning its last six games, there are two that stand out:
101-0.
The Gators have outscored opponents 101-0 in the first quarter the last six games, fast starts that have led to seemingly easy victories in the Southeastern Conference.
“I think that’s one of the most impressive stats I’ve seen,” Florida coach Urban Meyer said Sunday, a day after his team scored 21 points in a span of eight plays during the first quarter against then-No. 24 South Carolina and cruised to a 56-6 victory.
Meyer said he has learned a lot about the importance of momentum in college football since coming to Florida four years ago, especially when coaching a young team, and figures it can account for at least 14 points a game.
It’s led to six blowouts for the Gators, who became the first SEC team to win six consecutive conference games by at least 28 points each.
er the worst loss in his coaching and playing career, college or pro.
The Gators (9-1, 7-1) capitalized on three consecutive turnovers by turning them into touchdowns.
Brandon Spikes got things started when he intercepted a pass from Chris Smelley and returned it 12 yards for a touchdown. Two plays later, Ahmad Black picked off another pass from Smelley. Florida’s Percy Harvin darted up the middle for 26 yards on the next snap to make it 14-0.
The Gamecocks tried a little trickery on the ensuing kickoff, but Dion LeCorn’s lateral across the field sailed over Chris Hail’s outstretched arms. Florida’s James Smith scooped up the loose ball and returned it to the goal line.
Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow took over from there, scoring his 11th rushing touchdown of the season and putting the Gators up 21-0.
Game over.
“We’ve started off every game real well,” cornerback Joe Haden said. “We come out with so much energy and juice, so much passion to play, that it seems to overwhelm the other teams.”
Florida had similar early success in wins over Arkansas, LSU, Kentucky, Georgia and Vanderbilt.
embers the boost Georgia got from last year’s end-zone celebration) and opened with four consecutive touchdowns against Vandy.
“The momentum that our players talk about, our staff talks about with our players, the early part of a game whether it be a blocked punt, whether it be great defense – that’s why we ran a reverse to start the game – that’s why we take some shots early in a game because we have to get that momentum,” Meyer said.
The Gators shouldn’t have any problems keeping things rolling against the Citadel next week, a home finale that offers a bit of a break between the SEC slate and the season finale at Florida State. The Gators also have the SEC title game against top-ranked Alabama, which is shaping up to be a matchup to decide who plays in the Bowl Championship Series national title game in Miami.
Meyer hopes to keep his team playing at this level, a dominating streak he said is the best he’s ever been a part of, even better than the undefeated season he enjoyed at Utah in 2004. The Gators have outscored opponents 299-63 in the last six games – much of it coming early on.
“Of course I worry about it lasting,” Meyer said. “You can only control what you can control.”
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