Gators Dawg-Gone

Top 25

Finally, Georgia was the life of the party.

The Bulldogs turned out the lights on No. 6 Florida’s bid to win a fifth consecutive Southeastern Conference title Saturday with a 37-17 victory at Jacksonville, Fla., that set off a celebration not felt by the Dawgs in eight years.

“The Florida Gators have aggravated us for so long,” said offensive tackle Matt Stinchcomb. “With 3 minutes to go, it hit me like a ton of bricks. It lived up to everything I thought it would.”

With Robert Edwards tying a school record by running for four touchdowns and quarterback Mike Bobo and Hines Ward coming up with the critical plays, Georgia beat the Gators for the first time since 1989 in one of the most storied rivalries in the South.

It is renowned as the “World Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party.” This time, Georgia (7-1, 5-1 SEC) rolled over the Gators (6-2, 4-2) and sent the Florida fans home early.

“Georgia is just a better football team than the mighty Gators, and they proved it tonight,” said coach Steve Spurrier. “We’ve not go excuses. They just beat us.”

Next for Florida: vs. Vanderbilt.

Next for Georgia: vs. Auburn, Nov. 15.

(2) Penn State 30, Northwestern 27 At Evanston, Ill., Curtis Enis gained 100 yards for a fourth straight game and the Nittany Lions (7-0, 4-0 Big Ten) held off a late rush to defeat the Wildcats (3-7, 1-5).

Next for Penn State: vs. Michigan.

(3) Florida St. 48, N.C. St. 35 At Tallahassee, Fla., Thad Busby passed for a career-high 463 yards and five touchdowns as the Seminoles (8-0, 6-0 ACC) defeated the Wolfpack (3-5, 1-5) despite five touchdown catches by North Carolina State’s Torry Holt.

Next for Florida St.: at North Carolina.

(4) Michigan 24, Minnesota 3 Charles Woodson scored on a 33-yard reverse and headed a defensive unit that limited Minnesota to 102 yards as the Wolverines (8-0, 5-0 Big Ten) defeated the Golden Gophers (2-7, 0-5) at Ann Arbor, Mich.

Minnesota, coming off 1-point losses to Penn State and Wisconsin, gained 71 yards in driving for a field goal the first time it had the ball but netted only 31 thereafter. Next for Michigan: at Penn State.

(8) Tennessee 22, South Carolina 7 Peyton Manning completed eight passes in his worst performance in three years, but Jamal Lewis ran for 205 yards and two touchdowns as the Volunteers (6-1, 4-1 SEC) defeated the Gamecocks (5-4, 3-4) at Knoxville, Tenn.

Next for Tennessee: vs. Southern Miss.

(9) Ohio St. 37, (21) Michigan St. 13 Gary Berry turned two Michigan State mistakes into touchdowns in a 2:07 span of the first quarter and the Buckeyes (8-1, 4-1 Big Ten) went on to defeat the Spartans (5-3, 2-3) at East Lansing, Mich.

Next for Ohio State: at Minnesota.

Next for Michigan State: at Purdue.

Mississippi St. 20, (11) Auburn 0 At Auburn, Ala., Mississippi State defensive coordinator Joe Lee Dunn developed a game plan with numerous pass-rush schemes, forcing Auburn quarterback Dameyune Craig into four interceptions, including Anthony Derricks’ 90-yard interception return for a score as the Bulldogs (6-2, 3-2 SEC) defeated the Tigers (7-2, 4-2).

Next for Auburn: at Georgia, Nov. 15.

(13) Kansas State 13, Texas Tech 2 At Lubbock, Texas, Jonathan Beasley’s 33-yard TD run, combined with a huge defensive effort, lifted the Wildcats (7-1, 4-1 Big 12) over the Red Raiders (4-4, 3-2).

Kansas State crossed midfield just once, but allowed only 117 yards and six first downs. The Red Raiders failed to get a first down on 12 of 17 possessions.

Next for Kansas State: vs. Kansas.

(15) Iowa 35, (18) Purdue 17 Rob Thein came off the bench to score three TDs and the Hawkeyes (6-2, 3-2 Big Ten) shut down Purdue’s passing attack to defeat the Boilermakers (6-2, 4-1) at Iowa City, Iowa.

Next for Iowa: at Wisconsin.

Next for Purdue: vs. Michigan State.

LSU 63, Kentucky 28 Kevin Faulk rushed 28 times for 212 yards and a schoolrecord five touchdowns, leading the Tigers (6-2, 4-2 SEC) over the Wildcats (4-5, 1-5) at Lexington, Ky.

Faulk scored two touchdowns and Herb Tyler ran for one in the third quarter following Kentucky turnovers on its first three possessions after the Wildcats had led 21-20 at halftime.

Next for LSU: at Alabama.

Syracuse 40, (17) West Virginia 10 Kevin Johnson hit Jim Turner with a 50-yard touchdown pass off a reverse early in the third quarter and Jason Poles returned an interception 96 yards for a score moments later to help the Orangemen (6-3, 3-1 Big East) defeat the Mountaineers (6-2, 3-2) at Syracuse, N.Y.

Next for West Virginia: vs. Temple, Nov. 15.

(25) Texas A&M 28, (19) Oklahoma State 25 At College Station, Texas, D’Andre Hardeman completed a wild comeback for the Aggies (6-2, 3-2 Big 12) with a 6-yard touchdown run in overtime to defeat the Cowboys (6-2, 3-2).

Texas A&M trailed 22-7 with 14:57 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Next for Oklahoma State: at Oklahoma.

Next for Texas A&M: vs. Baylor.

(22) Toledo 35, Miami, Ohio 28 At Toledo, Ohio, Chris Wallace hit Brock Kreitzburg with an 11-yard pass with 24 seconds left and the Rockets (8-0, 6-0 MAC) stopped a pass in the end zone on the last play to deny the RedHawks (6-3, 4-2).

Next for Toledo: at Ball State.

(23) Virginia Tech 37, UAB 0 At Blacksburg, Va., Lamont Pegues rushed for 100 yards and a touchdown and Shayne Graham kicked three field goals to lead the Hokies (6-2) past Alabama-Birmingham (3-5).

Next for Virginia Tech: vs. Miami.

(24) Southern Miss. 24, Cincinnati 17 Lee Roberts threw two touchdown passes to Sherrod Gideon, the last coming with 5:55 to play, to rally the Golden Eagles (6-2, 4-0 C-USA) past the Bearcats (6-3, 1-3) at Cincinnati.

Next for Southern Miss.: at Tennessee.