2008 Woodie Awards
LSU bests Florida, jumps to No. 1 in polls
Brandon Harris
Issue date: 10/10/07 Section: Sports
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LSU's repeated rolling of the dice paid off, and now the Tigers are No. 1 in both major polls.
The Tigers scored 17 unanswered points, were 5-for-5 on fourth-down conversions and stifled the Florida offense that dominated much of the game when it mattered most, and LSU defeated the Gators 24-14 at Tiger Stadium on Saturday night.
Florida (4-2, 2-2 Southeastern Conference) led by as many as 10 points twice in the game, but LSU, fueled by a relentless rushing attack that took advantage of the Gators youthful defense, never stopped fighting. And in the end, as running Jacob Hester took the ball into the end zone from two yards out for his 23rd carry of the game, the Tigers came out on top.
LSU (6-0, 3-0 SEC) had the ball for 12:09 in the fourth quarter compared to Florida's 2:51. When the Gators did have the ball, they turned it over. Florida's last possession fizzled when quarterback Tim Tebow faced constant pressure from the Tigers' front four and had his last-second heave to the end zone batted down.
"I enjoy the character of this football team," LSU coach Les Miles said. "Down the road, that is what will sustain this team - character."
It was Florida's second loss of the season after a disappointing home loss to Auburn last week. The loss all but eliminates the Gators from national title contention.
"I don't make guarantees," Florida coach Urban Meyer said. "I don't know if I've ever done this, but I guarantee we'll be back. The Florida Gators will be back smokin'. I don't know when. I can't make that one yet. I've got to see how everybody responds, but we'll come back."
LSU, meanwhile, is the undisputed top-ranked team in the land after Southern California was upset at home by hapless Stanford.
Rocky Top Rockin'
It was Tennessee, not Georgia, that looked like the No. 12 team in the nation, and now the Volunteers are in control of their own destiny in the SEC Eastern Division.
Arian Foster rushed for 98 yards and three touchdowns, and Tennessee handed Georgia its worst loss since a 2003 setback to LSU in the SEC Championship game. The Volunteers' victory snapped the Bulldogs' three-game winning streak in Neyland Stadium.
The Tigers scored 17 unanswered points, were 5-for-5 on fourth-down conversions and stifled the Florida offense that dominated much of the game when it mattered most, and LSU defeated the Gators 24-14 at Tiger Stadium on Saturday night.
Florida (4-2, 2-2 Southeastern Conference) led by as many as 10 points twice in the game, but LSU, fueled by a relentless rushing attack that took advantage of the Gators youthful defense, never stopped fighting. And in the end, as running Jacob Hester took the ball into the end zone from two yards out for his 23rd carry of the game, the Tigers came out on top.
LSU (6-0, 3-0 SEC) had the ball for 12:09 in the fourth quarter compared to Florida's 2:51. When the Gators did have the ball, they turned it over. Florida's last possession fizzled when quarterback Tim Tebow faced constant pressure from the Tigers' front four and had his last-second heave to the end zone batted down.
"I enjoy the character of this football team," LSU coach Les Miles said. "Down the road, that is what will sustain this team - character."
It was Florida's second loss of the season after a disappointing home loss to Auburn last week. The loss all but eliminates the Gators from national title contention.
"I don't make guarantees," Florida coach Urban Meyer said. "I don't know if I've ever done this, but I guarantee we'll be back. The Florida Gators will be back smokin'. I don't know when. I can't make that one yet. I've got to see how everybody responds, but we'll come back."
LSU, meanwhile, is the undisputed top-ranked team in the land after Southern California was upset at home by hapless Stanford.
Rocky Top Rockin'
It was Tennessee, not Georgia, that looked like the No. 12 team in the nation, and now the Volunteers are in control of their own destiny in the SEC Eastern Division.
Arian Foster rushed for 98 yards and three touchdowns, and Tennessee handed Georgia its worst loss since a 2003 setback to LSU in the SEC Championship game. The Volunteers' victory snapped the Bulldogs' three-game winning streak in Neyland Stadium.
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