Florida takes US college crown
GLENDALE, Arizona: University of Florida quarterback Chris Leak outplayed his Heisman Trophy-winning counterpart Troy Smith of Ohio State on Monday to lead the Gators to the US college football championship.
Florida completed an unprecedented double, becoming the first university to hold both the coveted football and men's basketball titles simultaneously, having captured the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) basketball crown in April.
Leak completed 25-of-36 passes for 213 yards and a touchdown in his final collegiate game for the Gators, who routed Ohio State University 41-14 and ended the previously unbeaten Buckeyes's bid for a perfect season.
Leak's backup, first-year Tim Tebow, both passed and ran for a touchdown for Florida, which won its previous title 10 years ago.
"Everybody stepped up tonight," said Gators defensive end Derrick Harvey, who tied a BCS bowl game record with three sacks.
"It took a lot of time and preparation to be able to stop a team that is as good as Ohio State.
"Everybody came out and played as hard as they could and that is why we are national champions."
Smith had a woeful final collegiate contest, going just 4-of-14 for 35 yards and an interception. He also gave up a fumble.
Ohio State had appeared poised to live up to their favorite's billing when Ted Ginn jnr returned the opening kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown.
But he was injured on the play and didn't return, and Florida scored 21 unanswered points.
Leak tied the game on a 14-yard touchdown pass to Dallas Baker on Florida's first drive and pitched the ball to freshman speedster Percy Harvin for a go-ahead four-yard run with 5:51 left in the first quarter.
Smith was intercepted by Reggie Lewis at the Florida 29 with 2:49 to go in the opening quarter and Leak marched the Gators down the field before DeShawn Wynn scored on a two-yard run for a 21-7 lead on the first play of the second period.
With under four minutes to play in the half and his team trailing by 24-14, normally conservative Ohio State coach Jim Tressel elected to have the Buckeyes go for it on 4th-and-1 at their own 29 yard line.
Freshman tailback Chris Wells was tackled for no gain, and four plays later, Florida kicker Chris Hetland nailed his second field goal, a 40-yarder.
"We thought we could make it, and the good news was our defense did a great job of holding them to three, which was outstanding," Tressel said. "But, you know, it ended up being the wrong call, obviously."
On the very next play, Smith was sacked by Jarvis Moss and lost the football.
Moss' fellow defensive end Derrick Harvey recovered and ran it nine yards to the Ohio State 5, leading to Tebow's one-yard TD pass to Andre Caldwell that opened a shocking 34-14 halftime lead for Florida.
AFP
(China Daily 01/10/2007 page24)
