Alabama tried to pull a surprise against Florida on the first series of the second quarter, but the Gators turned back the attempt.
On a fourth-and-9 play from the Florida 32, Alabama sent in back-up kicker Corey Smith instead of starter Leigh Tiffin. Holder P.J. Fitzgerald took the snap and rolled right as if he may pitch to Smith, but was stopped for just a 1 yard gain. Florida would drive for a field goal to tie the game at 10-10.
Alabama coach Nick Saban said after the game the reason Smith was in the game was because Tiffin received a slight concussion on a kickoff. Tiffin did return in the second half.
On the kickoff following the made field goal, Javier Arenas fielded the ball as he was moving towards the sideline, and his momentum took him out of bounds at the Tide 4. After Alabama couldn’t move the ball and punted, Florida scored on its next possession to go up 17-10, where it stood at halftime.
“We weren’t supposed to run the fake field goal,” Saban said. “Tiffin got hurt on a kickoff. We’re out of the guy’s (Corey Smith) range almost. But we shouldn’t have run it because we didn’t have the numbers. That, and Javi’s (Javier Arenas) mistake in the kicking game. We can’t give them that. We can’t give them good field position. They scored 10 points off of that.”
Coffee Break
Glen Coffee is now in fourth place on the Alabama single-season rushing yardage list, moving ahead of Kenneth Darby (1,242 yards in 2005) and Bobby Humphrey (1,255 yards in 1987) in the first half with 62 yards. Coffee has now rushed for 1,347 yards after his 112-yard performance. Humphrey’s 1986 total of 1,471 yards is in first place, followed by Shaun Alexander (1,383 in 1999) and Shaud Williams (1,367 in 2003).
The injured
Florida all-star playmaker Percy Harvin and Alabama running back Roy Upchurch didn’t dress for the game. Harvin suffered a high-ankle sprain in last week’s loss to FSU, and Upchurch has been plagued with a hurt neck. The Gators had two players injured in the first half against Alabama as offensive lineman Carl Johnson went down with a sprained knee and defensive back Joe Haden with a sprained ankle. Haden did return in the game.
Unlucky 13
The loss ended Alabama’s 13-game winning streak, the longest by an Alabama team since winning 28 in a row from 1991-93. The Tide’s 13-game winning streak began with a 30-24 win over Colorado last season in the Independence Bowl.
Dominating third
Trailing 17-10 at the half, Alabama controlled the third quarter to take a 20-17 lead into the fourth period. Alabama ran 25 plays for 156 yards (6.24 yards per play) in the third quarter and outscored Florida, 10-0. The Crimson Tide had the ball for 10:33 to the Gators’ 4:19 in the third quarter.
First miss
When Jonathan Phillips missed a 42-yard field goal try for Florida in the third quarter, it marked his first field goal miss this season in 11 tries. The kick was wide right. Before the miss, Florida was the only school in the nation to be perfect in field goals this season.
Moving on up
When freshman running back Mark Ingram scored on a 2-yard run in the third quarter, it marked Ingram’s 12th rushing touchdown of the season, tying him for eighth on the Alabama single-season rushing touchdowns list.
Third time the charm
Freshman receiver Julio Jones surpassed 100 receiving yards against Florida with 124 yards on 5 receptions, marking the third time this season he has reached the century mark.
Gator on the loose
Florida’s Brandon James had five kickoff returns for 121 yards, breaking an SEC Championship single-game record on Saturday for kickoff returns. The previous mark of 108 yards on five returns was set by Florida’s Bo Carroll in 1999.
Series history
Saturday’s game was the first conference championship game between the teams ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the AP poll. It was also the first SEC game between the top two teams.
But Florida and Alabama were playing for the sixth time in the championship game. The Gators won in 1993, 1994 and 1996. Alabama had wins in 1992 and 1999.
Alabama leads the all-time series 21-14.
Alabama’s six championship game appearances leads the SEC West. LSU has made four appearances, Arkansas and Auburn three each and Mississippi State one.
Florida leads all SEC schools with nine appearances in the title game. Tennessee has represented the SEC East five times and Georgia three times.
Best/Worst
Best lick: Tide receiver Darius Hanks was smacked by safety Ahmad Black after catching a 3-yard pass on the Tide’s opening possession.
Best counter punch: Bama answered Florida’s first touchdown with a two-play, 82-yard drive as Julio Jones caught a 64-yard pass and Glen Coffee went in from 18 yards out.
Best drive: Alabama’s 91-yard, 15-play drive for a TD on its first possession of the second half.
Worst decision: Javier Arenas caught the kickoff as he was stepping out of bounds on the 4 after Florida tied it at 10-10. He also caught a punt in the second half at the 9 and was immediately tackled.
Worst fake: Instead of attempting a 49-field goal in the second quarter, the Tide ran a fake as Corey Smith lined to kick and holder P.J. Fitzgerald tried to run for the first down, but only gained 1 yard of the needed 9.
Worst facemask: Dont’a Hightower was whistled for a facemask call to keep a Florida drive alive, leading to a Gators’ TD for a 24-20 lead.
Copyright 2008 The Dothan Eagle
