Florida Gators 49, Vanderbilt Commodores 22



Harvin Runs Wild As Gators Regroup Against Vanderbilt Sophomore totals 100 yards rushing and receiving in same game to boost UF.

GAINESVILLE | The Florida Gators tweaked a few things before playing Vanderbilt, hoping for better results after losing three of their last four games.

They switched uniforms, altered their approach to the coin toss and turned backup center Mike Pouncey (Lakeland) into a starting defensive lineman.

The most effective change may have been getting Percy Harvin more touches.

Harvin became the first player in school history with 100 yards rushing and receiving in the same game, scored twice and helped No. 18 Florida hammer Vanderbilt, 49-22, Saturday.

"Percy Harvin is one of the most dynamic players in the country," coach Urban Meyer said. "He's strong and he's powerful and he's a heck of a football player. ... You do get concerned. How many shots can a guy like Percy take? But pound for pound he's as strong a player as we have on the team."

The Gators extended their winning streak against Vandy to 17 games and stayed in the hunt for the Southeastern Conference Eastern Division title. To return to Atlanta for the second straight year, the Gators need to beat South Carolina next week and have Tennessee and Georgia lose another league game.

Florida (6-3, 4-3) appears ready to do its part. With Harvin, Tim Tebow, Andre Caldwell and Brandon James doing most of the damage, the Gators manhandled a Vanderbilt defense that entered the game ranked third in the conference and 14th in the country.

Tim Tebow completed 22 of 27 passes for 281 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran for 35 yards and two scores. Caldwell caught nine passes for 103 yards and two TDs, and James had three returns for 116 yards, including two longer than 50 yards that set up touchdowns.

"We're going to ride those horses now," Meyer said. "It's down to one game now. We're in November and in a fight for our lives in the SEC, and you do what you've got to do to move the ball."

That usually means getting the ball to Harvin.

He ran 11 times for 113 yards and two touchdowns, scoring on a weaving, 18-yard run in the first quarter and a stumbling, 13-yarder in the fourth. He added nine receptions for 110 yards.

The Gators were coming off a 42-30 loss against Georgia, another game in which Florida's defense struggled to pressure the quarterback, cover receivers and get off the field on third down.

The unit was considerably better against Vanderbilt (5-4, 2-4). Florida had two interceptions, forced a fumble and held the Commodores to 255 yards. Coaches challenged the defense before the game, winning the coin toss, deferring to the second half and essentially putting the unit on the field to make a statement. The defense forced a punt.

"It was a confidence boost. We needed that," linebacker Brandon Spikes said.

Pouncey certainly helped the cause. The freshman ended up making his first career start and played well.

"That's hard to imagine that just occurred," Meyer said. "He brought instant energy to our defense."

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