Florida Inches Closer To Elusive Final Four With Win Over Ok State

#15 Oklahoma State – 9
#2 Florida – 22

GAINESVILLE, Florida -- A game featuring two of the most potent offenses in college football instead came down to the defenses. In the end, #2 Florida's D proved a bit stronger, and their offense came to life in the second half to give the Gators a 22-9 victory over #15 Oklahoma State in the Sweet 16.

Both passing games were held in check thanks to effective pass rushes by both sides. QB Zac Robinson collected 137 yards through the air on 8-16 passing, but was sacked five times and picked off twice, both times by CB Joe Haden. DE Carlos Dunlap had three of the five sacks. QB Tim Tebow was held to just 59 yards and no touchdowns passing, but had a good day on the ground, carrying the ball six times for 101 yards and a touchdown.

Neither team could get anything going in the first half, with Ok St. turning the ball over on each of their first two possessions. The scoring opened when, late in the second quarter, Florida converted a fourth down to set up a field goal after being unsuccessful on a fourth down attempt earlier in the half. The teams put on their flip flops and entered the halftime showers with the score 3-0.

One of the biggest rushes of the tournament came on the first play from scrimmage in the second half, when Tebow kept it on an option and scampered up the right sideline for 69 yards and a touchdown. The Gators continued to run the ball on their next possession, which took more than three minutes and ended with a 6-yard TD run by HB Jeff Demps. A safety and a field goal made the score 22-0, before Oklahoma State added a late touchdown and safety of their own to make it 22-9.

K Jonathan Phillips was 2 for 2 on field goals in the game including a 49-yarder.

Each team recorded a safety in the game, a rare and perhaps, although unlikely, unprecedented occurrence in TNS' six-year history.

Florida, like #1 Texas, is now one game away from their first ever Final Four. Standing in their way is #10 Oregon, following their shocking comeback win over #58 Southern Miss. It will be just the second meeting all-time between the two schools, and the first since 1929.

Stats:
Florida
QB Tim Tebow – 6 carries, 101 yards, TD
HB Jeff Demps – 13 carries, 55 yards, TD
CB Joe Haden – 2 INTs
DE Carlos Dunlap – 3 sacks
MLB Brandon Spikes – FF