Sunshine Statement

Florida Gets the Upper Hand in Surprising Defensive Struggle, Earns at Least a Share of the National Title

MIAMI, Jan. 8 -- This was supposed to be a showcase for two Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks. A shootout between two high-powered offenses. A demonstration of excellence from the top two teams in the nation.

Instead there were interceptions. Big sacks. Defensive stands. Critical penalties. A blocked field goal attempt, overthrown passes and dropped balls.

But Florida supplied just enough offense behind quarterback Tim Tebow to topple Oklahoma in the BCS national title game on Thursday at Dolphin Stadium, winning 24-14 and securing at least a piece -- but perhaps only a piece -- of their second national title in three years.

After the hard-earned victory in front of 78,468 mostly blue-and-orange-clad fans, Utah, Texas and Southern California will argue the point, lobbying voters in the Associated Press poll that was scheduled to come out early Friday that they deserve a share of the national title.

Instead of a high-scoring game, Florida and Oklahoma engaged in a teeth-rattling defensive struggle. Sam Bradford, this season's Heisman Trophy winner, threw two interceptions. Tebow, last season's Heisman Trophy winner, threw a pair of his own and, in the second half, did almost as much damage as a runner as he did as a passer. Both offenses stalled at times and got flat-out stopped on other drives.

But Tebow came back from a disappointing start with flair. He unveiled his trademark jump pass -- which looks a bit like a shooting guard attempting a short jump shot -- to hit wide receiver David Nelson for a decisive four-yard touchdown with 3 minutes 7 seconds remaining, capping a 76-yard drive that took nearly seven minutes off the clock.

"He went out and played a Heisman-type of game today," said Oklahoma defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, who grabbed the first of Tebow's interceptions in the second quarter. "He runs that team like a coach."

On Oklahoma's final drive, Gators defensive back Joe Haden (Friendly High) broke up a Bradford pass on fourth and four that ended Oklahoma's hopes for good. It was the second time Oklahoma had been stopped on fourth down. The first came in the second quarter, when the Gators defense held on a fourth and goal from the 1.

Tebow won the battle of high-profile quarterbacks, but the competition was close. He completed 18 of 30 passes for 231 yards with two touchdowns, his first a 20-yard toss to Louis Murphy early in the second quarter. Tebow also tallied 109 yards rushing on 22 carries, including 48 yards on six carries during the third-quarter drive that put Florida up 14-7.

Bradford completed 26 of 41 passes for 256 yards. He also threw a pair of scoring passes, a six-yard touch pass to Jermaine Gresham in the back of the end zone in the second quarter and an 11-yarder to Gresham in the fourth.

"I was off-rhythm a little bit early," Tebow said. "They were doing . . . some things I personally didn't anticipate they were going to do. . . .

"I wanted to do whatever I could do to win the game. If that was trying to run people over to get the crowd into it, get some momentum, that's what I was going to do."