No. 1 Florida used a 31-point first quarter to down Kentucky in Lexington, 41-7, in Week 4 action in the Southeastern Conference. But the Gators and their fans held their collective breath when quarterback Tim Tebow was taken off the field and eventually to the UK Medical Center after suffering a concussion. No. 3 Alabama and No. 7 Louisiana State also picked up victories Saturday in league contests, while No. 21 Georgia, Tennessee, Auburn and Vanderbilt beat non-conference opponents.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 26
No. 1 Florida (4-0, 2-0 SEC East) 41, Kentucky (2-1, 0-1 SEC East): At Commonwealth Stadium in Lexington, Ky., Tim Tebow was carted from the field after a devastating hit near the end of the third quarter but he accounted for 226 yards in total offense (123 rushing, 103 passing) and three touchdowns, all in the first quarter as Florida ran out to a 31-0 lead after the first 15 minutes. Tebow was taken to a nearby university hospital for tests, and team officials and coach Urban Meyer suspect he suffered a concussion. The Florida defense surrendered just 179 yards and twice intercepted Kentucky QB Mike Hartline, the last one by Major Wright leading to an 8-yard TD pass from Tebow’s replacement, John Brantley, to Tebow’s off-campus roommate Riley Cooper. The Gators also got a blocked punt and a touchdown by Chris Rainey in the first quarter.
No. 3 Alabama (4-0, 1-0 SEC West) 35, Arkansas (1-2, 0-2 SEC West) 7: At Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., quarterback Greg McElroy threw for 291 yards (on 17-of-24 passing) and three touchdowns and the Crimson Tide had three players of 50 yards or more, including an 80-yard touchdown pass from McElroy to Marquis Maze. Freshman Trent Richardson had a 52-yard touchdown run and totaled 65 yards on nine carries, while Julio Jones had a 50-yard touchdown reception for the Crimson Tide, which held Arkansas’ offense to 254 yards, 191 of them through the air. Arkansas QB Ryan Mallett was just 12-of-35 passing for 160 yards.
No. 7 Louisiana State (4-0, 2-0 SEC West) 30, Mississippi State (2-2, 1-2 SEC West) 26: At Scott Field in Starkville, Miss., the LSU defense stopped Mississippi State QB Tyson Lee on fourth-and-inches at the goal line with a minute to go after stopping RB Anthony Dixon on two rushing attempts from inside the 3-yard line. Brandon LaFell caught six passes for 101 yards and two touchdowns (4 and 58 yards) from quarterback Jordan Jefferson (15-28-0, 233 yards, 2 TD), Patrick Peterson opening the scoring with a 37-yard interception return for a touchdown and Chad Jones returned a punt 93 yards for the Tigers. The Bulldogs, coached by former Florida offensive coordinator Dan Mullen, outgained Les Myles’ Tigers 374-223, with Dixon rushing for 106 yards on 27 carries and a pair of touchdowns. Lee, however, was only 15-of-38 for 172 yards and one touchdown but with three interceptions (MSU had four turnovers, LSU none).
No. 21 Georgia (3-1) 20, Arizona State (2-1) 17: At Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga., Blair Walsh kicked a 37-yard field goal on the final play of regulation as the Bulldogs escaped an upset bid by the Sun Devils. Receiver A.J. Green of Georgia caught eight receptions for 174 yards, including a 56-yard touchdown, and also got a hand on what could have been a 38-yard field goal by Bobby Wenzig that could have put Arizona State in the lead. Green’s 36-yard reception set up Walsh’s game-winning field goal. Georgia quarterback Joe Cox completed 17 of 31 passes for 262 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.
Tennessee (2-2) 34, Ohio (2-2) 23: At Neyland Stadium In Knoxville, Tenn., Jonathan Crompton threw a pair of touchdowns as the Volunteers held off the upset bid of the Bobcats of the Mid-American Conference. Crompton threw a 26-yard screen pass to Bryce Brown for a 31-20 lead after lobbing a 3-yard scoring lob to Brandon Warren in the first quarter. Crompton was 17-of-34 passing for 222 yards and the Vols added 177 yards on the ground, 140 of them (on 20 carries) by Montario Hardesty. Theo Scott of Ohio completed 30 of 52 passes for 319 yards.
Auburn (4-0) 54, Ball State (0-4) 30: At Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., Chris Todd passed for 287 yards and five touchdowns, tying a school record, as the Tigers beat the Cardinals of the Mid-American Conference. Auburn totaled 487 yards behind Todd, who threw touchdowns of 46 and 65 yards to Terrell Zachery during a 26-point second quarter. Onterio McCalebb rushed for 86 yards on eight carries for Auburn. Kelly Page threw for 101 yards and one touchdown and ran for another for Ball State.
Vanderbilt (2-2) 36, Rice (0-4) 17: At Rice Stadium in Houston, the Commodores ran for 43 times for 216 yards and scored four rushing touchdowns. Warren Norman ran 11 times for 119 yards, including a 58-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. Kennard Reaves, John Cole and quarterback Larry Smith had the other touchdowns for Vanderbilt, which ended a two-game losing streak.
THURSDAY, SEPT. 24
South Carolina (3-1, 1-1 SEC East) 16, No. 4 Mississippi (2-1, 0-1 SEC West) 10: At Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C., the Gamecocks improved to 2-31 all-time against Top 5 competition by limiting the Rebels’ offense, which had been averaging 424 yards and 48 points a game coming into the contest, to just 248 total yards and 10 points. Placekicker Spencer Lanning hit field goals of 26, 20 and 30 yards and Patrick DiMarco caught a 2-yard TD pass from Stephen Garcia (16-34-0, 220 yards, 1 TD). Ole Miss managed just a 42-yard field goal by Joshua Shene in the opening quarter and Markeith Summers’ 45-yard TD pass from Jevan Snead (7-21-0, 107 yards, 1 TD).
SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE
EASTERN DIVISION
SEC Pct. PF PA ALL Pct. PF PA
Florida 2-0 1.00 64 20 4-0 1.00 182 29
Georgia 2-0 1.00 93 78 3-1 .750 123 119
South Carolina 1-1 .500 53 51 3-1 .750 98 70
Kentucky 0-1 .000 7 41 2-1 .667 80 68
Tennessee 0-1 .000 13 23 2-2 .500 125 72
Vanderbilt 0-2 .000 12 38 2-2 .500 93 55
WESTERN DIVISION
SEC Pct. PF PA ALL Pct. PF PA
Louisiana State 2-0 1.00 53 35 4-0 1.00 115 61
Alabama 1-0 1.00 35 7 4-0 1.00 162 52
Auburn 1-0 1.00 49 24 4-0 1.00 181 97
Mississippi State 1-2 .333 65 82 2-2 .500 110 89
Mississippi 0-1 .000 10 16 2-1 .667 107 36
Arkansas 0-2 .000 48 87 1-2 .333 96 97
RESULTS
SATURDAY, SEPT. 26
No. 1 Florida 41, Kentucky 7
No. 3 Alabama 35, Arkansas 7
No. 7 Louisiana State 30, Mississippi State 26
No. 21 Georgia 20, Arizona State 17
Tennessee 34, Ohio 23
Auburn 54, Ball State 30
Vanderbilt 36, Rice 17
THURSDAY, SEPT. 24
South Carolina 16, No. 4 Mississippi 10
SCHEDULE
SATURDAY, OCT. 3
No. 3 Alabama at Kentucky, 12:21 p.m. (CSS)
No. 7 Louisiana State at No. 21 Georgia, 3:30 p.m. (CBS)
No. 4 Mississippi at Vanderbilt, 7 p.m. (ESPNU)
South Carolina State at South Carolina, 7 p.m.
Georgia Tech at Mississippi State, 7:30 p.m.
Texas A&M vs. Arkansas at Arlington, Texas, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN2)
Auburn at Tennessee, 7:45 p.m. (ESPN)
Idle: Florida