SEC Football Championship Game Recap - Florida Gators Take Down BCS #1 Alabama for a Shot at the National Title

So how good are the Florida Gators? Percy Harvin didn't even suit up today in their SEC Football championship victory over the previously undefeated Alabama Crimson Tide, and the Gators still won and covered the online spread! Although Florida won the SEC Football championship over Alabama 31-20, the game was a back-and-forth affair for the majority of the game until Tim Tebow's touchdown pass to Riley Cooper with 2:45 to go in the game to put the Gators up by 11 points.

Alabama - Florida Game Recap

First Quarter

The much awaited SEC Championship game got off to a slow start when Bama went four and out on the first series of the ball game. Tim Tebow and the Gators responded with a nine play 59 yard drive ending with a Tebow touchdown pass to Javier Arenas going up 7-0 after the extra point. Alabama quickly responded with a 64 yard pass from John Parker Wilson to Julio Jones. On the very next play Glen Coffee ran the football in from 18 yards to tie the game after the extra point. Florida would go four and out on the next series and Alabama responded with driving to the Florida red zone with great starting field position only to have to settle for a field goal to go up 10-7.

Second Quarter

Alabama started the second half off with a punt. Florida would then get to within the Alabama 10 yard line, but also had to settle for a field goal to tie the game 10-10. The Tide would go four and out on the next series. Tim Tebow then led the Gators on a 9 play 57 yard drive finishing with his second TD pass of the game to David Nelson from the five yard line. After the extra point, the Gators went up 17-10 over the Tide. Both teams would fail to score in the remainder of the 2nd quarter to finish out the half.

Third Quarter

Both teams started the quarter with punts. On the Tide's second possession of the half, John Parker Wilson led Alabama on a 15 possession, 91 yard drive resulting in a Mark Ingram 2 yard rushing touchdown which tied the game after the extra point. The Gators had to punt on the next possession. The Tide then drove to the Florida 10 yard line only to be stopped and had to settle for a punt to go up 20-17.

Fourth Quarter

At this point, it looked as though the game were going the Crimson Tide's way. THat was until it was 3rd and 4 on the Alabama 46, when Jeffrey Demps rushed for what was close to a 1st Down, but the Tide was called for a 15 yard face mask penalty. Tim Tebow was able to get the Gators to the Bama 1 yard line where Jeffrey Demps took the ball in to put the Gators up 24-20. Bama wasn't able to get anything going on the next series and went four and out. Tim Tebow responded by leading the Gators on a 8 play, 65 yard drive finishing with his third touchdown pass of the game to Riley Cooper to put the Gators up for good, 31-20.

SEC Championship Stats and Summary

sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profileTim Tebow led the way for the Gators with 14/22 passing for 216 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions. Tebow was also the Gators leading rusher gaining 56 yards on 17 carries. Jeffrey Demps was the nr 2 rusher gaining 54 yards on 14 carries and one touchdown.

John Parker Wilson had an average game going 12/25 passing for 187 yards passing adn one interception. Glen Coffee led the way for the Tide by gaining 112 yards rushing on 21 carries and one touchdown.

Overall, the SEC Football championship definitely owned up to the pre-game hype! Although the game was close for much of the contest, the Gators were able to cover the 10 point spread and win the game by 11 points earning themselves a likely spot in the BCS National Title game!