Led by four touchdown passes by game MVP Rex Grossman, the Florida Gators defeated the Auburn Tigers, 28-6, to win the SEC Championship Game, held at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Ga. on Dec. 2.
With the win, the Gators have won five of the seven SEC Championship Games they have participated in. Florida went on to represent the SEC in the Bowl Championship Series, where it lost to Miami (Fla.), 37-20, in the Sugar Bowl.
Grossman completed 17 of 26 passes for 238 yards for the Gators while UF running back Earnest Graham set an SEC Championship Game record with 169 rushing yards on 19 carries.
The Gators went out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter against the Tigers. Grossman's 10-yard TD strike to Reche Caldwell with 13:09 left in the first quarter put the Gators ahead to stay, 7-0. Another Grossman to Caldwell strike, this time for 66 yards, added to the score with 2:42 left in the first quarter.
Florida added to its lead midway through the second quarter. Grossman hit freshman Jabar Gaffney on a 27-yard TD strike to make the score 21-0 with 8:19 left in the first half.
Auburn got on the scoreboard late in the second quarter on a 44-yard field goal by Damon Duval with no time left in the stanza.
The Tigers also got on the scoreboard first in the second half on a 21-yard field goal with 9:43 left in the third quarter, making the score 21-6.
On the game's following drive, the Gators put the game out of reach.
Grossman led Florida on an 11-play, 80-yard drive that took 4:26 off the clock. The drive ended on a 12-yard pass from Grossman to Brian Haugabrook and put the Gators ahead, 28-6.
The Tigers' agony was compounded on the next drive when QB Ben Leard had to leave the game with an injury and did not return. Before the injury, Leard completed 17 of 33 passes for 158 yards.
The Gator defense played a big role in the win as it held SEC Player of the Year Rudi Johnson to just 47 yards rushing on 17 carries.
Florida's Gaffney, the SEC Freshman of the Year, had five catches for 84 yards and a touchdown while Caldwell added three catches for 91 yards and two scores.
SCORING SUMMARY
Florida 14 7 7 0 -- 28
Auburn 0 3 3 0 -- 6
UF - Caldwell 10 pass from Grossman (Chandler kick), 13:09 (1st)
UF - Caldwell 66 pass from Grossman (Chandler kick), 2:42 (1st)
UF - Gaffney 27 pass from Grossman (Chandler kick), 8:19 (2nd)
AU - Duval 44 FG, 0:00 (2nd)
AU - Duval 21 FG, 9:43 (2nd)
UF - Haugabrook 12 pass from Grossman (Chandler kick), 5:17 (3rd)
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing: UF - Graham (19-169); Gillespie (11-45). AU - Evans (8-69); Johnson (17-47).
Passing: UF -Grossman (17-26-1; 238 yds., 4 TDs); AU - Leard (17-30-1; 158 yds., 0 TD).
Receiving: UF - Gaffney (5-84-1 TD); Caldwell (3-91-2 TD); AU - Evans (4-45); Diamond (4-42).
Tackles: UF - Hardmon 6 (6-0); Brown 5 (5-0). AU - Thomas 11 (9-2).
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