Florida 30, Ole Miss 24
OXFORD, Miss. (AP) -- Tim Tebow passed for two touchdowns, ran for two more and set a school record for quarterbacks with 166 yards rushing to help No. 3 Florida hold off Mississippi late and win 30-24 on Saturday.
The Gators (4-0) got off to a slow start and allowed the Rebels (1-3) back into the game at the start of the fourth quarter.
But Tebow came up with a handful of clock-killing runs after he engineered two second-half touchdown drives, scoring on a 6-yard run and throwing a 37-yard touchdown pass to Louis Murphy.
The sophomore, who was the nation's No. 2 passer coming into the game, finished with 261 yards passing as he led the defending national champions to their 11th straight win and 19th in their last 20. The victory snapped a three-game losing streak for the Gators in the state of Mississippi.
Percy Harvin had 11 catches for 121 yards and a 19-yard touchdown catchin the second quarter that helped the Gators to a 14-6 halftime lead.
Ole Miss rallied to cut Florida's advantage to 27-24 on Seth Adams' 71-yard touchdown pass to Mike Wallace with 7 seconds left in the third quarter. But Tony Joiner ended the rally when he picked off a pass by Adams on the Rebels' next drive. Their final drive ended when they failed to make a first down on a fake punt.
Tebow answered with 37 yards rushing on a 12-play, 53-yard drive that consumed 5:55 and ended with Joey Ijjas' 25-yard field goal. The score took the oomph out of the Rebels' rally and they failed to make a first down on their final drive.
Ole Miss was able to move the ball on the Gators' young defense with 390 yards of total offense, but struggled each time it traveled deep into Florida territory, mostly because of penalties.
The Rebels had to settle for field goals by Joshua Shene of 40, 32 and 22 yards on its first three scoring drives. He also missed a 48-yarder late in the second half.
But Adams, whose status was in doubt after he sprained his right shoulder against Vanderbilt, brought Ole Miss back with a 19-yard touchdown pass to Shay Hodge with 2:47 remaining in the third that cut Florida's lead to 27-16.
Then after hitting Wallace on the next series, he connected with Marshay Green on the 2-point conversion to bring the Rebels within 27-24 with a quarter to play.
Adams finished with 302 yards passing and Michael Hicks had three catches for 89 yards.
It was the third straight loss for Ole Miss.
LSU 28, South Carolina 16
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) -- LSU put one over on the ol' ballcoach.
The No. 2 Tigers used a fake field goal to score one touchdown and piled up 288 rushing yards to defeat Steve Spurrier and No. 12 South Carolina 28-16 on Saturday.
Midway through the second quarter, the Tigers set up for a field goal attempt from 32 yards. However, the holder, quarterback Matt Flynn flipped the ball over his shoulder to kicker Colt David, who ran it in for a touchdown run and a 21-7 halftime lead
Jacob Hester's power and Trindon Holliday's speed were key for LSU on the ground and its dominant defense did the rest with two interceptions and a pair of stops on fourth-and-short yardage situations. The defense unsettled Spurrier to the point he switched quarterbacks several times.
Holliday wound up with a career-high 73 yards rushing, including a 33-yard touchdown, while Hester finished with 89 yards and a score.
The Gamecocks' tandem of standout running backs, Cory Boyd and Mike Davis, combined for only 27 yards and one TD by Davis. Because of sacks, South Carolina's net rushing total was only 6 yards.
Backup quarterback Chris Smelley ended up with the best passing numbers for the Gamecocks, going 12-of-26 for 174 yards and a late 1-yard TD pass to Kenny McKinley.
He was intercepted by Chevis Jackson, while Danny McCray intercepted starter Blake Mitchell to set up a touchdown on a fake field goal late in the first half.
Spurrier came in 11-1 against LSU, and early on it looked as if he still might have the Tigers' number.
Mitchell bounced back from a couple of vicious sacks and, with the help of an LSU facemask penalty, he drove the Gamecocks for a 7-0 lead on their third series, capped by Davis' 1-yard run.
It was only the second score LSU had given up this season, and it was the first time the Tigers trailed in a game.
With the remnants of a tropical depression soaking Tiger Stadium, the field became sloppy and hindered the passing game.
Mitchell bobbled several snaps in shotgun formation and receivers for both teams slipped on cuts.
It was less of a problem for LSU, which subbed in powerful and mobile backup Ryan Perrilloux for designed quarterback runs. The Tigers wound up with 217 yards rushing in the first half, Holliday with 61 and Perrilloux with 54.
There was nothing Spurrier could do, and he watched with increasing frustration as LSU piled up the yards. During LSU's second scoring drive, he threw a note pad when Hester ran for 8 yards on third-and-3. When Keiland Williams bit off another 15 yards, Spurrier turned his back to the field, pulling off his headset as he paced anxiously and throwing his hands up.
Those rushes set up Flynn's 1-yard TD pass over the middle to Richard Dickson to make it 14-7.
Kentucky 42, Arkansas 29
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) -- Andre Woodson and Kentucky have the comeback down pat.
Woodson threw for 265 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another score, leading the 21st-ranked Wildcats to second consecutive fourth-quarter comeback and a 42-29 victory over Arkansas on Saturday night.
Keenan Burton caught a 32-yard touchdown from Woodson, who is emerging as a Heisman Trophy contender, with 4:02 remaining to give the Wildcats the lead for good. Last week, Woodson beat Louisville with a last-minute TD pass and that led to Kentucky's first AP Top 25 appearance since 1984.
As for Arkansas' Heisman hopeful, Darren McFadden ran for 173 yards and Arkansas' only offensive touchdown, but for the second consecutive week the Razorbacks let one get away in the fourth quarter. They lost last weekend 41-38 to Alabama on a touchdown with 8 seconds to play.
The Razorbacks led Kentucky 29-21 after Felix Jones returned a free kick 82 yards for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter.
Kentucky responded with Derrick Locke's 2-yard touchdown run to make it 29-27, and although the 2-point conversion attempt was stopped, the Razorbacks couldn't move the ball and had to punt.
Kentucky (4-0, 1-0) went 68 yards in 1:33, taking the lead when Burton came down with Woodson's pass between two defenders. Woodson then found Burton for a 2-point conversion, and after Arkansas turned the ball over on downs, the Wildcats scored again on Woodson's 1-yard run.
The Razorbacks (1-2, 0-2) outgained Kentucky 373-131 in the first half but led only 20-14 after a huge play near the end of the second quarter. Arkansas appeared to be moving toward at least a field goal when third-string running back Michael Smith fumbled. Kentucky's Trevard Lindley recovered and went 66 yards for a touchdown with 26 seconds remaining.
Woodson went 21-of-39 and has now thrown 296 passes without an interception, breaking Trent Dilfer's major college record of 271.
He got off to a rough start against Arkansas. On the Wildcats' first drive, he was hit immediately after the snap when he appeared to be trying to hand off. The ball came loose, and the Razorbacks' Antwain Robinson returned the fumble 16 yards for a touchdown and a 10-0 lead.
Kentucky answered quickly, moving 72 yards in only five plays and scoring on Rafael Little's 14-yard run.
Jones broke free for a 73-yard run to the Kentucky 6 in the second quarter, but Arkansas had to settle for a field goal. The Razorbacks squandered another great chance when Kentucky's Dicky Lyons fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Arkansas recovered at the Wildcats' 36. That turnover cost Kentucky only a few yards of field position because the Razorbacks couldn't move the ball and had to punt.
McFadden made it 20-7, taking a direct snap at quarterback and running 56 yards to the end zone. It was a spectacular run even by McFadden's standards. Last year's Heisman Trophy runner-up split two defenders, then cut back past defensive back David Jones with a beautiful change of direction.
Arkansas rushed for 207 yards in the second quarter alone, but didn't have much of a lead to show for it. In the second half, the Razorbacks' offense did almost nothing.
Kentucky took the opening kickoff of the third quarter and went 80 yards in 12 plays. Woodson found Burton for a 15-yard touchdown and a 21-20 lead.
Arkansas went back ahead in the fourth on a safety after Woodson dropped back in his own end zone and ran into tailback Alfonso Smith. Woodson was sacked, and Jones returned the ensuing kick for a TD.
Auburn 55, New Mexico State 20
AUBURN, Ala. (AP) -- A week after being booed and benched, Brandon Cox passed for 135 yards and a touchdown as Auburn broke open what had been a close game in the second half to defeat New Mexico State 55-20 Saturday night.
Cox's passing complemented the running of Ben Tate and Mario Fannin. Tate rushed 21 times for 112 yards and a touchdown, while Fannin ran the ball 15 times for 103 yards and three touchdowns, including a 67-yarder in the fourth quarter.
The game was redemption for both Cox and Fannin. Cox, a fifth year senior who started the last two years, was benched early in last week's upset loss to Mississippi State and was mostly ineffective in Auburn's 1-2 start. After booing Cox lustily last week, fans were hollering ``Brandon! Brandon!'' after he threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Rod Smith early in the third quarter.
Fannin had fumbled three times in the first three games, but held onto the ball against the Aggies after spending the week carrying a football every where he went on campus. His three touchdowns were the most by an Auburn player since 2005.
Auburn (2-2) held a slim 21-20 lead at halftime. Cox, who came in during the second quarter, gave the Tigers a spark as they outscored the Aggies 34-0 in the second half.
New Mexico State (2-2) was led by Chasee Holbrook, who completed 29-of-40 passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns, but had three interceptions. Auburn's Johnathan Wilhite had two of those interceptions.
Freshman quarterback Kodi Burns, who saw his first action last week, started instead of Cox. The Tigers started slow, failing to get a first down in their first two possessions.
The defense got Auburn on the board at 7:33 in the first quarter when Pat Sims recovered a fumble by the Aggies' A.J. Harris and returned it 21 yards for a score. It was the first time Auburn had scored first this season.
The Aggies came back as Holbrook got the passing game going, driving 80-yards in 10 plays, including a 44-yard completion over the middle to Nick Cleaver. Holbrook scored on one-yard sneak as the Aggies tied the score 7-7 at 3:51 in the first.
Auburn took the lead on the next play from scrimmage when Burns hit Rod Smith with a 58 yard scoring pass.
New Mexico State tied it again on a 5-yard pass from Holbrrok to Brandon Allen. The Aggies took a 20-14 lead two plays later.
On his first play, Cox fumbled the snap on Auburn's next play and Holbrook followed with a 25-yard TD pass to Chris Williams.
Cox had better luck on Auburn's next possession, leading the Tigers on a 9-play, 62-yard drive capped by a one-yard touchdown run by Fannin, giving the Tigers a 21-20 lead.
Mississippi State 31, Gardner-Webb 15
STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) -- Anthony Dixon scored two touchdowns to lead Mississippi State to a 31-15 win over Gardner-Webb on Saturday and its first 3-1 start to a season since 2000.
The Bulldogs (3-1, 1-1 Southeastern Conference) opened the game with a 10-play, 68-yard drive that ended with Dixon scoring from nine yards out.
Five plays later, safety De'Mon Glanton intercepted Gardner-Webb quarterback Devin Campbell and returned the ball 60 yards for a score, putting the Bulldogs up 14-0.
Phillip Peoples scored Gardner-Webb's (1-2, 0-0 Big South Conference) only touchdown early in the fourth quarter and the team never really threatened despite picking up 332 yards in its first game against a Division I opponent.
The Bulldogs were without starting quarterback Michael Henig, who has a broken hand. Wesley Carroll, a true freshman, and Josh Riddell split time under center.
Riddell went 8-of-12 for 124 yards with one touchdown and an interception. Carroll threw just eight passes and completed four.
Dixon rushed 16 times for 86 yards. Christian Ducre added 52 yards on 10 carries.
Dixon scored his second touchdown in the second quarter. Then Riddell connected with Tony Burks for a 30-yard touchdown pass.
Gardner-Webb replaced Campbell after the interception early in the game with Stan Doolittle, who finished 19-of-33 for 188 yards. Most of the team's points came from Evan Kay, who kicked three field goals.
Tennessee 48, Arkansas State 27
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Erik Ainge threw for four touchdowns and a career-high 334 yards to help Tennessee beat Arkansas State 48-27 Saturday night.
Lucas Taylor caught touchdown passes of 17 yards and 24 yards and LaMarcus Coker caught a 25-yarder and scored on a 2-yard run. Ainge completed 28 of 40 passes with an interception and Tennessee (2-2) rushed for a season-high 188 yards.
Corey Leonard threw for one touchdown and was 18-for-35 with 199 yards passing and two interceptions for Arkansas State (1-2). Josh Arauco kicked field goals of 44 and 37 yards.
Daniel Lincoln completed his seventh and eighth straight field goals of 29 and 39 yards, giving him the best season start for a Tennessee kicker in history.
Reggie Arnold, who had 130 yards rushing for Arkansas State, had a 1-yard TD run with 14:54 in the fourth quarter.
Robert Ayres doubled Tennessee's sack total for the season by bringing down Leonard twice. Brent Vinson and Marsalous Johnson each picked him off.
Tennessee's defense, entered the game ranked 102nd nationally, gave up 377 yards, Arkansas State's lowest total this season.
For the first time this season, Tennessee scored before its opponent. Taylor broke a tackle to stretch into the end zone after catching Ainge's 17-yard pass to put the Vols up 7-0 with 12:11 in the first quarter.
Arkansas State cut made it 17-14 in the second quarter when Tyrell Johnson intercepted Ainge's pass intended for Chris Brown and ran it back 54 yards for a touchdown.
Georgia 26, Alabama 23 (OT)
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) -- Mikey Henderson caught a 25-yard touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford in overtime to lift No. 22 Georgia to a 26-23 victory over No. 16 Alabama on Saturday night.
The Crimson Tide started overtime with the ball but failed to gain a yard and Leigh Tiffin put Alabama ahead with a 42-yard field goal.
The Bulldogs (3-1, 1-1 Southeastern Conference) needed one play to win it. Stafford lofted a pass to the left side of the end zone for Henderson, who made an over-the-shoulder catch and ended the Tide's hopes of a second straight dramatic victory.
It was Henderson's first career touchdown catch, and it was a big one for a team that was flirting with its first 0-2 SEC start since 1993.
Stafford completed 19-of-35 passes for 224 yards, throwing for two touchdowns and getting intercepted twice. He was excellent on third downs, helping Georgia convert 9-for-19.
The Tide (3-1, 2-1) had rallied to beat Arkansas 41-38 last week on John Parker Wilson's touchdown pass to Matt Caddell with 8 seconds left, the team's first fourth-quarter comeback win since the 2004 Independence Bowl.
This one might have been even more improbable if Alabama could have pulled it off after scoring 10 points in the final 6:30 to force overtime.
Wilson threw for 185 yards, ran for a touchdown and completed 17-of-35 passes.
Alabama's Glen Coffee was stopped for no gain on the first play of OT, then Wilson threw a pair of incompletions.
Last week's win had vaulted the Tide back into the rankings and worked already title-hungry fans into a frenzy. They were even more excited when it appeared Nick Saban's team was going to do it again, only to watch the Bulldogs celebrate instead.
Georgia nearly got the win in regulation time. Stafford got the ball back at the Bulldogs 34 with 1:09 left, and completed a couple of quick passes for a first down. After two straight incompletions, Thomas Brown ran for 8 yards.
The Bulldogs used their final timeout on fourth-and-2 from the 41 with 12 seconds left. Stafford hit Tripp Chandler across the middle for an 11-yard gain, stopping the clock with a first down. He spiked the ball to bring Brandon Coutu onto the field with 3 seconds left, but the kick went wide left by about a foot.
The Tide had started its late comeback with Tiffin's 22-yard field goal on a drive kept alive by a pass interference call on fourth-and-7.
Alabama held Georgia without a first down and got the ball back at its own 12 with 4:44 left. Wilson hit Keith Brown down the left sideline for a 43-yard gain after Brown broke free from cornerback Bryan Evans, moving into Georgia territory.
Roy Upchurch's tackle-breaking 10-yard run up the middle gave Alabama first-and-goal from the 6. Then Wilson dropped backed before quickly darting into an open lane and zig-zagging into the end zone with 1:09 left.
Thomas Brown and Knowshon Moreno rushed for 74 yards apiece for Georgia. Coffee and Terry Grant combined for 142 yards rushing for Georgia.