POSTGAME: Gators vs. Bulldogs Game Notables

It was a hard fought victory over the hated Georgia Bulldogs in the friendly confines of Alltel Stadium. Here's a few notable tidbits on the game in which the Gators won 14-10.

Team Notes

Urban Meyer is the only coach in Florida history to defeat two teams ranked No. 4 or higher in his first season (Tennessee and Georgia). No first-year head coach at Florida has ever faced a higher ranked Georgia team.

This is the 22 time since 1961 (45 games) the matchup has been decided by seven or fewer points. Florida has now won seven of the last eight games when they have played a ranked Georgia team and 14 of the last 16 meetings.

Florida’s touchdown on its first possession marked the first time the Gators have scored on their first possession this season.

Today marked the first time this season the Gators scored on their first possession. The Gators scored on back- to-back possessions to open the game today.

The Florida defense held Georgia without any passing yards in the first quarter. Georgia was not able to complete a pass until 13:58 remaining in the second quarter.

Florida had eight first downs in the first quarter. The Gators had only 11 in the entire game against LSU two weeks ago.

DeShawn Wynn’s fumble late in the second quarter was the first lost by a Gator running back this season.

Individual Notes

Chris Leak and Danny Wuerffel are the only two quarterbacks in school history to defeat four top 10 opponents away from Gainesville (at LSU, at Arkansas, at Florida State and vs. Georgia in Jacksonville).

Chris Leak’s rushing touchdown to open the game was his fourth of the season.

Leak now has 953 passing attempts in his career, which ranks sixth on the Florida all-time list moving him ahead of Kerwin Bell with 949.

Leak finished the day 15-for-20 for 108 yards and a touchdown. He also had a rushing touchdown. Leak has never thrown an interception against Georgia in his career.

Vernell Brown’s 29-yard punt return in the first quarter was his longest of the season.

Junior safety Reggie Nelson made his first career start today.

Nelson’s interception in the second quarter was his first at Florida.

Sophomore tight end Tate Casey caught his first touchdown pass of the season in the first quarter. It was his first since scoring two touchdowns against South Carolina in Nov. 13 last season.

Tate Casey’s touchdown reception was the first this season not by Chad Jackson or Dallas Baker.

Chad Jackson has now caught a pass in 20 straight games.

With his 21-yard reception in the second quarter, Chad Jackson now has eight catches for 20 or more yards this season.

Eric Wilbur had the first carry of his career on a fake punt near the end of the third quarter. It was a 20-yard run for a Florida first down.

DeShawn Wynn finished the game with 19 carries for 108 yards. It is his second career 100-yard game and his career high for carries.

Markus Manson had a career-long run of 22 yards in the fourth quarter. His previous long was 19 yards against Louisiana Tech.

Dallas Baker caught five passes today, four of them were for first downs.