Florida Victory Ends a Week of Adversity

Galen Hall was in the back of Emmitt Smith’s mind, but Vanderbilt was staring him in the face on Saturday.

Smith, a junior tailback, rushed for 202 yards in a 34-11 victory over the Commodores that ended a tumultuous week for the 25th-ranked Gators, whose coach resigned amid allegations he violated National Collegiate Athletic Assn. rules.

“I personally tried not to let the week’s events faze me. I tried to focus on what I had to do,” said Smith, who was injured and didn’t play against Vanderbilt last year when Florida lost, 24-9.

Smith carried 25 times and scored one touchdown as Florida, 5-1 overall and 3-1 in the Southeastern Conference, won its fifth consecutive game. Vanderbilt (1-4 and 0-3) lost its 16th consecutive conference game on the road.

The victory also made Gary Darnell a winner in his debut as interim coach. He stepped up from his job as defensive coordinator after Hall admitted violating NCAA rules by providing unauthorized salary supplements to assistant coaches.

The Gators intercepted passes by John Gromos twice to set up first-half touchdowns and held Vanderbilt to two yards rushing.

Godfrey Myles’ 27-yard interception return set up Smith’s two-yard touchdown run for a 10-0 lead with eight minutes left in the first period. Richard Fain returned a second-quarter interception 26 yards to help Florida make it 20-0 on Willie McClendon’s four-yard run.

Kyle Morris teamed with wide receiver Ernie Mills on a 71-yard pass play that gave the Gators a 27-3 halftime lead. Morris also scored on a five-yard run in the third quarter, and Arden Czyzewski kicked two field goals.

Vanderbilt scored on Johnny Clark’s 44-yard field goal, Tony Jackson’s 11-yard touchdown run and a two-point conversion.