Florida Leaves Auburn Red-Faced, 48-7 : Southeastern: Gators score 27 points in second quarter and hand Tigers their worst lost in 40 years.

There was no miracle finish for No. 4 Auburn Saturday night. Florida saw to that by jumping on the Tigers early and never letting up.

The 15th-ranked Gators took advantage of turnovers and Terence Barber’s 73-yard punt return to score 27 second-quarter points and deal the defending Southeastern Conference champions their worst loss in 40 years, 48-7, before a record crowd of 75,459 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

The loss was Auburn’s worst since Clemson beat the Tigers, 41-0, in 1950.

Auburn, 6-1-1 overall and 3-1-1 in the SEC, has been one of the luckiest team in college football this year. It has come from behind in the fourth quarter to avoid losing three games and blocked an extra point to save another. But it was apparent by halftime that more than good fortune was needed against Florida.

Errict Rhett rushed for 142 yards and Willie McClendon scored three touchdowns for Florida. Meanwhile, the Gators held Auburn to 172 yards--including minus 14 rushing--to move into first place in the conference standings with two league games left.

Although Florida (7-1, 4-1) is ineligible to win the SEC title because of NCAA probation, the Gators have a goal of finishing with the league’s best record. The victory left them tied for first with No. 17 Mississippi and restored some of the confidence the Gators lost in a 45-3 drubbing at Tennessee three weeks ago.

“I thought it could happen if we played extremely well and our pass protection held up, because I felt our defense could stop Auburn,” Florida Coach Steve Spurrier said.

“We felt like we were a good team, although some people were suggesting we might get blown out again. I really couldn’t see that happening.”

Despite its higher ranking and Florida’s lopsided loss to Tennessee, Auburn entered the game a three-point underdog. Herbert Casey’s 55-yard touchdown reception tied the score at 7-7, but the Tigers fell apart in the second quarter when Stan White was intercepted twice and Florida made the most of its scoring opportunities.

“We were not prepared mentally or physically or in any way, and you must be to win a game of this magnitude,” Auburn Coach Pat Dye said. “I doubt if we’re this bad. We’ve been living by a thread all season and I knew that we could lose, but I did not foresee this. It’s embarrassing.”

After a 70-yard first-quarter march produced Dexter McNabb’s one-yard touchdown run, Florida built a 34-7 halftime advantage by scoring three touchdowns and two field goals on drives of 25, four, 11, 66 and 27 yards in the second period.

Monty Grow’s interception and 19-yard return to the Auburn 25 set up McClendon’s one-yard touchdown run that broke the 7-7 tie. The Florida running back scored again--on a three-yard run--after Barber fielded a punt at his 16 and avoided what looked liked excellent coverage by Auburn on his long return.

Barber started up the right sideline, where six Auburn defenders converged on him and forced him to reverse his field at the 23.

He outran the pursuit to the left sideline, turned the corner and ran upfield 20 yards before changing directions again. Auburn’s Alex Thomas finally caught up to the Gator wide receiver on the right sideline and dragged him down at the Tigers’ 11. McClendon scored two plays later to give Florida a 24-7 lead with 5:07 left in the half, and the rout was on.

The victory ended a three-game losing streak in the series for Florida.