SOUTHEASTERN ROUNDUP : Matthews Leads Florida to 47-15 Victory

Shane Matthews completed 20 of 37 passes for 303 yards and four touchdowns in leading No. 6 Florida to a 47-15 victory over Kentucky Saturday at Lexington, Ky.

Florida, 9-1 overall and 6-1 in the Southeastern Conference, is on probation and ineligible for the title, but the Gators have clinched at least a tie for the best record in the SEC.

Also, the Gators, who play Florida State Dec. 1, won nine of their first 10 games for the first time in the school’s 84-year football history.

Florida’s only loss was to Tennessee, 45-3, on Oct. 13.

“That will haunt us at the end of the year,” said Matthews, who has passed for three or more touchdowns in six games this season. “We just had to put it behind us, and we did.”

Matthews connected on touchdown pass plays of 17 and 19 yards to Ernie Mills in a 24-point second quarter that erased a 9-7 lead by Kentucky (4-6, 3-3).

Kelvin Randolph went eight yards off left tackle for a touchdown and Arden Czyzewski kicked a 30-yard field goal as Florida led 31-9 at the half.

“They are the best team we’ve played so far this year,” Kentucky cornerback Sterling Ward said. “We just didn’t make the big plays. It was frustrating. We had a chance, but didn’t build on it.”

The Florida defense came up with three interceptions and a fumble recovery in the first half, including Godfrey Myles’ 52-yard interception return that gave the Gators a 7-2 lead with 9:22 left in the first quarter.

“In the second quarter, the defense held Kentucky to no yards and I think that quarter won the game for us,” Florida Coach Steve Spurrier said.

Matthews, who passed for more than 300 yards for the fourth time this season, passed to Tre Everett for a 24-yard touchdown play in the third quarter and passed one yard to Kirk Kirkpatrick in the fourth quarter.

Kentucky took a 2-0 lead early in the game when Jeff Brady tackled Matthews in the end zone for a safety. After Myles’ interception, Freddie Maggard teamed with Al Baker on a 73-yard touchdown pass play on a screen, and Kentucky led, 9-7.

Mississippi State 34, LSU 22--Tay Galloway ran for two touchdowns and Albert Williams had a 51-yard pass interception for another as the Bulldogs beat the staggering Tigers in an SEC game at Jackson, Miss.

Mississippi State, which had lost 11 straight conference games, is now 5-5 and 1-5.

Louisiana State, which had fourth-year Coach Mike Archer resign Thursday, effective at the end of the season, lost for a fourth consecutive time. The Tigers fell to 4-6 and 2-5.

Winning for the first time in six years in the series, Mississippi State dominated until a 19-point LSU final quarter. Mississippi rolled up 364 yards offense and wasn’t forced to punt until early in the fourth quarter.

Alabama 45, Cincinnati 7--The Crimson Tide assured itself of a bowl bid as Robert Jones ran for three touchdowns in a victory over the Bearcats at Birmingham, Ala.

Alabama, 6-4 after an 0-3 start, will go to its 31st bowl in 32 years. The Crimson Tide, which finishes its season on Dec. 1 against Auburn, could wind up in the Fiesta or Gator Bowls, depending on the outcome of the Southeastern Conference race.

Cincinnati ended its second season under Coach Tim Murphy at 1-10.

Jones scored from the six and the one in the first half as Alabama scored on four of its six first-half possessions for a 28-0 halftime lead. Jones cost the Tide another scoring chance when he fumbled on the Bearcats’ 15.

The Crimson Tide drove 72 yards for its first score. Two passes by Gary Hollingsworth to Lamonde Russell gained 31 yards and a reverse by Donnie Finkley added 19 to set up Jones’ six-yard touchdown. Alabama needed only four plays to score on its next possession, with Hollingsworth getting 24 yards and passing to Russell for 21 to the five, from where freshman Chris Anderson scored.