SOUTHEASTERN ROUNDUP : Florida Defense Back in Form in 29-7 Win

No. 14 Florida limited No. 21 Mississippi State to 233 yards as the Gators routed the Bulldogs, 29-7, Saturday in a Southeastern Conference game in the Citrus Bowl at Orlando, Fla.

A week earlier, the Gators allowed more than 400 yards in a 38-21 loss to Syracuse.

“Everybody had written us off, but the season is far from over,” said Brad Culpepper, a senior defensive lineman for the Gators. “We have the potential to be a good defense. We showed that two weeks ago against Alabama (a 35-0 victory).”

Mississippi State, which was leading the SEC in rushing with an average of 237 yards a game, was held to 77.

“We had a lot of defensive players embarrassed about what happened last week, especially our seniors,” Coach Steve Spurrier said. “But this week, our enthusiasm was back.”

Shane Matthews passed for more than 300 yards for a school-record seventh time and Errict Rhett rushed for 142 yards and one touchdown before a crowd of 69,328.

Matthews, a fourth-year junior from Pascagoula, Miss., had 22 completions in 35 attempts for 322 yards. He also passed for the 35th and 36th touchdowns of his career to move into a tie for third place on Florida’s career list with Spurrier, the 1966 Heisman Trophy winner.

Tre Everett’s 41-yard touchdown reception capped an 80-yard drive to open the game and Willie Jackson scored on a 19-yard pass play to give Florida a 17-0 halftime lead.

Rhett, the SEC’s leading rusher, set up Florida’s first touchdown with four carries for 39 yards, then scored early in the fourth quarter on a three-yard run. Arden Czyzewski also kicked field goals of 27, 37 and 23 yards for the Gators.

“Defensively, they found a soft spot and picked on it,” Mississippi State Coach Jackie Sherrill said.

The victory improved Florida’s record to 3-1 overall and 2-0 in the SEC. Mississippi State, which received $1 million to move its home game from Starkville, Miss., to Orlando, fell to 3-2 and 2-2.

Matthews’ 300-yard performance broke the school record previously held by John Reaves. Meanwhile, the Gators’ defense forced four turnovers and allowed Mississippi State’s option offense--which is similar to the one Syracuse used to gain 250 yards rushing--to convert only three of 10 third-down situations.

Outgained 337 yards to 93 in the first half, the Bulldogs had better success in the third quarter.

Greg Plump, filling in for the injured Sleepy Robinson at quarterback, moved the Bulldogs 77 yards in 10 plays to cut Florida’s lead to 17-7 on a one-yard run by William Prince.

Mississippi State was driving again, with a chance to get back in the game, when Plump’s option pitch to Karl Williamson landed behind the running back and Florida’s Larry Kennedy recovered at the Gators’ 36.

Matthews took over from there and directed a 64-yard scoring drive that put the game away. Rhett had a 19-yard gain in the march, and Matthews threw 38 yards to Everett to set up Rhett’s three-yard touchdown run for a 26-7 lead.

No. 22 Alabama 48, Vanderbilt 17--Siran Stacy gained 180 yards rushing, and David Palmer returned a punt 56 yards for one of his two touchdowns as the Crimson Tide (3-1, 2-1) beat the Commodores (1-3, 0-1) in an SEC game at Nashville, Tenn.

Alabama took charge in the first quarter, scoring on a 25-yard yard pass play from Danny Woodson to Palmer and a seven-yard run by Kevin Turner to lead, 14-0.

Mississippi 24, Arkansas 17--With this victory at Jackson, Miss., the Rebels have back-to-back wins over the Razorbacks for the first time in 30 years.

Marvin Courtner scored on runs of one and nine yards for Ole Miss (4-1), and Russ Shows completed 11 of 16 passes for 193 yards.

Arkansas (2-2) closed to within 17-10 in the third quarter, but Courtney gave Mississippi a 24-10 lead when he scored from nine yards out.

Kentucky 24, Kent 6--Craig Walker rushed for two touchdowns and Brad Smith passed for another as the Wildcats (2-1) beat the Golden Flashes (0-4) at Lexington, Ky.

Kentucky (2-1) scored on its first two possessions and led 21-6 by halftime.