It’s Getting Tougher, but Florida Still Rolls : SEC: Dean, Jackson lead No. 1 Gators, who pull away from 14-14 tie to defeat Mississippi, 38-14.

It was the closest game of the season for top-ranked Florida, yet it was still a blowout.

Terry Dean threw four touchdown passes as the Gators defeated Mississippi, 38-14, Saturday in a Southeastern Conference game at Oxford, Miss.

Dean and Jack Jackson combined on two touchdowns in the final 8:37 of the first half as the Gators, 4-0 overall and 3-0 in the SEC, took a 28-14 halftime lead.

Florida scored 14 points in the first two minutes of the game, but Ole Miss bounced back, tying the score at 14-14 on Fred Thomas’ 83-yard interception return with 7:09 left in the first quarter. But Ole Miss was shut out after that.

Dean completed 19 of 32 passes for 292 yards and increased his touchdown total to 17, although he had three passes intercepted after being picked off once in the first three games.

“Terry had some bad plays, but a lot of good plays . . . a lot of beautiful throws to Jack Jackson,” Florida Coach Steve Spurrier said. “Jack caught everything he touched today.” Jackson caught six passes for 120 yards.

The Gators still haven’t given up a point in the second half this season, allowing Ole Miss (2-3, 1-3) just 46 yards after the break.

“Our defense shut them down completely. Very seldom do you lose games when you shut them out in the second half,” Spurrier said.

In the first minute of the third quarter, Ole Miss quarterback Josh Nelson, while running away from pressure, threw his first interception in 145 attempts this season.

Michael Gilmore’s interception set up Dean’s second touchdown pass to Chris Doering, a six-yarder.

“Our offense sputtered in the second half,” said Spurrier, whose team was held to 156 yards after gaining 325 before halftime.