Leak keeps Florida in title race

Florida Coach Urban Meyer gathered his offensive linemen and gave a simple message: Protect the quarterback.

He was counting on Chris Leak to do the rest -- and keep the fourth-ranked Gators in the national championship hunt.

The often-criticized senior quarterback came through, directing one of the best drives of his career when Florida needed it most and delivering a 21-14 victory over rival Florida State on Saturday.

“I told Coach to just open it up and let me go pick them apart,” Leak said.

Leak was seven for eight for 79 yards on the game-winning drive early in the fourth quarter. He called an audible on third down, recognizing a blitz and checking to a skinny post, and hooked up with Dallas Baker for a 25-yard gain. He connected with Baker again two plays later for a 25-yard score.

Leak finished 21 of 34 for 283 yards with two touchdowns. The senior improved to 3-1 against Florida State, completing 59% of his passes for 1,098 yards, with seven touchdowns and two interceptions.

But to finally dump his critics, he has to do one thing.

“He hasn’t won a championship,” Meyer said. “Let’s go win a championship.”

The Gators (11-1) might have a shot at two; they play Arkansas in the Southeastern Conference championship game Saturday and still have a chance to face Ohio State in the national title game. But they need to beat the Razorbacks and have USC lose to UCLA to get consideration over Michigan.

Florida, fourth in the most recent Bowl Championship Series standings, certainly didn’t get any “style points” with its latest win.

“Here’s our style: You got at Tennessee, you’ve got Kentucky, you’ve got Alabama, LSU, Georgia and Auburn and at Tallahassee,” Meyer said, recalling much of Florida’s schedule. “So much for style. You want to put that one against anyone in the country, let’s go ahead and go.”

The Seminoles (6-6) had two chances to even the score, but they failed to convert on fourth down twice -- once in Florida territory and once deep in their end of the field.