SEC Wrap Up Week 11

SEC Wrap Up Week 11

By Rafael Garcia
Sr. Contributing Writer
Southeast Region

Ole Miss 42 Tennessee 17
At kickoff the question would be if the Vols could overcome what had just happened with three players, when they were accused of armed robbery, and the answer was they simply could not. What they ran into was Ole Miss back Dexter McCluster and his school records of 282 yards rushing and 324 all-purpose yards. The Vols had practiced all week on how to bottle him up but could not even tackle him when he was right in front of them. Several Vol players said that he was the best player they had faced all year. He started the scoring four plays in with a 15-yard run to make it 7-0. Tennessee answered right back when Jonathan Crompton tossed a 16-yarder to Jeff Cottam to tie it. The teams traded scores, but when Daniel Lincoln hit a 27-yard field goal to make it 21-17 Rebels, the roof caved in on UT. The field goal was followed by three unanswered touchdowns by Ole Miss and they never looked back. McCluster had a beauty of a 71-yard score to open the fourth. He was able to make his way through the defense and just run away from the defenders that could not catch him. He showed plenty of heart for a kid that weighs all of 170 pounds and plenty more speed. So the Vols answered the question that everyone was asking this week about the three student arrested and how it would affect them. They started out strong but ended with a dud. They are still one win away from being bowl eligible so they have to suck it up and get back to work. They have Vanderbilt at home next week and then go to Kentucky to close the season. Neither of these games is a lock so lets get ready for a photo finish.

Florida 24 South Carolina 14
This game would give Steve Spurrier another shot at beating his old school but he would once again come up short. The game was decided by defense when it counted most. AT&Tebow tied the SEC mark for career touchdowns and the Gators won their 20th straight. It was the first time a Florida team has gone undefeated in league play since 1996 when Spurrier was the coach. Tebow was unable to dominate on this day as he was just 14-25 for 199 yards and had 26 yards on 16 carries. He did have a touchdown pass and one rushing but ran into a determined Gamecocks defense. It appeared that they might lose this game as S.C. quarterback Stephen Garcia was driving his team to a potential tying score. He kept the drive alive with a fourth and two conversion but then came the big mistake. As he threw the ball it was tipped and DE Justin Trattou grabbed it and ran 53 yards to set up the game clincher by Tebow four plays later. So now the Gators are perfect in the regular season and have a laugher next week when Florida International visits the Swamp. They will use that one to rest up some players for the big showdown against Alabama for the SEC title. The loser goes home very disappointed while the winner will play for the BCS title.

Georgia 31 Auburn 24
When the game started it looked like Auburn would halt a three game losing streak to Georgia. They got off to a 14-0 lead on their first two possessions and the rout appeared to be on. Then the Dawgz got to work and cut it to 14-7 by halftime. The second half was all Georgia as they scored the first 10 points in the third and running back Caleb King scored twice on runs of 11 and 24 yards. The first touchdown broke a 17-17 tie and then the Tigers answered when Demond Washington ran the ensuing kickoff back 99-yards to tie it again. The second touchdown by King looked to end it but Auburn had other plans. They were driving down the field to set up the game tying score when quarterback Chris Todd’s pass fell into the arms of Mario Fannin at the goal line. Just as he was catching the pass Bacarri Rambo dove at him hitting him so hard it knocked the ball away for an incompletion and knocked Rambo out.
So another SEC team is now bowl eligible and that brings the count to nine. How many will get into one is yet to be determined but that is football in the most powerful conference in the country.

Other scores:

Alabama 31 Mississippi State 3

Kentucky 24 Vanderbilt 13

LSU 24 La. Tech 16

Arkansas 56 Troy 20