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Gators claim BCS title

By Staff | Jan 9, 2009

MIAMI (AP) – Tim Tebow gave Florida the jolt it needed, and the Gators toughed out a second BCS title in three years.

Their 24-14 win over No. 2 Oklahoma in a choppy, sloppy affair Thursday night made them a national champion, but it might have done little to quiet fans of Southern California, Utah and Texas, all of whom already claimed the top spot.

The high-scoring shootout between Heisman Trophy winners never materialized. Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford couldn’t score from in close and Tebow threw two interceptions, as many as he had all season.

Tebow, however, shook off two miserable throws to rescue the top-ranked Gators (13-1). He drove them to the clinching score – a jump pass for a four-yard touchdown to David Nelson with 3:07 to play that made it 24-14

Tebow added to the title he helped the Gators win in 2006 with a rout of Ohio State and, one season after winning the Heisman, brought home another trophy.

Tebow was picked the game’s most outstanding player, running for 109 yards.

Points were tough to come by for the high-scoring Oklahoma Sooners, even when they had Florida backed up to the goal line.

Twice the Gators stopped Oklahoma inside the 10, stands that proved pivotal in the Gators’ victory.

The Sooners scored an NCAA-record 702 points during regular season, averaging 54 a game. When reaching the opposing 20-yard line, they had scored of 76 of 80 times, including 69 touchdowns. They were stopped twice in the first half by Florida, and later had a field-goal attempt blocked.

The Associated Press will release its final national poll early Friday.