Wahoo Wire

If Alabama’s 32-13 thumping of Florida in the SEC Championship exposed any of the Gators’ fatal flaws on either side of the ball, Virginia Tech couldn’t tell.

With early touchdown runs of 86 and 72 yards, Florida’s Jeffery Demps and Emmanuel Moody blasted holes in the Hokies’ defense, sparking the Gators to a 27-7 halftime lead as their defense repeatedly snuffed out Virginia Tech’s drives on third downs.

Welcoming standout pass rusher Carlos Dunlap back after a one-game suspension, Florida’s defensive front harried quarterback Tyrod Taylor into check-down passing and a 7-of-16 night as the Hokies managed only 29 yards through the air and converted just two of their 16 third down attempts.

More importantly, the Gators were able to contain freshman sensation Ryan Williams, whose 207 rushing yards on 29 carries were inflated by a 73-yard touchdown at the end of the fourth quarter with Virginia Tech trailing 40-10. Williams, who ranked in the top ten nationally in rushing yards and points per game during the season, broke only one other run for more than 20 yards and struggled to fight through Florida’s linebackers for extra yardage.

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“You have to give him [Williams] credit,” Gators head coach Urban Meyer remarked after the game, “when he puts up 200 yards and you can still say that we contained him without sounding foolish.

“Stopping their ground game was a huge key for us coming in, and, judging from some of the games he’s had, it could have been much worse.”

After attempting 35 passes against Alabama, Florida’s aerial attack took the night off against the Hokies. Quarterback Tim Tebow threw just eight passes, completing four for 71 yards and two first downs that sustained early drives. Against Virginia Tech’s quick-but-undersized defense, the Gators ran the ball 67 times, averaging just under seven yards per rush.

The loss caps a disappointing season for the Hokies, who rose as high as fifth in national polls before consecutive losses to Georgia Tech and North Carolina derailed their bid for an ACC championship and relegated them to at-large status.

Florida will face the winner of tonight’s game between Cincinnati and East Carolina in the Citrus Bowl next Friday.

Results of Other Games:

#1 Alabama vs. #16 Troy

#8 Oregon vs. #9 Ohio State

#4 TCU vs. #13 Iowa

#5 Boise State vs. #12 West Virginia

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#2 Texas vs. #15 Central Michigan

#7 Georgia Tech vs. #10 LSU

#6 Florida vs. #11 Virginia Tech

#3 Cincinnati vs. #14 East Carolina