Gators swamp LSU

In recent weeks much of the talk and message board chatter in the Gator Nation was about what their beloved football team wasn’t doing.

Expect that to change.

Delivering its most dominant performance since pounding Ohio State for the BCS National Championship in January 2007, 11th-ranked Florida beat No. 4 LSU up and down Florida Field on Saturday night, taking a 51-21 victory in front of 90,684 fans.

In dealing the defending national champs their worst defeat since a 31-0 loss to Alabama in 2002, the win had a little bit of everything for the Gators (5-1, 3-1 in the SEC).

Offense? Tim Tebow looked like the player who captured the 2007 Heisman Trophy by completing 14 of 21 passes for 210 yards and two touchdowns against the Tigers (4-1, 2-1).

Favorite target Percy Harvin had 102 of his 112 receiving yards and both of his touchdowns in the first quarter. And freshman tailback Jeff Demps showed the speed that made him the fastest athlete in high school history by carrying 10 times for 129 yards and a touchdown.

Defense? Linebacker Brandon Spikes grabbed two interceptions, returning the second 52 yards for a touchdown before emphatically punting the ball into the south end zone stands. And freshman cornerback Janoris Jenkins had the best game of his young career, recording a team-high nine tackles, breaking up two passes and making a sack.

Special teams? Kicker Jonathan Phillips was 3-of-3 on field goal attempts and 6-of-6 on extra points. And as always seems to be the case, Brandon James excited the national television audience with a 40-yard return.

“We came out here with a chip on our shoulders,” Tebow said. “We played like we should every week.”