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Gators relish come-from-behind win

Published: Saturday, October 17, 2009 at 9:02 p.m.
Last Modified: Saturday, October 17, 2009 at 9:02 p.m.

Tim Tebow couldn't watch.

After driving the Florida football team 69 yards in 13 plays with the game on the line, he grabbed backup quarterback John Brantley's hand and closed his eyes.

"I was praying," Tebow said. "I kept telling (Brantley), 'Tell me it's good! Tell me it's good!' I heard the fans. He didn't have to tell me."

Caleb Sturgis drilled a 27-yard field goal with nine seconds left to give Florida a come-from-behind 23-20 win over Arkansas. Florida led for only 3:01 of the game but walked off the field with the nation's longest winning streak (16 games) intact.

The Gators overcame six sacks of Tebow and four lost fumbles to rally past the Razorbacks. Arkansas led 10-3 at the half, then stunned the crowd with a 75-yard pass from Ryan Mallett to Greg Childs to take the lead with 9:40 remaining.

But Tebow and running back Jeff Demps got the Gators back to even when Demps scored from 10 yards out with 7:27 to play. Four minutes later, a missed field goal by Alex Tejada set up Florida with a chance to win.

Sturgis, who had made two field goals and missed one previously in the game, was perfect on the game-winner.

"I was happy I was going to have a chance to win it instead of tying it," Sturgis said.

Now 6-0, the Gators travel to Starkville to play Mississippi State on Saturday.

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