Spurrier Runs It Up His Way

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. —  There’s no such thing as a meaningless score when Florida plays Georgia.

Steve Spurrier proved that again Saturday, calling an end-around for a rub-it-in touchdown with 38 seconds left in No. 6-ranked Florida’s 38-7 victory over No. 11 Georgia.

“I don’t ever care what the other coach thinks when we run the ball in from seven yards out with the seventh or eighth wide receiver on our team,” Spurrier said.

But out of a five-receiver set? After a timeout? With a 24-point lead?

That’s how receiver John Capel scored the game’s last touchdown as the Gators, 7-1 overall and 5-1 in the Southeastern Conference, avenged last season’s 37-17 loss at Georgia, which ended Florida’s win streak at seven in the series.

“I don’t have any problem with him running up the score, I’ll tell you that,” said Georgia Coach Jim Donnan, who shook hands with Spurrier after the game. “There’s no animosity here from us.”

Minutes before, it appeared the signature touchdown would be quarterback Doug Johnson’s eight-yard touchdown reception on a trick play that began similarly to Capel’s touchdown run.

Johnson handed off to Capel on an end-around, Capel gave it to Travis McGriff on a double reverse, with McGriff stopping and throwing cross-field to Johnson for the touchdown and a 31-7 lead.

Johnson couldn’t remember the last time he caught a touchdown pass.

“Maybe in my backyard,” he said.

Johnson also threw two first-quarter touchdown passes and ran for one as the Gators remained one game behind Tennessee in the SEC East race.

Georgia (6-2, 4-2) had the ball inside the Florida State 30 four times after the first quarter but lost a fumble, missed a field goal, couldn’t convert a fourth-down situation and had a pass intercepted.