Final score: Michigan 41, UF 35
FIRST QUARTER
Florida got a break when Michigan's Brandon Minor took the opening kickoff as he was running out of bounds at the 7. But that simply meant the Wolverines would rack up some major yardage on their first drive. Mike Hart's 23-yard run kick-started the offense and his 13-yard run moved the ball to the 12. Derrick Harvey forced an intentional grounding call but on the next play. UM quarterback Chad Henne hit Mario Manningham for a 21-yard score as UF safety Major Wright took a bad angle on the post route. Florida had a short drive the first time the Gators got the ball, but it ended with a Tim Tebow incompletion and a 49-yard field goal attempt by Joey Ijjas that was wide right. But the next time the Gators got the ball, Tebow got things going with 19-yard run. Cornelius Ingram caught a 17-yarder to the Michigan 7 and appeared to make a juggling catch for a touchdown. But Jason Watkins was called for being downfield. Two plays later, Tebow found Percy Harvin open in the end zone. Amazingly, Michigan didn't cover Harvin on the play. A Brandon James return and a 15-yard penalty on Michigan set the Gators up on the Michigan 29 and a pass to Harvin moved it to the 12. Harvin slipped on a running play on first down as the quarter ended.
MI — Manningham 21 pass Henne (Lopata kick), 10:50; 93 yards on 12 plays. Time of Possession (TOP): 4:01. KEY PLAY: Hart 13 run to UF 12; Mich. 7, Fla. 0
UF — Harvin 10 pass Tim Tebow (Ijjas kick), 2:37; 59 yards on seven plays. TOP: 3:04. KEY PLAY: Ingram 17 catch from Tebow to UM 7; Mich. 7, Fla. 7
First quarter: Florida 7, Michigan 7
SECOND QUARTER
Despite a false start penalty on the first play of the quarter and offsetting penalties on the second, Florida scored quickly to start the quarter. Tebow hit Andre Caldwell with a screen pass and the senior made a nifty move, got a block from center Drew Miller and cruised into the end zone. But a squib kickoff set up Michigan at its 44. The Wolverines converted a pair of third downs, the second on a fly pattern to Manningham, who easily beat cornerback Joe Haden. On third-and-goal from the 3, Florida went to its nickel package and Michigan ran the ball. Hart scored to make it 14-14. That score was followed by missed opportunity for each team. Harvin's 66-yard run gave Florida the ball at the Michigan 14. One Tebow touchdown pass was called back and another — albeit a poor throw — was dropped by Harvin. Tebow was sacked on third down and Ijjas' field goal attempt was blocked. Michigan countered with a 65-yard screen pass to tight end Carson Butler to the Florida 4-yard line. But Mike Hart, who had not fumbled in 1,004 touches, coughed the ball up to the Gators. Michigan tried a trick play the next time the Wolverines had the ball, but the double pass was intercepted by Wright. Michigan closed the half with a touchdown drive to take the lead — Henne going to Manningham twice on third down passes and hitting Adrian Arrington for an apparent touchdown. A reply review showed he was down at the 1 and Florida stifled the first two attempts to score. On third down, Henne found Arrington in the corner of the end zone to give Michigan the lead.
UF — Caldwell 18 pass Tebow (Ijjas kick), 14:48; 29 yards on three plays. TOP: :54. KEY PLAY: Harvin 18 catch from Tebow to UM 11; Fla. 14, Mich. 7
MI — Hart 3 run (Lopata kick), 9:51; 56 yards on 12 plays. TOP: 4:57. KEY PLAY: Manningham 24 catch to UF 7; Fla. 14, Mich. 14
MI — Arrington 1 catch Henne (Lopata kick), :08; 62 yards on 11 plays. TOP: 2:31. KEY PLAY: Arrington 23 catch from Henne to UF 1; Mich. 21, Fla. 14
Second quarter: Michigan 21, Florida 14
THIRD QUARTER
The second half started when Michigan's sky kick seemed to catch the UF return team by surprise. Nobody from Florida went after the ball and Michigan recovered at the Florida 37. Michigan converted a third-and-10 — it's eighth third-down conversion of the game — and eventually scored on a 1-yard run by Hart. Florida answered with a 56-yard drive that included a 17-yard run for Harvin and a 14-yard run by Tebow that put the ball inside the Michigan 1-yard line. Tebow walked in for the touchdown that pulled UF within a touchdown. But Michigan came right back down the field on the strength of a pair of Henne passes. Hart fumbled again, this time into the end zone and Florida recovered to dodge another bullet. The Gators then drove 80 yards but not without some drama. They needed a fourth-down fake punt — Chas Henry hit Aaron Hernandez with a 15 yard pass — to keep the drive alive. Harvin then broke off a 44-yard run to the 13. After Tebow lost a yard, he found Caldwell behind the defense for a touchdown. Tebow withstood a fierce rush to get the pass off. Michigan finished off the quarter with another big play, a 23-yard run by Manningham on a play in which he reversed his field.
MI — Hart 1 run (Lopata kick), 12:50; 37 yards on seven plays. TOP: 2:10. KEY PLAY: Arrington 20 catch from Henne to UF 2; Mich. 28, Fla. 14
UF — Tebow 1 run (Ijjas kick), 7:55; 56 yards on 10 plays. TOP: 4:55. KEY PLAY: Tebow 14 run to UM 1; Mich. 28, Fla. 21
UF — Caldwell 14 pass Tebow, 1:26; 80 yards on eight plays. TOP: 3:11. KEY PLAY: Harvin 44 run to UM 13; Mich. 28, Fla. 28
Third quarter: Florida 28, Michigan 28
FOURTH QUARTER
The Wolverines opened the quarter by finishing off a drive with a field goal to take a 31-28 lead. Michigan had another drive going when Henne tried to throw a screen pass that was tipped by Jermaine Cunningham. Mike Pouncey grabbed the pass and ran it to the Michigan 34. Florida took advantage of the turnover, the fourth for UF in the game, by driving in for the go-ahead score. Harvin finished it off on a reverse from 10 yards out. Michigan wasn't behind for long, 1:37 to be exact. Arrington made an incredible catch, tipping the ball away from Markihe Anderson to himself on a deep pass from Henne to the Florida 24. Two plays later, Henne found Arrington wide open on a post route for what would turn out the be the winning score with 4:12 to play. Florida had two chances to retake the lead, but eight plays gained only four yards. Michigan added a field goal in between the four-and-outs and the final play for the Gators was a pass thrown up for grabs by Tebow that was batted away from Ingram. Michigan took a knee three times and celebrated its first bowl win since the 2003 Outback Bowl against Florida.
MI — Hart 1 run (Lopata kick), 12:50; 37 yards on seven plays. TOP: 2:10. KEY PLAY: Arrington 20 catch from Henne to UF 2; Mich. 28, Fla. 14
UF — Tebow 1 run (Ijjas kick), 7:55; 56 yards on 10 plays. TOP: 4:55. KEY PLAY: Tebow 14 run to UM 1; Mich. 28, Fla. 21
UF — Caldwell 14 pass Tebow, 1:26; 80 yards on eight plays. TOP: 3:11. KEY PLAY: Harvin 44 run to UM 13; Mich. 28, Fla. 28
Fourth quarter: Michigan 41, Florida 35
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — Michigan, Hart 32-129, Manningham 7-53, Minor 1-(minus 2), Team 3-(minus 5), Henne 4-(minus 24). Florida, Harvin 13-165, Tebow 16-57, Moore 2-9, Team 1-(minus 1).
PASSING — Michigan, Henne 25-39-2-373. Florida, Tim Tebow 17-33-0-154, Henry 1-1-0-15.
RECEIVING — Michigan, Arrington 9-153, Mathews 7-62, Manningham 5-78, Butler 1-65, Mike Hart 1-7, Hemingway 1-4, Moundros 1-4. Florida, Harvin 9-77, Caldwell 4-40, Hernandez 3-31, Ingram 1-17, Murphy 1-4.
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