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Another Miles miracle: LSU beats Florida 33-29

Oct 10, 2010 - 4:54 AM By MARK LONG AP Sports Writer

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) -- Insult him. Call him names. Mock him at every turn. Les Miles doesn't care about the criticism.

None of it will matter if LSU keeps on winning.

Every move Miles made down the stretch worked against Florida and No. 12 LSU escaped with another wild victory.

Jarrett Lee tossed a 3-yard touchdown pass to Terrence Toliver with 6 seconds left after LSU kept its final drive alive with a successful fake field goal, and the Tigers pulled out a 33-29 against the 14th-ranked Gators on Saturday night.

Ripped for nearly blowing last week's game against Tennessee because of clock management issues, Miles made all the right calls in this one.

"How about that one, huh?" Miles said. "These games are becoming more routine."

With 35 seconds remaining, LSU (6-0, 4-0 Southeastern Conference) lined up for a game-tying, 52-yard field goal, but holder Derek Helton threw a no-look pitch over his head to place-kicker Josh Jasper. The ball bounced, Jasper scooped it up on a hop and ran for the first down.

The play was reviewed to determine if it was a forward pass, which would have been incomplete and ended LSU's hopes, but the ruling on the field stood.

"It wasn't the greatest of pitches, but I was able to make a play on it and pick up the first down," Jasper said.

Lee hit Toliver for a 28-yard gain on the next play to get down to the 3 and on the second fade to the corner, Toliver grabbed the game-winner.

"They didn't like us too much when we were 5-0," Miles said. "Hopefully, they'll like us a little better at 6-0."

The TD reception also was reviewed to see if Toliver had a foot down in bounds with control of the ball. It was upheld and the Tigers handed the Gators (4-2, 2-2) a second straight loss.

LSU remained one of two unbeaten teams in the SEC, snapped Florida's 12-game winning streak at home and diminished the Gators' chances of winning the Eastern Division.

And Miles escaped another week of insults. He said he couldn't care less about that - though he did it in more colorful language.

LSU controlled both lines of scrimmage against Florida, keeping steady pressure on John Brantley and opening holes for Jefferson and Stevan Ridley. Heck, even Miles was masterful.

Using two quarterbacks? Brilliant. Jordan Jefferson completed 7 of 12 passes for 100 yards, and ran for 42 yards and two scores. Lee was 9 of 11 passing for 124 yards. Together, they kept the Gators off balance all night.

Calling timeouts with nearly 3 minutes left in the first half? Genius. The Tigers prevented Florida from running out the clock and scored 10 points in the final 1:22.

And what about the fake field goal? Miles' best call in weeks, maybe even years. The Tigers used the same play to beat South Carolina and Florida in 2007 on the way to a national title.

"This team feels like it has a chance, that a hell of a team is being formed," Miles said. "There's nothing but fight in them. They want more. We're a good team, we're developing, we think this team can really accomplish something."

The only thing that backfired for Miles was his decision to go for 2 early in the fourth. Jefferson got stuffed, and the Tigers had to protect a five-point lead down the stretch.

Florida coach Urban Meyer, meanwhile, will face tough questions after losing consecutive games for just the second time in his six seasons.

Florida wore orange jerseys for the first time since 1989 and had 1996 Heisman Trophy winner Danny Wuerffel on hand. They were looking for some orange-aid. Instead, they ended up with another serving of humble pie.

The Gators kept it close thanks to two turnovers, a kickoff return for a touchdown and a go-ahead, 80-yard drive that had more jeers than cheers.

Trailing 26-21 with about 8 minutes remaining, the Gators put together maybe their best - and most interesting - drive of the season.

They got booed on their first two plays, then Brantley found Carl Moore on a crossing route for a 51-yard gain. The Swamp was rocking then - until the next play was a run up the middle. Two plays later, the Gators looked confused and had to call timeout.

Eventually, Trey Burton picked up a first down on third-and-2. Mike Gillislee scored on the next play from 2 yards out, then Brantley hooked up with Frankie Hammond for the 2-point conversion.

Ahead 29-26, all the Gators needed was a defensive stop. But Lee didn't let it happen, moving the Tigers 62 yards in 3:15. The fake field goal, though, is what everyone will be talking about.

Everyone except Meyer. He twice declined to comment on the call, offering only his thoughts on the review.

"I thought I saw a forward pass," he said. "I kept screaming upstairs, 'What was it?' ... If it was a forward pass, it'd be incomplete."

The Gators got one final chance, but Brantley's pass to Burton in the flat fell incomplete.

Brantley, playing with a rib injury and a sprained thumb, completed 16 of 24 passes for 154 yards. He threw an interception and was sacked three times. The Gators also played without leading rusher Jeff Demps, who sat out with a sprained foot.

"We're struggling right now," Meyer said. "We have to get everybody healthy and rolling."

Moore had four catches for 95 yards, but Florida ended up with 243 yards and surely some doubts about their playmakers and offensive coordinator Steve Addazio.

"We're going to identify our problems," Meyer said.