Gator Football Ends Season With Gator Bowl Win

The Gator football team ended the 2011 season on a winning note by beating the Ohio State Buckeyes 24-17 in the Gator Bowl on Monday.

Florida ends the season 7-6 as the Buckeyes fall to 6-7.

Neither team was particularly impressive on offense but the difference in the game might have been the play of Florida’s special teams. With the score tied at 7-7 and coming off an Ohio State score, Florida’s Andre Debose returned the ensuing kickoff for a Gator Bowl record 99 yard touchdown giving the Gators a lead they would not give up again.

Florida also got another special teams score when senior Chris Rainey blocked a Buckeye punt that was recovered by Graham Stewart and run in for a touchdown. Florida also kicked a late field goal to give the team a two score lead and Ohio State scored a late touchdown but it was too little, too late for the Buckeyes, who will now will begin the Urban Meyer Era next season.

The Gator offense, which struggled most of the season, didn’t do very much under interim offensive coordinator Brian White and now fans will wait to see who Gator coach Will Muschamp will select to be the permanent coordinator to replace the departed Charlie Weis.