Lightning halts play as Gators roll over Western Kentucky

Sep 1, 2007, 21:06 GMT

Gainesville, FL - Tim Tebow threw for 300 yards with three touchdowns and also ran for a score, as sixth-ranked Florida opened its season with a 49-3 rout of Western Kentucky at the Swamp.

The game was stopped with just under 8 1/2 minutes to play because of severe weather, including lightning, and was called after a delay of more than an hour.

Tebow, taking over as the starter after sharing time last season with Chris Leak during Florida's national championship season, completed 13-of-17 passes. He also ran for 38 yards on eight carries.

'I'm feeling great,' Tebow said. 'It was a lot of fun. We just wanted to come out there and put together a great effort. Everybody played hard.'

Kestahn Moore ran for 91 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries for the Gators (1-0), who outgained the Hilltoppers 510-204. Riley Cooper had four catches for 122 yards with a pair of scores in the victory, while Andre Caldwell hauled in three passes for 103 yards.

David Wolke started at quarterback for Western Kentucky (0-1), but was knocked out on the first series with a concussion. K.J. Black took over and finished 10-of-13 for 102 yards.

Western Kentucky took the opening kickoff and Wolke directed a march from his own 28 to the Florida 10 before the Gator defense stopped a 4th-and-1 run by Tyrell Hayden. Wolke was 3-of-4 for 43 yards during that first series.

The Florida offense followed with a 90-yard drive, keyed by a 48-yard pass from Tebow to Caldwell. Tebow scored on a quarterback sneak from a yard away to give the Gators the early lead.

It only got worse for the Hilltoppers, as Florida scored on each of its next three possessions.

Tebow threw a 59-yard touchdown pass to Cooper and connected with Percy Harvin for a 19-yard score early in the second quarter, before Moore added a three- yard touchdown run for a 28-0 lead with 8:11 to play in the half.

'With our defensive backs, it was just a technique issue,' Western Kentucky coach David Elson said. 'They got behind us and that's not supposed to happen. That's what is really frustrating.'

Western Kentucky finally got on the scoreboard just before the intermission, as Chris James booted a 26-yard field goal.

Tebow threw a 42-yard touchdown pass to Cooper with just over four minutes to play in the third quarter to extend the lead to 35-3 and the Gators tacked on another touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter when Moore scored on a one-yard run.

Cameron Newton added a four-yard touchdown run just before play was halted to account for the final margin.

Game Notes

Hayden finished with 32 yards on 11 carries for Western Kentucky...The Gators will welcome Troy to Gainesville next week before the traditional third week of September game against SEC rival Tennessee -- also in the Swamp.

© 2007 The Sports Network

Game Notes

.