He squatted holding his helmet in his hand with :04 seconds left after missing a FG that would tie the game at 10 -10 in the swamp two weeks ago.  Since that time Chas Henry has worked in practice on his form and strength, ready for the call that could put him in position to win a game for the Gators -Saturday night in Jacksonville he got his chance.  After a near touchdown on an interception by safety Will Hill, Henry nailed a 37-yard field goal to give the Gators a hard fought 34-31 victory.

The game was thrilling from the beginning with a pick by Janoris Jenkins on the first play of the game.  Florida and UGA traded blows for most of the first half with a surprise performance from a #3 we have not seen in the last 5 games.  Chris Rainey scored the first TD of the game with a 19 yard hand off he took from John Brantley and ran up the middle to get Florida on the board.  He finished the day with 84 yards on the ground, to go with his 2 receptions for 9 yards.  Rainey said in the post game interview that he “felt like he owed it to his teammates to go out and play well.”  Rainey seems to have put his off the field problems to rest by doing what the coaches wanted him to do and staying true to his contract set out by Urban Meyer and the administration following a reduced stalking charge that netted him a fine and community service.

The SEC race just got more interesting with South Carolina and the Gators both victorious on Saturday.  They will meet for the SEC East Championship n the swamp November 13th.  UF has a date with Vandy next Saturday and barring a complete collapse, should show up for the S. Carolina game 6-3, with only a victory to get back to Atlanta for the SEC Championship Game. 

 I know the last two weeks have put a sour taste in our mouths.  The collective groan we all had two weeks ago was replaced tonight by a vindication of sorts by Chas Henry, Chris Rainey, and a Gator defense that had trouble stopping Mississippi State.  We all feel a little better about our football team - the good and the bad of it all.  The good being the direct strike hitches that Brantley was zoning in on in the second half; the bad being the up the middle zone read that was netting us about 2.5 yards a carry.

We have a lot of work to do, but Gatorsportsnation feels a lot better about where we are going to be as a team.  We still have a Championship to fight for.  We still have a season to fight for; and I certainly liked the fight I saw from our Gators.

….and I love beating Georgia.

(AP Photo/Stephen Morton)