It was an up-and-down day for Florida wide receiver Percy Harvin.
The good: After accumulating just 119 yards rushing and receiving in his first two games of the year, Harvin more than equaled that total in No. 4 Florida's first half against Mississippi on Saturday. By game's end, Harvin had racked up 13 receptions for 186 yards and a touchdown and 10 rushes for 83 yards and a touchdown.
The bad: At the start of an error-filled third quarter, the junior ran up the middle trying to get a first down, and coughed up the ball at his own 34-yard line. The Rebels kicked a field goal on the drive, and Harvin fumbled again two drives later.
For Florida coach Urban Meyer, the bad outweighs the good.
"Ball security, that's everybody," Meyer said. "Yeah, that does take away (from Harvin's game). That's something we've got to improve on."
Harvin's second fumble did not result in a turnover, but for a team that had not committed a turnover all season, the ball touching the grass was out of character.
Still, the case of butterfingers did not stop the Gators' offense from going to Harvin, and in the end, they needed quarterback Tim Tebow to throw to Harvin for victory to even be an option.
"We went right back to them," offensive coordinator Dan Mullen said. "They settled down, and they were kind of our catalysts up and down the field as the game went on."
Harvin and Tebow hooked up for two catches and 28 yards on the Gators' second-to-last drive, and Harvin got 19 more yards on their last drive.
The early touchdown pass in the second quarter and a 29-yard reception to the Rebels' 1-yard line late in the first half highlighted Harvin's 139-yard performance in the opening 30 minutes.
Down 7-3 at the time, quarterback Tebow threw to the right side and was nearly intercepted by Mississippi safety Kendrick Lewis. Lewis jumped the route and looked like he was headed for a defensive touchdown, but instead he tipped the ball, and it landed in Harvin's hands.
Harvin showcased the breakaway speed the Gators hadn't seen this season, going from standing still to full speed in three steps and beating out the Mississippi secondary to get into the end zone.
It was an intense play for the fans, as they went from apparent gloom to awe at the catch to jubilation in a blink.
Still, in a game decided by a blocked field goal, the fumble and the two passes Harvin didn't catch will stand out.
Late in the first quarter, Tebow overthrew Harvin late in the first quarter on a pass that, if caught, would have easily been a 35-yard touchdown. Florida settled for a field goal on that drive instead.
And in the game's waning moments, Harvin could not reach a deep pass over the middle of the field that could have put the Gators ahead for good.
