The idea that UF would put up eight touchdowns against Hawaii wasn't all that far-fetched, but doing so while quarterback Tim Tebow scored just once didn't seem quite right.
The Heisman Trophy winner didn't have to exert much energy in the No. 5 Gators 56-10 win Saturday, mostly thanks to contributions from seven other players that seemed to come straight out of a highlight video.
Electrifying runs, solid special teams play and ball-hawking defense kept the crowd of 90,575 in The Swamp on its feet and made a lackluster first quarter nothing but an afterthought, and Tebow barely broke a sweat.
"I didn't take too much of a pounding," Tebow said. "I don't think I'm sore, so I can go condition now. I didn't take too many hits."
The junior signal-caller was 9-of-14 passing for 137 yards and a touchdown - a 48-yarder to Louis Murphy - and carried nine times for 37 yards. The game snapped his NCAA-record 14-game streak with at least one rushing and one passing score.
He wasn't asked to do much, and he didn't have to.
UF failed to score in the first quarter but pieced together a 10-play, 80-yard drive to take a 7-0 lead on Brandon James' goal-line plunge early in the second frame. From there, it was all big plays as just one touchdown came from less than 30 yards out.
Free safety Major Wright jumped in front of a Hawaii pass and sprinted 32 yards across open field for the next score. Then, Brandon James scooped up a punt on the second hop and scooted 74 yards, and Chris Rainey breezed through the UH defense for a 33-yard touchdown run, all before halftime.
A 17-yard scramble by punter Chas Henry in the third quarter set up freshman Jeff Demps' 62-yard dash to make the score 35-0, making Demps the third UF running back to score in the game.
"We kind of like fast people around here, and Demps is fast," coach Urban Meyer said. "I don't know if you guys knew that, but Jeff Demps can really run. He's not just a track guy playing football, he's a football player."
UF's secondary had a good showing as well, holding the Warriors to just 71 yards passing in the first three quarters before the starters were pulled. The unit - which ranked No. 98 in pass defense last season - notched four interceptions, and although it's too early to tell how much improvement has been made, the group showed some promise.
Safety Ahmad Black stymied a Hawaii drive in the first quarter with an interception in the end zone, and he ran back another pick for an 80-yard score late in the third quarter.
Jacques Rickerson added another interception in the fourth quarter.
"I read a lot saying we were a weak link, and this and that, but we stepped it up today," Black said. "They can say what they want, but week in and week out - I'm there every day, so I know we're a much better defense than we were last year."
HERNANDEZ DOESN'T PLAY
Aaron Hernandez figures to be a big part of the offense this season after Cornelius Ingram was lost for the season, but the sophomore tight end - expected to start - didn't get on the field Saturday.
Meyer wouldn't comment on Hernandez's situation, saying only he "wasn't ready to play this week."
HAWAII MAKES IT RAIN
UH sent plenty of UF fans filing for the exits just minutes after taking the field, but not because of their play.
The Warriors lined up before the game to perform their traditional dance, the haka, but it ended up more like a rain dance.
As soon as the players started the ritual, the skies opened up and rain started pounding The Swamp.
HENRY CALLS HIS OWN NUMBER
Punter Chas Henry broke off a 17-yard scramble to convert on 3rd-and-16 in the third quarter, but the play wasn't designed that way.
"That was not a called fake punt. That was his last snap at the University of Florida if he didn't get it," Meyer said laughing.
He said Henry was supposed to be a rugby-style kick, but when Henry - a former high school quarterback - saw an opening in the defense, he took off.
"He saw a gap and he took it, but he won't do that again," Meyer said.
MIAMI TALK IN FULL GEAR
UF and Miami will face off next weekend in Gainesville, and the Gators didn't waste much time throwing some smack talk the Hurricanes' way.
Receiver Louis Murphy bristled at calling Miami "The U," and he told the Miami Herald, "I don't refer to them as 'The U' because 'U' stands for university, and we're the real university.
